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SINGA BRIDGE PROGRAM

The SINGA Bridge Program supports entrepreneurs with refugee or migrant experience in Switzerland who are close to launching or already running their business. It offers practical, personalized support to overcome key business hurdles, whether that involves finalizing incorporation, developing a business model, or gaining clarity on strategy, pricing or marketing.

Over a period of 3.5 months, the program provides one-on-one mentoring, hands-on workshops, legal support and access to a network of experts, following a timeline adapted to each participant’s needs.

Curious if the Bridge Program is the right fit for you? Let’s have a quick chat!

Book a session and let’s discuss your project !

Join the SINGA BRIDGE PROGRAM

Do you have a business idea that is already active or ready to launch in Switzerland? Do you have specific challenges you’d like targeted support with?

If you meet the application criteria (see above), you can join the Bridge Program at any time between March and September. There is no formal selection or pitch process—just book a short info call with the SINGA team to get started.

The earlier you join, the more support and workshop content you can benefit from. You can also access the full timeline of workshops (March to November), even before or after your official program start.

Eligibility Criteria - WHO CAN APPLY

Entrepreneurial Readiness

You have an active business plan and have started selling your product or service (or show traction through Letters of Intent/Surveys).

You have identified customers and need support with incorporation, structure, or business growth.

You can submit a complete Business Model Canvas for your venture.

Origin

At least one member of your management team is originally from a non-EU/EFTA/UK country.

CH/EU/EFTA/UK citizens can also apply if their business actively supports people with refugee experience in its day-to-day operations.

impact

Your business contributes to at least one of the UN the sustainable development goals (SDGs).

This can be reflected in your core business model, your strategy, or in the way you run your company.

Permit

 At least one member of your management team holds a Swiss permit type F, B, C, or S.

CH/EU/EFTA/UK citizens are eligible if their company’s mission includes supporting people with refugee experience in its daily activities.

Language

 You are able to hold a business conversation in English (minimum level B2).

Costs

Participation in the full program (including mentoring, workshops, and legal helpdesk access) costs CHF 100.

If the fee presents a barrier, please feel free to reach out to the SINGA team – adjustments can be made based on your personal situation.

SELECTION PROCESS

Apply

Check our section Who can apply. If you meet the criteria, you can apply by using the respective online forms.

Convince

Join a call with the program manager to present your business, traction, and Business Model Canvas. This allows us to assess your eligibility.

Get selected

If you meet the criteria, you’ll be accepted into the 3.5-month program.

If you’re not there yet but getting close, you’ll stay in the applicant pool and still access workshops. When ready, book another call to reassess and join the full program.

 

Thanks to its partners, SINGA can offer you support in the following areas:

Management / HR

  • Find the right co-founder(s) or team members
  • Soft skills and leadership qualities
  • Project, self and team management
  • Risk management
  • Environmentally friendly business

Legal

  • Contracts and agreements
  • Project protection / patents
  • (Social) insurances

communication​

  • Strategies in communication and social media
  • (Online) Marketing / SEO
  • Branding / UX design
  • Building or improving the website
  • B2C/B2B, how to address customers
  • Pitching (in front of investors)
  • Media training/storytelling
  • Impact measurement

Finance

  • Financing / Business Model
  • Raising capital
  • Obtaining investments
  • Accounting and taxes
  • Business plan required by banks to obtain a loan
  • Fundraising from foundations

During the program, you will implement the elements that will drive or grow your business. Support includes testing your pitch deck in front of an audience of local investors, getting feedback from financial professionals and expanding your network.

Analysis

You will analyze your challenges and needs with SINGA in order to organize the appropriate support for the implementation of your plans.

Implementation

After two kick-off days, the support starts and consists of regular 1:1 consultations with experts as well as a monthly workshop and check-in with the program manager at SINGA.

Demo Day

At the end of the Acceleration Phase, you will have the chance to pitch your needs and uses of financial resources to an investor network in order to receive (seed) funding.

 

MEET PREVIOUS PARTICIPANTS OF THE SINGA ACCELERATOR

Michael is the founder of “White Gold™” – Egyptian Cotton Socks with a social mission. Every purchase of White Gold socks serves multiple purposes: you get a great pair of socks made from the world’s finest Egyptian cotton, support local workers in the Nile Delta, and build a migrant-owned and run business in Europe.

“White Gold™” – Egyptian Cotton Socks

Olga is the Founder of Christie's Bakery, creating precious moments with Cakes & Cupcakes. She already manages the bakery, opened 2 tea rooms in Geneva and is on her way to greater expansion. Stay tuned !

Christie’s bakery

Davut is the Founder of Altech and offers the service of supplying high quality aluminum profiles to customers in Switzerland, Germany and Austria. Altech meticulously carries out the stages of order, production, transportation and delivery.

Altech - high quality aluminium to Switzerland

Alison, Founder of Komiki - The kids art capsule offers parents of young children the opportunity to preserve and digitize their artwork into keepsake art books and apparel.

Komiki - the kids art capsule

Anouk and Marianne co-founded Serie K offering companies the possibility to repurpose their branding materials (banners, roll ups, flags etc.) and transform them into accessories made locally.

Serie k - upcycling sewable materials

Aimeerim founded SonKol, importing handcrafted goods made by women communities in Kyrgyzstan.

Son kol - crafts from Kyrgyzstan

Mustafa is the Founder of Safe-it, a mechanical design that could help save people’s lives in earthquake-prone cities.

Safe it - saving lives from natural disasters

Angela and Katya co-founded Brodex, an innovative new concept for the re-use of textile waste.

Brodex - upcycling textile waste