Out of 900 applications from 64 countries 60 startups were invited to pitch for Swiss Kickstart Accelerator. YUKKA Lab AG, the Berlin-based FinTech startup for applied augmented language intelligence and context-based sentiment analysis in the European financial sector, is one of four German startups that was selected for the 2018 program.

Kickstart Accelerator is a Swiss initiative that helps bridge the gap between startups, corporates, cities, foundations and universities to accelerate deep tech innovation. For 2018, Kickstart focusses on four verticals: EdTech, FinTech & Crypto, Food & Retail Tech and Smart Cities & Infrastructure.

With a strong focus on the financial industry, Switzerland has become one of the world’s leading FinTech hubs. YUKKA Lab was recognised as a solution that can provide cutting-edge solutions to Swiss multinational banks, venture capital and industry partners.

Selected Kickstart participants can look forward to an extensive program with opportunities to implement proof-of-concept (PoC), pilot projects and form innovation partnerships in close cooperation with companies such as Coop, Credit Suisse, Migros, Swisscom, Mondelēz International as well as cities, foundations, and universities.

During the program, the selected entrepreneurs live and work in Zurich. They receive support from mentors and experts out of the Swiss innovation ecosystem, get in touch with investors and take part in collaboration workshops. Additionally, each startup will receive up to CHF 10’000 of program stipends.

During the Kickstart Accelerator 2017 startups were able to initiate more than 30 PoCs and partnerships. The participating startups from 2016 and 2017 have raised over CHF 35 million in investor funds since participating in the program.

"Switzerland, and Zurich in particular, as a financial hub, is a vital market for us. A lot is happening here, the interest in innovative technologies and the courage to realize something new are tremendous. The Kickstart accelerator gives us access to pilot projects and PoCs with exciting partners such as Credit Suisse, Swisscom, EY, and AXA. This will further push our progress in customer-centric product development," said Andreas Pusch, CEO and founder of YUKKA Lab AG.

The complete list of the 30 selected startups participating in the 2018 accelerator program will be released on July 17, 2018 by Kickstart.