The Entrepreneur Of The Year™ is highly respected across the globe as an award, as a program, and, even more importantly, as a mindset. Since 1986, EY has been committed to the unique Entrepreneur Of The Year program, which specifically recognizes the achievements of entrepreneurs.
The program, which was launched in the US, has now spread to over 70 countries. The associated Entrepreneur Of The Year competition is the world's biggest and most prestigious business award for entrepreneurs.
The global network of 50,000 entrepreneurs continues to grow, with 5,000 nominees and 1,200 finalists added each year. In Switzerland, the EY Entrepreneur Of The Year success story began in 1998. Since then, up to 50 entrepreneurs have applied for the competition every year. The jury selects one award winner from a shortlist of three finalists in each category.
You too can join the world's largest community of entrepreneurs and benefit from this unique program.
Program partner
Sponsors
Who and What Is Being Evaluated
Credibility is crucial to the success of any competition. The Entrepreneur Of The Year is underpinned by clear rules, binding criteria and qualified jurors who are completely independent.
The jury:
- Dr. Adrienne Corboud Fumagalli, CEO, Deeption SA / Deputy President of the ComCom
- Claude Cornaz, VRP, Vetropack Holding AG, Bülach, Entrepreneur Of The Year 2012
- Thomas Hanan, CEO, Webrepublic AG, Entrepreneur Of The Year 2017
- Dr. Paul J. Hälg, VRP, Dätwyler Holding AG / VRP Sika
- Dr. Sara & Christoph Hürlimann, Founders of zahnarztzentrum.ch AG, Entrepreneur Of The Year 2010
- Dr. Jan Lichtenberg, CEO InSphero AG, Entrepreneur Of The Year 2015
- Didier Maus, CEO, Maus Frères SA
- Simon Michel, CEO, Ypsomed AG
- Prof. Dr. Thomas Zellweger, Director of the Center for Family Business / University of St. Gallen HSG
The assessment criteria:
- Entrepreneurial spirit, leadership and acting as a role model
- Financial performance and business growth
- Strategic direction of the business
- Global and sustainable impact of entrepreneurial activity
- Innovation and future prospects of products or services
The categories:
- Industry/High-Tech/Life Sciences
- Trade/Services
- Emerging Entrepreneur for start-ups in operation for over two years
- Family Business in the third and subsequent generations
The Nomination Process
There are only four steps leading up to the Entrepreneur Of The Year award. You take the first step and we do the rest. We want to ensure that the competition is as fantastic an experience for you as it has been for others.
Four simple steps to participating:
- Fill out the nomination sheet (130 KB) and send it in by the middle of April. Duration: at most 60 minutes.
- We will contact you and conduct an interview. Duration: approximately 90 minutes.
- By the end of July, we will share your documents and our impressions with the jury. The jury will make an independent decision. The jury might want to meet with you in person in August as needed. Duration: 90 minutes
- On 30 October 2020, you will travel to the Gala at the SwissTech Convention Center at EPFL in Lausanne. Together, we will witness the jury’s decision on the Entrepreneur Of The Year.
Terms and conditions of entry and rules:
- The entrepreneur must be responsible for their business and play an active role in and hold a significant stake in the company
- The company must be based in Switzerland and a significant proportion of the value must be generated in Switzerland
- Staff of at least 40 (10 for start-ups)
- Business must have been in existence for at least eight years (two for start-ups)
- Minimum of CHF 10 million in annual revenue (CHF 1 million for start-ups)
- Family businesses: at least three generations actively involved in running the business
Costs and benefits
Entrepreneurs are risk-takers. They weigh up the options, invest in their vision and have an optimistic mindset. With the Entrepreneur Of The Year, it's a win-win situation for everyone.
Time commitment
- 60 minutes: complete the nomination form (March–April)
- 90 minutes: interview with EY (May–June)
- 90 minutes: jury meets the leading candidates (July–August)
- 1 night (award ceremony): award and recognition of competitors
Benefits
- Ten jurors conduct a valuable review of business competence and strategy completely free of charge
- This is a unique award, and the competition enhances the profile of your business enormously
- Ten events – held exclusively by and for entrepreneurs
Award Night
A unique event for entrepreneurs.
The 2019 Gala
The 2019 competition featured a broad spectrum of participants. Find out which entrepreneurs went before the panel of jurors and read their background stories.
On 25 October 2019, the vitality of Switzerland's entrepreneurship impressed the audience. The winners of the 2019 EY Entrepreneur of the Year competition were announced in Zurich under enthusiastic applause.
