Switzerland

Switzerland

In Zurich in partnership with Capacity

People with a refugee or migrant background come with skills that can benefit our society if used. The Human Safety Net for Refugees program unlocks this potential and empowers them to discover and fully develop their entrepreneurial qualities. Entrepreneurship as a means of economic and social integration is one of the main hallmarks of the programs we support. Partnership based on an exchange between equals is another.

We want to bring our employees and newcomers together in a spirit of collaborative skill-sharing. In addition to acquiring skills, our 'migrapreneurs' get to know the business world in Switzerland better, making their first contacts and starting to build a social and professional network.

The four-month program provides a combination of mentoring, workshops, and soft skills training that helps them take their first steps towards starting their own business or socio-cultural project in Switzerland.

In the Launch program, budding entrepreneurs learn the fundamental skills required to develop their start-up ideas: they define the scope of their project and outline the initial prototyping steps. Following this first ideation stage, the entrepreneurs get to the heart of the matter as their business or project idea moves into the implementation phase with the Boost program – covering everything from drawing up business plans to marketing and communication measures, right through to budget planning and accounting.

The program

Over 30 migrants and refugees participated to two entrepreneurship-programs in 2019.

Partners involved

Local activities

Capacity Zurich
Boosting refugees entrepreneurship skills

Our partner Capacity, based in Zurich, brings locals and newcomers together in a spirit of a collaborative skill-sharing, respectful environment. Through its two entrepreneurship programs, the start-up incubator fosters the talent of people in Switzerland with a refugee or migrant background.