On the basis of our effective methodologies and extensive track record, the Swiss Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO) asked JAA to conduct a multi-country feasibility analysis and prepare a concept note for a 6-country program to support high-growth entrepreneurship and startups.  JAA was then selected, in association with Swisscontact, to implement the Swiss Entrepreneurship Program (Swiss EP).  Initially a 4-year program, Swiss EP was subsequently extended for two additional phases, for 12 years in total.  During Phase 1, JAA served as technical advisor for the program in 6 countries, and for Swiss EP globally.  JAA has throughout also served as the implementing organization for Swiss EP in Vietnam.

The project design is based on evidence that high growth firms disproportionally drive the sustainable growth of urban and national economies. These firms are best supported by a range of actors that form an entrepreneurship ecosystem, including incubators, accelerators, investors, trainers, universities, networks and local and regional governments. Swiss EP assists these actors in a variety of ways, such as advising incubators and accelerators on service delivery and achieving sustainable business models, developing effective angel investor networks, peer-to-peer learning trips for startups and entrepreneurship enablers to meet with international accelerators and incubators.

In each of the countries, Swiss EP support is organized primarily within local ecosystems: Ho Chi Minh City, Hanoi and Danang in Vietnam; Tirana (Albania); Skopje (North Macedonia); Belgrade and Novi Sad (Serbia; Sarajevo), Banja Luka and Mostar (Bosnia & Herzegovina); and Lima (Peru). The world’s most vibrant entrepreneurship ecosystems are clustered in urban areas where successful entrepreneurs and experienced professionals share their knowledge with promising entrepreneurs.  As such, mentorship is a core pillar of the Swiss EP. The project works with entrepreneurship organizations such as incubators and accelerators to drive connections between mentors and entrepreneurs, and to create a self-sustaining culture of mentorship that provides the foundation for a sustainable entrepreneurship ecosystem.

Some key impact outcomes across the Swiss EP project includes accepting over 6,000 startups into its acceleration programs, generating over 20,000 jobs, and raising over 580 million USD in capital. Over a third of these businesses are founded by women and attract 20 percent of the overall investment landscape. Swiss EP and JAA have consistently exceeded its project objectives.

While its core objectives and methodologies are consistent, specific implementation varies by country and even by ecosystem.  Swiss EP has also evolved over time.  In its first phase, Swiss EP was particularly focused on the effectiveness of entrepreneurship support organizations (ESOs) in supporting the emergence and growth of startups, and strengthening networks (e.g. mentorship networks, angel investors, women entrepreneurs) within and across ecosystems. In Phase 2, Swiss EP in addition increasingly emphasized ecosystem strengthening and deepening, and attracting investment into startups.  In the current third phase, Swiss EP is also increasingly focused on supporting innovation and innovative startups and scale-ups, the role of universities within ecosystems, emergence of local venture capital, and ecosystem sustainability.

‍

Duration: 2015 - 2027