Program Selection

Benefits for hubs

Visibility & reputation

Profile in the NZZ environment and access to top startups and investors.

Proof of quality

Objective assessment of program quality and alumni success.

Selection badge

Verifiable seal of quality for marketing and partnerships.

Minimum criteria

Location or activity in Switzerland
At least 10 alumni startups
Structured program or services for startups
Verifiable activity in the last 24 months

Evaluation Criteria

Quality & Impact (50%)

Program quality: structure, mentoring, curriculum
Infrastructure & services: workspace, tools, support

Alumni feedback: satisfaction & recommendation rate

Track Record & Evidence (30%)

Number of alumni: throughput & scaling
Fundraising & Exits: Alumni Successes

Success Rate: Survival Rate & Follow-on Funding

Ecosystem Contribution (20%)

Network Access: Investors, Corporates, Mentors
Partnerships: Collaborations & Co-Creation

National/International Reach: Impact & Visibility

Data Sources

The evaluation is based on a combination of:

Self-reported information: Structured information provided by the organization/individual
Feedback & peer input: Alumni, portfolio, or mentee evaluations
Objective data: Registry data, funding data, public sources
Validation: Plausibility check by the research team

How the rating model works

Each dimension is evaluated individually (0-100 points) and combined according to weighting to form the overall score. This score determines the selection status (Silver, Gold, Platinum, Diamond).

Sample calculation (VentureLab):

Quality & impact: 95 points × 50% = 47.5

Track record: 92 points × 30% = 27.6

Contribution to the ecosystem: 97 points × 20% = 19.4

Overall score: 94.5 → Platinum

From score to selection status

Overall Score	Selection Status
70.0 – 79.9	Silver
80.0 – 89.9	Gold
90.0 – 94.9	Platinum
≥ 95.0	Diamond