Albert Koechlin Foundation and Gebert Rüf Foundation partner to support startups
Lucerne/Basel - The Albert Koechlin Foundation is supporting the Gebert Rüf Foundation's First Ventures startup program with up to 1.2 million Swiss francs. The aim is to streamline startup support at Lucerne University of Applied Sciences and Arts while strengthening innovation in Central Switzerland.
The Albert Koechlin Foundation (AKS) in Lucerne and the Gebert Rüf Foundation have agreed on a funding partnership. As part of the collaboration, AKS will support the First Ventures startup funding program from 2026 to 2029 with a total of up to 1.2 million Swiss francs. The earmarked funding will finance two to three startups from Lucerne University of Applied Sciences and Arts (HSLU) each year with the ultimate goal of strengthening regional innovation in Central Switzerland in the long term as well as creating new jobs.
«As a regional foundation, we want to specifically promote innovative talent from Central Switzerland. Cooperating with the Gebert Rüf Foundation allows us to scale our impact while maintaining our close ties to the region,» Peter Kasper, President of AKS, is quoted as saying.
The First Ventures program achieves a high leverage effect, according to the statement. Every franc invested in funding reportedly mobilizes on average more than three times as much in additional funds – for example, through investors, other funding instruments, or company revenues.
Projects that have already received successful funding include Cowa Thermal Solutions from HSLU, which has strengthened its market presence through a partnership with Meier Tobler, and Luya Foods from Bern University of Applied Sciences, whose plant-based meat alternatives are now established nationally in retail and catering.
In future, the Gebert Rüf Foundation plans to attract additional foundations and philanthropic sponsors as partners in order to broaden the support it can offer startup talent both regionally and thematically.