Further impressions of the 2019 award night
EY Entrepreneur Of The Year™ 2019 Highlights
Program
The opportunities and benefits of Entrepreneur Of The Year.
National events
Members of the Entrepreneur Of The Year network enjoy many benefits. Extensive, personal interaction with other entrepreneurs is a key element.
A variety of platforms are available for local networking:
- Alumni network for Swiss participants
- Entrepreneur Club for discussing topical business issues
- Exclusive trips for finalists of the Swiss competition
- Award night – the annual award ceremony for Switzerland's top entrepreneurs
- Professional events covering issues of current interest to entrepreneurs
International events
We visit exciting markets, meet entrepreneurs in other countries and share ideas across borders. Find out more about our international program.
If you have international interests, EY Entrepreneur Of The Year has a great deal to offer:
- Annual study trips to markets of interest to entrepreneurs
- Club weekend with entrepreneurs from Germany, Austria and Liechtenstein
- Strategic growth forums on topical business issues, future prospects and market opportunities in various regions across the globe
- Our NextGen Program 2019 with workshops for the next generation
- Venture leaders: for Swiss start-ups ready to take over the world
Current events
We bring together opinion leaders and discuss topics affecting you in Switzerland.
Hall of Fame
Find out who belongs to this elite group.
2019
Trade/Services
Fabio Ronga, beqom SA, winner
Marc Ehrlich, VIPA Lausanne SA, finalist
Philippe Chapalain & Xavier Badina, Go Concept Sàrl, finalists
Philippe Corti, Corti Spleiss Gruppe, finalist
Industry/High-Tech/Life Sciences
Ueli Jost, Veriset AG, winner
Christoph & Tobias Meyer, Seven-Air Gebr. Meyer AG, finalists
Dr. Piero Poli, Rivopharm SA, finalist
Federico Zardi, Casale SA, finalist
Emerging Entrepreneur
Patrick Thévoz & Adrien Briod, Flyability SA, winners
Olivier Cognet, Predictive Layer SA, finalist
Kim Ludvigsen, Interprefy AG, finalist
Family Business
Stefan & Christian Ganzoni, Sigvaris Gruppe, winners
Karl Enzler, Enzler Reinigung AG, finalist
Peter Fischer, Fischer Reinach AG, finalist
Master Entrepreneur
Dr. Beat Curti, Serial Entrepreneur
2018
Trade/Services
Christina Mair, Caroline Staehelin & Kristina Rebsamen, Globegarden GmbH, winners
Philipp G. Man, Chronext AG, finalist
Stefan Mühlemann, Swiss Fintech AG (Loanboox), finalist
Industry/High-Tech/Life Sciences
Dr. Christian Brönnimann, Dectris AG, winner
Romeo Corvaglia, Corvaglia Holding AG, finalist
Carlo R. Centonze, HeiQ Materials AG, finalist
Emerging Entrepreneur
Daniela & Emanuel Steiner, FELFEL AG, winners
Dr. Nicolas Durand, Abionic SA, finalist
Dr. Yann Tissot, L.E.S.S. SA, finalist
Family Business
George, Roger, Corinne & Fabian Kuratle, Kuratle Group AG, winners
Jan Schibli, Hans K. Schibli AG, finalist
Jonathan Brossard, Fischer Connectors SA, finalist
2017
Trade/Services
Thomas Hanan, Webrepublic AG, winner
Bernhard Russi, Boas Gestion SA, finalist
Simon Stampfli, Stampfli AG, finalist
Industry/High-Tech/Life Sciences
Paul J. Wyser, Wyon AG, Appenzell Steinegg, winner
Beat Zaugg, SCOTT Sports SA, finalist
Olivier Haegeli, Willemin-Macodel SA, finalist
Marcel Meyer, Robatech AG, finalist
Emerging Entrepreneur
Dr. Jurgi Camblong, Sophia Genetics SA, Saint-Sulpice, winner
Dr. Christoph Gebald & Dr. Jan Wurzbacher, Climeworks AG, finalists
Dr. Yann Tissot, L.E.S.S. SA, finalist
Family Business
Max Renggli, Renggli AG, Schötz, winner
Marcel Frank, Frank Türen AG, finalist
Jan Martel, Martel AG, finalist
Contacts
Do you have questions? Please don't hesitate to contact us.
Program Manager
EY Entrepreneur Of The Year™ Switzerland
EY Entrepreneur Of The Year™ Switzerland
Phone: +41 58 289 36 78
E-mail: Brigitte Keller
