CLIMATE TECH PROGRAM
Extensive support with up to 250k non-dilutive funding and facilitated market access.
The citizens of the city of Zurich decided to turn their hometown to net zero by 2040. To achieve this ambitious goal, the city and Bluelion initiated KlimUp to directly support climate-tech startups that can play a vital role through scalable technological solutions.
WHAT WE AIM TO ACHIEVE TOGETHER
Four areas to fight climate change!
Reducing direct emissions
Solutions that help to reduce direct emissions in the city of Zurich. For example, in the areas of mobility, energy, infrastructure, and resource management.
Reducing indirect emissions
Reduce indirect, gray emissions that are generated outside the city of Zurich, for example through private consumption.
Negative emissions
Technologies that involve the absorption of CO2 from the atmosphere, for example through accelerating natural inorganic reactions or engineered chemical processes.
Smart resources management
Innovations that enable a more sustainable use of resources and increase the recyclability rate.
BATCH Q1 2024
The first 9 startups were selected by the jury!
We successfully closed the first application round of KlimUp – congrats to our 9 selected startups, we are excited to have you on board of the city of Zurich initiative and support you along your journey
SELECTED STARTUPS OF THE FIRST ROUND
WHY YOU SHOULD APPLY
Zurich offers best conditions and significant support!
Non-Dilutive Funding
Startups are supported with up to CHF 250k in the form of non-dilutive grants.
Faster Market Access
Thanks to the strong support of the local industry, the program offers facilitated access to potential customers and partners.
Expert Support
Each startup is given access to experienced experts who are available for a limited number of hours.
Homebase in Zurich
We support founders to quickly gain a foothold in Zurich and Switzerland with their own office locations.
Networking & Events
Several events and networking activities facilitate the exchange between research, industry, politics, and startups.
WHAT YOU SHOULD BRING ALONG
Application criteria
FFF Financed
You have not yet received funding from professional investors. Don’t worry about friends, family, fools, and grants – those are ok.
Ownership
The Co-Founders still hold at least 50% of the company shares.
Early Stage
Ideally, you already have a proof of technology and / or and MVP-ready product. It is not required though and your company is not older than 5 years old.
Zurich based
You are willing to incorporate or open a branch office in Zurich within 6 months of entering the program (Bluelion supports you with that).
Proven Climate Impact
You can show us that your startup contributes to one of the four action fields mentioned above.
PROCESS
How can you apply
Phase 1:
Application
[Application opens on April 1st, 2024]
Fill in the application form and provide all the details necessary so your application can get properly assessed.
Phase 2:
Selection
Based on an impact and business potential assessment, the committee will select the startups for the grant.
Phase 3:
Access to Grant
Once selected, you get access to the first grant of 35k and you get onboarded by Bluelion to learn about other benefits you get access to.
Phase 4:
Activate Funding
Within 12 months, you can access an additional grant of up to 215k, if you raise at least the same amount from third parties.
KLIMUP ORGANISATION
KlimUp is an initiative by the city of Zurich
KlimUp is a proud initiative by the city of Zurich and operated by Bluelion. Supported by key partners such as ZKB, serving as a program donator, and Zühlke, the technology partner, KlimUp embodies a collaborative effort towards mitigating climate change.
KLIMUP INITIATORS
APPLY NOW FOR THE NEXT COHORT!
Three times a year we carefully select startups to join KlimUp. You can apply all year long, based on the date of your application, you will get in one of three selection phases:
ANY QUESTIONS LEFT?
Here is everything else you need to know about KlimUp
What are the requirements to enter the program in terms of positive impact?
Your solution should have a positive impact on at least one of the following topics:
- Reducing Direct Emissions (Greenhouse gas emissions that occur directly on the city’s territory)
- Reducing Indirect Emissions (Greenhouse gas emissions that do not occur directly on the city’s territory, but are caused by the urban population)
- Enabling Intelligent use of resources
- Enabling Negative Emission Technologies (natural and technical approaches necessary to reduce the Greenhouse gas emissions that are unavoidable within the city limits by A: removing them from the atmosphere and B: storing them over long-term
What if I am not incorporated in Zurich?
Don’t worry, if you are already incorporated in another location. Bluelion can help you to relocate or open a branch office in Zurich.
What does pre-market entry mean?
You haven’t shipped a fully fletched product yet. That means you are still eligible if you did some PoCs, and pilot-projects, and have a couple of MVP customers.
The program is addressing startups. What is your definition of a startup?
- Building an innovative, therefore unique and novel product / service.
- Having a business model that allows exponential growth.
- Tackling a total addressable market of at least 1 billion in size with the ambition to own at least 10% of that market.
What does up to 250k non-dilutive funding mean?
If you get accepted into the program, you receive 35k as a grant directly. Afterward, you have 12 months to activate the second grant. The specific amount of the second grant depends on the amount you can raise from institutional investors. The funding from institutional investors is matched up to an amount of 215k. Together with the initial 35k you then get a total of 250k.
What kind of capital may have already been invested in the company (at the time of application)?
- Own Funds
- Capital from Business Angels (including family & friends)
- Crowdfunding
- Grants
- Convertible Loans (not converted yet)
What kind of capital may not have been invested in the company (at the time of application)?
Any funding from institutional investors, meaning organizations that pool together funds on behalf of others and invest those funds like (corporate) venture capital firms or mutual funds.
I am in the process of setting up a funding round WITH A VC. Can I still apply?
Yes, but your financing round must not have been completed by the day of the submission of your application, i.e. there is no entry in the commercial register regarding a capital increase at this time.
With what type of capital can you activate the municipal grant (after being accepted to the program)?
Any funding from institutional investors, meaning organizations that pool together funds on behalf of others and invest those funds like (corporate) venture capital firms or mutual funds.
What proof of funding do I need to provide to access the second grant?
You need to show a bank certificate and the extract from the commercial register regarding the capital increase.
What are my duties, once I enter the program?
You will need to report your progress throughout the program. The reporting effort will be kept to a minimum though, since we know that you are busy building a kickass startup. Every four months we assess together your current stage, your latest challenges, and your successes, not to control you but to find out where you are most likely to need support.
YOU DON`T FIT THE REQUIREMENTS OF KLIMUP?
Check out our other program which is industry-agnostic and see if you fit the requirements.
DO YOU HAVE FURTHER QUESTIONS YOU WOULD LIKE TO ASK?
Feel free to reach out via email and we try to help you as best as we can
Join KlimUp
Let’s turn Zurich net zero by 2040
With KlimUp we want to push the limits together with you and the city of Zurich to jointly move forward to a sustainable future. My name is Miro, I am responsible for the KlimUp Program at Bluelion. If you are interested in joining, please feel free to sign up via the form above. Let me know if there are any open questions for you and reach out!
