Fostering entrepreneurial spirit
HWZ becomes a partner of Youngpreneurs Zurich
The Youngpreneurs association is bringing its successful support programme for young entrepreneurs to Zurich for the first time. As a partner, HWZ is supporting the new location and assisting the programme in inspiring young people to engage with entrepreneurship during their studies, as well as helping them to develop their own business ideas.
Media Releases · September 7, 2026
Entrepreneurial thinking is one of the key skills required in a forward-looking society. This guiding principle drives Youngpreneurs: the support programme accompanies students from various vocational schools and grammar schools on their journey from the initial business idea to their own start-up. Following successful programme runs in Bern, Thun and Central Switzerland, Youngpreneurs will launch for the first time in the canton of Zurich from autumn 2026. HWZ is supporting this new location as a partner, contributing its expertise as an entrepreneurial university and its extensive network of business and industry contacts to the programme.
With HWZ, we gain a partner that embodies and imparts entrepreneurship as a university. Together, we create an inspiring environment for young people, where they can further develop their ideas, build valuable contacts, and gain their first entrepreneurial experience.
Promoting entrepreneurship together
The partnership provides participants with direct access to practical knowledge and valuable contacts. They benefit from guest lectures, real-life entrepreneurial stories, and exchanges with experienced business leaders. The highlight of the first Zurich programme cycle will be the Award Night in April 2027 at HWZ. Here, the teams will present their start-ups to a distinguished jury and guests from business, academia, and the start-up ecosystem. As a partner, HWZ will not only host the final but will also be represented on the jury.
Dr. Linard Barth, head of the Department of Entrepreneurship, Innovation & Academy at HWZ, sees great potential in the partnership:
Entrepreneurship begins where people have the courage to try out ideas and take on responsibility. This is precisely the attitude we wish to encourage. We are delighted to support the young talents of Youngpreneurs on their journey and to celebrate the first Award Night of the Zurich programme at HWZ.
Entrepreneurship as Part of the HWZ DNA
Entrepreneurship has always been an integral part of HWZ’s identity. The partnership with Youngpreneurs ideally complements this commitment and strengthens the link between schools, universities and business. In this way, young talents are given the opportunity to experience entrepreneurial thinking and action in a practical context from an early stage.
About the Youngpreneurs Association
Youngpreneurs is a non-profit association that aims to inspire young people to engage with entrepreneurship at an early stage. The programme is designed for students at vocational colleges and grammar schools, and is already being successfully implemented in several regions of Switzerland. Over the course of eight months, participants develop their own business idea in 16 practice-oriented modules and take it forward to the stage of a market-ready start-up. The programme concludes with the Award Night, where teams present their projects to a jury drawn from business, academia, and the start-up ecosystem.
The first Zurich programme cycle will commence in autumn 2026. The award night will take place at HWZ in April 2027.
