Business environment

There are always people with innovative ideas and the desire to put these devices into action. Such individuals have enormous potential to launch new enterprises and create jobs. But, they need know-how and specific services to do so. The SECO-funded Swiss Entrepreneurship Programme reinforces local “ecosystems for entrepreneurship” which support start-ups.

The Swiss Entrepreneurship Programme engages in partnerships with private local actors who provide services for start-ups. It also reinforces networks with mentors and investors. It is implemented in Serbia, Albania, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Kosovo, Northern Macedonia, Peru and Vietnam. The second phase of the programme began in 2019. It now also aims at influencing the regulatory business environment in these countries in order to improve the framework conditions for companies.

In 2019, the programme hosted a Women Entrepreneurs Week for the second time. Twenty female company founders from seven countries came together in Zurich to network with one another, with female representatives from the Swiss start-up scene and international female mentors. The event focused on how they could successfully position their businesses and market these digitally.

Claudia Quintanilla and Amparo Nalvarte met in Zurich too. Both are Peruvian entrepreneurs in the fintech sector. Claudia founded the company Rextie. The company specialises in converting US dollars into her native currency at a fair exchange rate – digitally and in real time. Claudia is looking for investors to help her further develop her company. For instance, she wants to tailor the company optimally to the Peruvian context and enable digital signatures too. Amparo was in Zurich as a mentor.

«I was so impressed by Claudia’s dedication, perseverance and belief that I decided to invest 50,000 US dollars in her company myself.»

Amparo Nalvarte, Entrepreneur

Innovation-friendly business environment