Fusion, Switzerland’s first fintech accelerator, is inviting applications from startups across the world to join a programme with the aim of creating a factory for innovation and leadership in Swiss financial services.
Launched in February this year, Geneva-based Fusion is the creation of Polytech Ventures, a venture capital firm based out of the Ecole Polytechnique de Lausanne (EPFL).
Aspiring start-ups have until June 15 to apply for a place in the accelerator, which will begin operating from 1 October this year. Fusion expects to host between eight and ten start-ups for its 12-month programme and is especially interested in companies working in traditional Swiss strongholds, such as asset and wealth management, insurance, and commodity trading.
The accelerator takes no equity stakes in the companies which come onboard, but instead seeks to offer mentorship from core banking partner Temenos, technology consulting from Capco and access to R&D facilities via IDIAP, an EPFL affiliated research institute.
Guillaume Dubray, managing partner at Polytech Ventures comments: “Switzerland is a leader in both innovation and financial services. It is therefore a perfect place to launch a fintech accelerator. Where Fusion hopes to be different from other similar projects and add additional value to its start-ups is by facilitating access to a broad range of corporates and by concentrating on those areas where Switzerland is a world-leader such as wealth management.”