Startup Nights: dates, who attends, and how founders get in
An annual event connecting entrepreneurs, investors and industry leaders through networking, talks and startup showcases.
Verified ·6 official sources·Organised by Swiss Startup Association
The essentials from the organiser's own pages: when, where, how big, and how founders get in. Speakers, investor lists and past editions are on the official site.
- Next edition
- Nov 5–6, 2026 · Startup Nights 2026 source
- Where
- Eulachhallen, Winterthur, Switzerland
- Format
- in-person
- Startup pass
- Apply for a Startup Booth; founders must also hold a valid Founder & Builder ticket. The 2026 booth application deadline is October 17, and applicants are assessed against the published age, staffing, turnover, funding, scalability and innovation criteria. source
- Startup Nights Pitching Competition, with Impact Tech and Dual Use Tec
- CHF 10,000 per category (2026) source
- Cadence
- Annual
GeneralistPre-seedSeedSeries AGrowthPublicFoundersInvestorsCorporatesStudentsPress
Next edition
| Dates | Nov 5–6, 2026 source |
|---|---|
| Edition | Startup Nights 2026 |
| Venue | Eulachhallen, Winterthur, Switzerland |
| Tickets | startup-nights.ch source |
How founders get in
| Startup programme | Apply for a Startup Booth; founders must also hold a valid Founder & Builder ticket. The 2026 booth application deadline is October 17, and applicants are assessed against the published age, staffing, turnover, funding, scalability and innovation criteria. source |
|---|
Startup Nights Pitching Competition, with Impact Tech and Dual Use Tec
| Prize | CHF 10,000 per category (2026) source |
|---|
Meeting investors there
Founders can use the matchmaking platform to find relevant investors and schedule 1:1 meetings; an Investors’ Lounge and VIP area are also offered. source
Before you go: the hub's cold email to VCs playbook covers the pre-event outreach that fills a meeting calendar, and Causo matches your stage and thesis to the funds in its database so you know who to ask for a meeting.
Official links and socials
Apply
Prepare for it
- How to cold email VCs — book the meetings before you land.
- The 12-slide seed deck — what to have ready when a partner says "send me the deck".
- Pitch Deck Roaster — a slide-by-slide pass before you submit to Startup Nights Pitching Competition, with Impact Tech and Dual Use Tec.
- Accelerator deadlines — the application windows that open around the event.
Sources
Every fact above was read from one of these official pages on Oct 8, 2026:
Startup Nights: frequently asked
When is Startup Nights 2026?
Startup Nights 2026 runs Nov 5–6, 2026 at Eulachhallen, Winterthur, according to the organiser's published dates.
How do startups get into Startup Nights?
Apply for a Startup Booth; founders must also hold a valid Founder & Builder ticket. The 2026 booth application deadline is October 17, and applicants are assessed against the published age, staffing, turnover, funding, scalability and innovation criteria.
What is Startup Nights Pitching Competition, with Impact Tech and Dual Use Tec?
Startup Nights's pitch competition. Prize as published: CHF 10,000 per category (2026).
How big is Startup Nights?
Over 9,500 visitors attendees (2025), 150 startups startups, per the organiser.