WHY JOINING US
GET YOUR CLIMATE TECH STARTUP OFF THE GROUND WITH UP TO 500K PRE-SEED FUNDING
The KlimUp Program gives early-stage climate tech startups the strongest possible launchpad to close their pre-seed round quickly, on founder-friendly terms, and with top-tier investors at your side. Having supported 26 climate tech startups over the past two years, it is Switzerland’s leading program for pre-seed ventures tackling the climate crisis.
NO. 1 CLIMATE TECH STARTUP FUNDING PROGRAM
SUCCESSFULLY FUNDED STARTUPS SINCE 2024
WHAT YOU GET
FOUNDER-FRIENDLY FUNDING – THE WAY IT SHOULD BE
Initial grant: Get fast direct cash
Once selected, you’ll receive CHF 35k as a non-dilutive grant with no strings attached.
Your individual funding strategy
Together, we shape a funding strategy that fits your specific funding needs.
Choose your preferred investor
We connect you with leading investors but you remain free to choose your preferred partner.
Matching: Non-dilutive cash on top
The City of Zurich will co-match your investor funds with up to CHF 215k in non-dilutive money.
Network to grow your company
Become part of the Bluelion climate tech community in Zurich, Switzerland’s leading startup network for climate innovations.
WHAT WE ARE LOOKING FOR
SOLUTIONS FOR A CLIMATE-POSITIVE FUTURE
SCOPE
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 resource management
Innovations that enable a more sustainable use of resources and increase the recyclability rate.
CRITERIAS
Early Stage
You have not yet received funding from institutional investors over CHF 200k. Don’t worry about friends, family, fools, and grants – those are ok.
Scalable
The company has the potential to significantly increase its customer base and revenue without a proportional increase in costs.
TRL > 4 ready
You have a proof of technology and / or a MVP ready. 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 Impact
You can show us that your startup contributes to one of the four action fields mentioned above.
INVESTORS NETWORK
FUNDING PROVIDED BY YOUR PREFERRED INVESTORS AT FOUNDER-FRIENDLY TERMS
We maintain close relationships with leading investors in Switzerland and provide you with streamlined, curated access. Together, we pursue a common goal: enabling startups to secure the necessary funding as quickly as possible and on fair terms.
HOW IT WORKS
250K NON-DILUTIVE GRANT AND 250K FROM TOP-TIER INVESTORS COMBINED IN A FOUNDER-FRIENDLY PROGRAM
APPLY FOR FUNDING
GRANT APPROVAL
Selected startups receive a positive funding decision. This includes a non-dilutive grant of CHF 250k from the City of Zurich – CHF 35k paid out immediately, CHF 215k upon the next financing round.
FUNDING PROGRAM
Our single focus throughout the program: getting you funded. We work closely with each startup to identify and de-risk critical assumptions and connecting you with leading European climate investors.
FUNDING ROUND
Once you’ve secured a funding round with institutional investors of at least CHF 200k, the City of Zurich will match the amount with up to CHF 215k in non-dilutive funding.
BATCH Q4 2025
THE LATEST KLIMUP STARTUP
APPLY NOW FOR THE NEXT COHORT
ABOUT KLIMUP PROGRAM
A CITY OF ZURICH INITIATIVE, OPERATED BY THE DEPARTMENTS OF HEALTH AND ENVIRONMENT, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND THE BLUELION FOUNDATION
The citizens of the city of Zurich decided to turn their hometown to net zero by 2040. To achieve this ambitious goal, the city of Zurich initiated KlimUp to directly support climate tech startups with up to CHF 250k in a non-dilutive grant that can play a vital role through scalable technological solutions.
PROGRAM TEAM
OPERATIONS
COMISSION BOARD
Application Process
Apply
Submit your application and let us know what you’re building, why it matters, and how your solution drives meaningful climate impact.
Get Assessed
Get Selected
Top investors and climate-tech experts select the most promising ventures with strong potential for scalable impact and investability.
Receive CHF 35K Grant
Once selected, you receive an initial CHF 35K non-dilutive grant through the KlimUp fund by the City of Zurich to kickstart your journey with confidence.
Close Your Funding Round
Backed by Leading Organisations
Bluelion designed and operates the Climate Tech Startup Program, made possible thanks to the backing of leading partner organisations committed to driving climate innovation.
Program Lead and Operator
Public Funding
Private Funding
Corporate Partners
Donators
ANY QUESTIONS LEFT?
Here is everything else you need to know about the Program.
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
Can I submit an application if my company is not yet based in the city of Zurich?
Yes, you can submit an application even if your company is not yet based in the city of Zurich. If your application is approved, you will have up to six months to relocate your headquarters to Zurich or open a branch office in the city. 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.
Does my start-up qualify for the KlimUp funding program?
Ask yourself the following questions. The more and clearer you can answer “yes,” the higher your chances of receiving funding:
- Financing Strategy: Is your company planning to raise venture capital (VC) and has a clear plan for rapid growth?
- Technology-driven: Does your business model rely on innovative technologies?
- Scalability: Can your company grow exponentially and serve many customers without significant additional costs?
- Market Potential: Is your product targeting a large and international market?
- Unique Selling Proposition: Does your company have a unique, hard-to-replicate competitive advantage that ensures long-term success (such as proprietary technology, patents, data, or exclusive access to customers/partners)?
How much funding is provided and when is it paid out?
If your application is approved, a maximum funding amount of CHF 250,000 can be granted. An initial payment of CHF 35,000 is made as soon as the start-up is founded and its headquarters or branch office is located in the city of Zurich.
You then have twelve months to trigger an additional payment. If you successfully close a financing round with an institutional investor, the city of Zurich will match the investment amount (Matching Fund) up to a maximum of CHF 215,000.
When can a previous financing/investment exclude my start-up from participating in the KlimUp program?
If your start-up has already received CHF 200,000 or more in equity or a convertible loan from an institutional investor, participation in the KlimUp program is not possible. However, receiving less than CHF 200,000 does not exclude participation. Grants from other funding programs do not disqualify your start-up from applying
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.
What type of capital/investment qualifies to activate the Matching Fund (after my start-up has been accepted into the KlimUp program)? And what proof do I need to provide?
The financing must come from an institutional investor, meaning a legal entity that invests at least CHF 200,000 in your start-up in the form of equity or a convertible loan.
As proof of the investment, you must submit a bank confirmation showing the amount of the investment and the name of the institutional investor.
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.
Does the impact of my startup have to take place WITHIN CITY OF ZURICH GROUND?
The impact does not have to take place within the city of zurich, but demonstrating local impact and value creation is certainly a plus.
What are my obligations if I participate in the KlimUp program?
During the funding period, the KlimUp office will regularly inquire about your progress and challenges. Every four months, you will be asked to answer a few questions via the KlimUp platform. At the end of the program, you will need to submit a final report.
YOU DON`T FIT THE REQUIREMENTS OF KLIMUP?
Check out our other program which is industry-agnostic and see if you fit the requirements.
Any Questions?