Venture Capital Academy Switzerland

Presented by the University of California, Berkeley and Switzerland Global Enterprise

Small and medium-sized enterprises form the backbone of the Swiss economy. One of their key success factors was and is their ability to innovate and adapt – something that startups, often at the very forefront of innovation, do on a daily basis. A crucial source of funding for young companies is Venture Capital. Also in Switzerland, Corporate Venture Capital becomes increasingly important with corporates seeking to gain access to innovative solutions from startups by investing in promising young companies. To learn more about Venture Capital and its opportunities, join Venture Capital Academy Switzerland 2019.

Venture Capital Academy Switzerland is a three-day executive education and certificate program focused on the nuts and bolts of deal making for investors, entrepreneurs of startups and SMEs, enterprises, attorneys, and policymakers. It combines a theoretical approach with hands-on learning and will be held from June 27-29 in Zurich. Program participants are provided with the tools to improve their ability to define, negotiate, and execute early-stage investments and build effective venture and innovation ecosystem. VC Academy Switzerland is adapted from “500 Startups” and UC Berkeley’s popular “VC Unlocked: Deal Camp”, a program hosted twice a year at the University of California, Berkeley, and one of the university’s most popular executive education programs.

Modules include:

The role of venture capital in business strategy
Venture deal terms, processes, and negotiation (from the investor and startup point of view)
Modeling the economics of venture finance
Term sheet negotiations
The Swiss startup ecosystem, its financing players, and how to navigate the VC scene
Blockchain, cryptocurrencies, and the future of venture finance

Who will take part:

Angel, VC, and corporate investors, directors of innovation, startups and attorneys

VC Academy Switzerland 2018 participant from Swisscom Ventures:

"Intense, engaging, and very valuable 3-day program for anyone who is just entering the VC world."

Pascal Kalbermatten, Co-Founder Oakura Ventures:

“As co-founder of a Swiss blockchain-powered venture investment firm, I profited from the vast experience of the instructors around advanced cap-table dynamics. I believe the VC Academy can be very helpful for entrepreneurs and aspiring investors alike as you dive deeply into both legal and financial processes of VC deals, and gain a thorough understanding of best practices applied in Silicon Valley.”

Information

Date
Target audience	Angel, VC, and corporate investors, directors of innovation, startups and attorneys
Organizer	Switzerland Global Enterprise and University of California, Berkeley
Event language	English
Cost of participating	Regular fee CHF 4'500 / S-GE members & UC Berkeley alumni CHF 3'000 / There are a limited number of reduced price seats available for startup entrepreneurs. Details see further down.
Speakers	Gina Domanig, Managing Partner, Emerald Technology Ventures Adam Sterling, Executive Director, Berkeley Center for Law and Business, UC Berkeley Neil Dugal, Corporate Counsel, Omidyar Network, Nicolas Brand, Partner, Lakestar Karen Wendt, Co-Founder and President, SwissFinTechLadies Eugenia Balysheva, CEO, Dotphoton Luc Defferrard, Partner, Walder Wyss Romeo Bütler, Investment Manager, investiere.ch Roman Gaus, Head Zukunftsfonds, Bank Reichmuth & Co. Alexander Stoeckel, Partner, btov
Registration deadline	May 31, 2019 17:00

Program, Thursday June 27, 2019

09:00 – 10:30 ǀ Registration & Introduction

Welcome Keynote (09:30 - 10:30)

10:30 – 10:50 ǀ Break 10:50 – 12:20 ǀ Why venture capital? Exploring the role of venture capital in corporate finance and business strategy (Part I)

Neil Dugal, Omidyar Network

12:20 – 13:30 ǀ Lunch 13:30 – 15:00 ǀ Why venture capital? Exploring the role of venture capital (Part II)

Neil Dugal, Omidyar Network

15:00 – 15:10 ǀ Break 15:10 – 16:20 ǀ Training workshop on venture deal terms and processes (Part I)

Adam Sterling, UC Berkeley

16:20 – 16:30 ǀ Break 16:30 – 17:30 ǀ Training workshop on venture deal terms and processes (Part II)

Adam Sterling, UC Berkeley

17:30 ǀ Welcome networking reception

Program, Friday June 28, 2019

09:00 – 10:30 ǀ Local Panel 10:30 – 10:50 ǀ Break 10:50 – 12:20 ǀ Investment thesis lab 12:20 – 13:30 ǀ Lunch 13:30 – 15:00 ǀ Cap table lab - modeling the economics of early stage finance (Part I)

Adam Sterling, UC Berkeley

15:00 – 15:10 ǀ Break 15:10 – 16:20 ǀ Cap table lab - modeling the economics of early stage finance (Part II)

Adam Sterling, UC Berkeley

16:20 – 16:30 ǀ Break 16:30 – 17:30 ǀ Term sheet negotiations bootcamp (Part I)

Deborah Kang, UC Berkeley

Program, Saturday June 29, 2019

09:00 – 10:30 ǀ Term sheet negotiations bootcamp (Part II)

Deborah Kang, UC Berkeley

10:30 – 10:50 ǀ Break 10:50 – 12:20 ǀ Focus on Switzerland - Emerging issues in the Swiss startup ecosystem

Swiss Start Up Attorney

12:20 – 13:30 ǀ Lunch 13:30 – 15:00 ǀ Future of Finance – Alternatives to Venture Capital funding (ICO, SAFTs, Angel crowdfunding)

Adam Sterling, UC Berkeley

15:00 – 15:10 ǀ Break 15:10 – 16:20 ǀ Local speaker or panel 16:20 – 16:30 ǀ Break 16:30 – 17:30 ǀ Certificate Ceremony

Admission

We accept qualified candidates on a rolling basis and space is limited, so we encourage you to apply early. The program will be held in English.

*Participation costs

Regular Program fee CHF 4'500
S-GE members & UC Berkeley alumni fee CHF 3’000
There are a limited number of reduced price seats available for startup entrepreneurs who submit a motivation letter of 500 words to Damian.felchlin@eda.admin.ch subject "VC Academy Switzerland". Please include a description of your company, your website, and how you plan on using this education to further your company goals. Application deadline for reduced price seats: May 31, 2019

Participation costs cover tuition, all course materials, selected meals and Certificate of attendance. Travel and accommodations are not included.