The document summarizes swissnex San Francisco's US Market Entry Camp program, which provides selected Swiss startups with a 3-month residency in San Francisco or Boston. During the residency, startups receive office space, networking support, workshops on legal, funding and business issues, and a stipend to help with travel and living expenses. The current startups participating in the program are briefly described, including Mirasense, QGel, and Dacuda. The goal of the program is to help Swiss startups establish themselves in the US market by providing resources and connections over an extended period of time.

1. swissnex San Francisco
and the U.S. Market Entry Camp
January 3, 2011
Stanford University
School of Engineering
European Entrepreneurship & Innovation
Initiative of the State Secretariat for Education and Research SER Annex of the Consulate General.
Swiss Knowledge Network with outposts in Boston, San Francisco, Shanghai and Singapore Gioia Deucher

2. swissnex: A Worldwide Network of Knowledge Outposts
Connecting the dots ...
2

3. …through activities such as
Mandates
Nestle Innovation Learning
Partnerships “Expeditions”
Social Media and To Switzerland
Swiss Universities
To the USA
CTI Start-up
Visitors, EIR,
Interns, Teams
US Market Entry Camp
Events Interns from Swiss
Brain Computer Interfaces Universities
Sustainable Cities Sabbaticals (media,
academia)
WEF’2010 - Highlights
Design in Innovation
…and many more…
3

4. …through activities such as
Mandates
Nestle Innovation Learning
Partnerships “Expeditions”
Social Media and To Switzerland
Swiss Universities
To the USA
CTI Start-up
Visitors, EIR,
Interns, Teams
US Market Entry
Events Camp
Brain Computer Interfaces Interns from Swiss
Universities
Sustainable Cities
Sabbaticals (media,
WEF’2010 - Highlights
academia)
Design in Innovation
…and many more…
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5. CTI Start-up: A collaboration of three years
The challenge: short notice, short term visits
For start-ups 9
• contacts/connections often not
8
available at short notice 2008
• continued physical presence is 7
2009
key (networking, follow-up, cross- 6
2010 (ytd)
pollination with other teams…) 5
4
For swissnex
3
• short notice  short run-up time
for intros, etc. 2
• less familiarity with startup 1
 lower quality “match-making” 0
• maturity of visiting startups <1 1-3 >3 EIR
differed: risk of “burning” contacts week weeks weeks
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6. A new business model: The U.S. Market Entry Camp
Selected startups get:
• 3 months at swissnex San Francisco or Boston with 24/7 access to
office & infrastructure
• close collaboration in defining and support in achieving milestones
• access to network of advisors, service providers, mentors, partners
• customized one-on-one workshops (legal, funding, media,
communication, etc.)
• coverage on swissnex communications channels
• travel & accommodations stipend (for up to 2 persons per startup)
Launched in
November
2010
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7. Current “Campers”
Mirasense
• Barcode Recognition Technology
• December 2010 – February 2011
QGel
• Biotech: hydrogel for 3D cell cultures
• January – March 2011
Dacuda
• IT: scanning mouse
• January – March 2011
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8. Example
Alexander Ilic, CEO of Dacuda
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9. Thank you.
Gioia Deucher
swissnex San Francisco
730 Montgomery Street
San Francisco, CA 94111
gioia.deucher@swissnexsanfrancisco.org
+1 415 912 5901 ext. 114
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