Proton and Sonar back Geneva Student Entrepreneurs to spark a new generation of start-ups

Geneva tech unicorns Proton and Sonar are joining the FONGIT incubator to commit CHF 300,000 to Geneva Student Entrepreneurs, a new student-run initiative based at the University of Geneva.

The Proton Foundation, Sonar and FONGIT are launching Geneva Student Entrepreneurs (GSE), a new initiative that connects university talent with the city’s innovation ecosystem. A CHF 300,000 commitment from the three partners funds the project, which is also backed by the University of Geneva (UNIGE) and the State of Geneva. Andy Yen, Founder and CEO of Proton, and Olivier Gaudin, Founder and Chairman of Sonar, sit on the board of the new association.

A student-run platform

GSE is based at UNIGE, includes a dedicated student hacker space and is open to students from universities and research organizations across Geneva. It provides an initial platform for a student-run entrepreneurs club, with the aim of handing control to students over time so that it is run by students, for students. The partners contribute financial resources and entrepreneurial experience, and Néstor Kontaxakis, former Vice President of the ETH Zurich Entrepreneurs Club, is helping the new organization get started.

Planned activities include hands-on education, hackathons, start-up competitions and direct mentorship. This autumn, the InCube Challenge, a Swiss-wide event, comes to Geneva and places student founders in a public installation to address technology challenges.

Why the initiative matters

Andy Yen hopes the initiative will spark a new generation of start-ups created in Geneva. Olivier Gaudin highlights the combination of focused support for students and the knowledge of the city’s existing unicorns. Audrey Leuba, Rector of UNIGE, says entrepreneurship is “a powerful way to turn knowledge and scientific discovery into positive impact for society.”