FAQs

Who can participate?

Anyone 18+ with inspiring ideas and an entrepreneurial mindset is encouraged to apply. We welcome both national and international candidates. Whether you have an idea, an idea and a team, or are simply interested in joining one, we would love to hear from you.

How do I apply to become an ICC Participant?

- Step 1: register individually as a participant by June 10, 2025, 23:59 CEST. This will give you access to the proposal submission link.
- Step 2 (optional): Create or complete your team. Once registered, you will be added to a matchmaking pool on a Slack channel and LinkedIn group, allowing you to connect with fellow registrants, form teams or find additional team members.
- Step 3: Submit your project proposal as a team by June 10, 2025, 23:59 CEST. You can find the proposal template here.
Teams selected to participate in the ICC 2025 will be announced on June 25.

How does a strong team look like?

We value diverse backgrounds and welcome a variety of skill sets (such as business, marketing, analyst, designer, technical development skills etc.). However, we assume you are familiar with basic AI concepts.

How many candidates will be selected?

Approximately 20 candidates composed of teams of up to 3 members onsite.

What costs should selected participants candidates consider?

Selected candidates/teams participate in the 9-day challenge free of charge. Accommodation (up to CHF 130/night for those residing over 100km from Idiap) and meals (up to CHF 30/meal for non-program meals) are refundable upon submission of expenses with receipts, subject to our Terms & Conditions.

Do I need to bring any materials?

Yes. Your laptop and anything you would need to develop your prototype. You will then benefit from our mentors expertise to develop your prototype and from dedicated sessions to build a strong pitch to present to the jury.

What’s the role of the mentor?

A mentor will guide and support teams in developing their solutions, offering both technical expertise and insights into market viability. If you believe you have the right expertise (the former, the latter or both), click the "Mentor" button to register.

What’s the role of the Aspiring CEO?

Innovation happens at the intersection of business and technology. We believe there are many businesspeople out there, and that, on our side, we have top technical talents and exciting solutions ready to be launched. By bringing these two elements together, innovation comes to life. The “Aspiring CEO” figure is designed to foster that connection, linking ambitious business professionals with leading technical minds in the AI space.

How can I support as sponsor?

As sponsor you can support in different ways. You can check our sponsorship tiers.

What are the IP rules?

Intellectual Property (IP) remains with technology owners. Teams using Idiap IPs must negotiate IP rights and royalties with owners when forming businesses. Applicants certify they own the rights to their submitted projects and are responsible for managing IP with involved institutions. Organizers claim no IP rights over submitted projects. Idiap employees remains subject to Idiap Staff regulations.

ICC and then?

Selected teams may win the Leap Forward Prize, a CHF 50K CHF award from The Ark Foundation that includes a one-year support package to help launch and grow a company in Valais. This includes incubation at IdeArk, near Idiap. To be eligible, you must be willing to establish a company in Valais and be legally able to live and work in Switzerland. Even if not selected for the prize, you may still be considered for standard incubation support at IdeArk.

Any other question?

Reach out to icc@idiap.ch