“Innovation shouldn’t remain abstract; it should have a tangible impact within companies.”

Since 2025, Ahead has been bringing together key services for entrepreneurs and SMEs in the Zurich economic region under one roof. In this interview, CEO Chantal Stäuble discusses how the new startup and innovation center positions itself, the challenges currently facing businesses, and what support looks like throughout the entire entrepreneurial lifecycle.

Ahead has been in existence since July 2025. What’s different today compared to the past?
Chantal Stäuble: We’ve joined forces. Today, Ahead is the central point of contact for founders and SMEs in the Zurich economic region. Under one roof, we bring together the previous offerings of Startzentrum, GO! Microcredits, gruenden.ch, and KMU & Innovation. Whether it’s a business idea, a microloan, or an innovation project—entrepreneurs receive independent, practical support throughout the entire entrepreneurial lifecycle. The initiative is supported by the City and Canton of Zurich as well as Zürcher Kantonalbank.

What are your initial thoughts?
Demand has risen significantly since we launched: In 2025, we received over 800 inquiries and supported more than 600 founders and SMEs. Our approach is accessible: free initial consultations that are practical and tailored to individual needs. Depending on the project, we make our network of experts available. Our goal is to drive concrete action—whether it involves starting a business, securing financing, or launching an innovation project. At the same time, we are continuously refining our offerings to meet evolving needs, such as in the area of AI.

Chantal Stäuble, CEO of Ahead, heads the new Zurich Startup and Innovation Center, a nonprofit organization that supports entrepreneurs and small and medium-sized enterprises.

Where do founders and SMEs benefit the most?
We take a highly practical approach. For founders, we analyze their business idea during a free initial consultation and provide advice on the startup process, bookkeeping, and insurance. If needed, we facilitate microloans of up to 40,000 Swiss francs. We support SMEs in innovation projects with a status quo analysis, consulting (up to 35 hours free of charge), and access to external innovation experts and funding instruments. We see ourselves as a sparring partner from the initial idea through to implementation. You can read many of our inspiring success stories on our website .

What challenges do companies bring to you?
Many founders focus on legal issues first. But what often matters most is: What problem am I solving for customers? How do I test my offering in the market? We encourage them to seek feedback early on. Three topics currently dominate among SMEs: product and service innovation, sustainability, and digitalization and automation.

How exactly does Ahead support innovation?
We bring an outside perspective, entrepreneurial experience, methodology, and the right network to the table. Some companies need strategic input, while others require operational support. We often connect with subject matter experts from industry, universities, or Innosuisse. Innovation shouldn’t remain abstract; rather, it should drive companies forward and have a tangible impact.

Interview: April 2026

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