Innosuisse Innovation Mentoring

Securing innovation funding can be overwhelming. I provide hands-on guidance to help cut through the noise and create a compelling proposal that secure the innovation funding needed to turn their ideas into reality.

What you will get working with me:

A Reality Check for your Innovation Project
You receive a thorough assessment of your business and innovation idea. This identifies strengths, weaknesses, and gaps in your business case and roadmap, so your project stays fully aligned with your bigger vision.

The right Funding Instrument
You receive targeted guidance to select the most suitable funding option for your specific situation. This includes Innosuisse Innovation Projects, Startup Innovation Projects (SIP), Innovation Checks or determining whether a different path makes more sense.

Strong Project Partners
Together, we establish a fair consortium setup and balanced IP agreements that work well for all parties. You benefit from support in identifying the right expertise and partners.

A compelling Project Proposal
Together, we will craft a professional, well-structured application that significantly increases your chances of success. This includes a strong narrative and detailed refinements to perfectly meet Innosuisse criteria.

Why Work with Me?

With a background in engineering and entrepreneurship, I blend technical expertise with hands-on business experience. As Innosuisse-accredited innovation mentor, I’ve helped 100+ businesses secure innovation funding and turn bold ideas into reality. I also serve on the board of Startup Weekend Switzerland, supporting the next generation of entrepreneurs.
🔗 Connect with me on LinkedIn →.

Frequently Asked Questions

What types of companies do you work with?

I work with technology-driven SMEs and startups that challenge the status quo through cutting-edge innovation and tackle important real-world issues. My focus is on businesses with strong potential for scalable positive impact.
While I support projects across sectors, my core interests lie in CleanTech, Preventive Healthcare, and EdTech.
Language should not be a barrier. I’m fluent in English, German, French, and Spanish, with a basic understanding of Italian.

What is the cost of Innovation Mentoring?

If your business is registered in Switzerland and has fewer than 250 full-time equivalents (FTEs) and meets the eligibility criteria, you may qualify for fully financed Innovation Mentoring through Innosuisse, at no cost to you.

To learn how to apply, see the next section.

How do I apply for Innosuisse Innovation Mentoring?

Go to Innosuisse Innolink and create an “Initial Assessment application.”

In the form, share your expectations for the mentoring and some context about your business and your innovation project. That’s what I need to see if we’re a good fit.
I only take on a limited number of mentoring clients. I select them carefully to ensure real value for both sides.

Are we eligible for Innosuisse support?

Your business may qualify for Innosuisse support if it meets these three points:
✓ Value creation
Your business delivers real, scalable commercial or societal benefits. You already have (or have a clear plan to build) the technical and commercial capabilities needed to bring it successfully to market.
✓ Innovation
Your solution clearly stands out from the status quo and competing alternatives. The project is grounded in research and shows genuine innovation, not just incremental improvements. Pure software engineering or “LLM wrappers” do not qualify.
✓ Project quality
You have clear goals, a realistic timeline, a solid budget, effective risk management and a coherent intellectual property strategy.

When is the ideal time to start with Innovation Mentoring?

For the best results, start 1–2 months before the planned submission deadline. This gives us enough time to build a solid foundation and craft a strong proposal.
You don’t need project partners, funding instruments or even a draft proposal in place yet. We can shape all of that together during the mentoring.
What matters is your readiness to commit, engage actively in the process and invest the effort needed to take your innovation to the next level.
To ensure depth and quality, I don’t take on “final review” requests close to the submission deadline.

Which funding instruments and grants can you help with?

I primarily support Innosuisse Innovation Projects, Innosuisse Startup Innovation Projects (SIP), and Innosuisse Innovation Checks.

If you are unsure which instrument fits best, I first help you identify the most suitable option or determine if another path makes more sense. We then develop a strong, compelling proposal designed to maximise your chances of approval.

With my support, you benefit from proven experience: I have contributed to more than 100 successful innovation funding applications, including Innosuisse projects, SIPs, Innovation Checks, Eurostars, Bilateral Calls, and various sector-specific grants

Is my startup eligible for the Start-up Innovation Project (SIP)?

The Start-up Innovation Project (SIP) is one of Innosuisse’s most competitive funding instruments.

Your startup may be eligible if:
✓ You solve a clear, validated customer problem.
✓ Your solution stands out distinctly from the status quo and existing alternatives.
✓ Your business demonstrates strong potential for scalable value creation.
✓ You understand your market and have a credible go-to-market plan.
✓ You are not yet commercially active with a fully developed product. SIP is designed as the “final push” to first market entry.
✓ You can cover at least 30% of project costs with your own funds or investor commitments.

If this sounds like your startup, reach out to me. I’ll help you craft a compelling SIP proposal and make sure your pitch is bullet proof to maximize your chances of approval.

References

Ready to take the next step?

I’d be glad to explore how we can work together. As I provide hands-on, dedicated guidance, I only accept a limited number of mentoring clients where we can drive maximum impact.
When you reach out to me at welcome@atto, please share your expectations for the mentoring alongside some context about your business and innovation project. Let’s turn your vision into a success story!