PLUS Incubator
The support program for Circular Economy, Biodiversity and Food startups
The climate crisis and the loss of biodiversity are key challenges of our time. A shift in thinking towards a circular economy and regeneration is essential. With PLUS – the regenerative incubator – we support YOUR projects in northwestern Switzerland in developing business models in the field of the regenerative economy.
About the Program
Over the course of 4 months, you will be part of an incubation program focused on:
- Refinement of the business model - Develop and optimize your regenerative business model.
- Prototype creation - Receive a budget of up to CHF 1,000 to turn your ideas into tangible prototypes and get valuable feedback in your market.
- Pitching - Present your startup to a jury at the final pitching session.
You will be matched with a mentor that guides you through to ensure that you are ready to validate your assumptions or go into the market.
Bonus
If you attend an introductory workshop at University of Basel or during Global Entrepreneurship Week Basel, your application will be fast-tracked.
28.10.2025
Innosuisse Entrepreneurship Training - Circular Economy Fundamentals & Business Models
18.11.2025
PLUS Incubator Workshop - Building Circular Economy into your Startup/Project
What do you get?
Focus on sustainability and regeneration
Make or strengthen sustainability and regeneration into the core of your startup and solve environmental and social problems in an entrepreneurial way.
Free support worth CHF 10,000
The support services provided by the PLUS Incubator are worth CHF 10,000 per startup and are completely free of charge for participants, thanks to the support of BaselCircular! No equity is exchanged.
Practical workshops
Take part in interactive masterclasses that will help you expand your business skills and operate in a net-positive way.
Experienced mentors
Be accompanied on your startup journey by a mentor who will advise you on refining your business plan and prototype.
Individual coaching
Benefit from individual 1:1 coaching sessions with experienced industry experts.
Networking and collaboration
Become part of a vibrant community of like-minded entrepreneurs and experts in Basel, Zürich and throughout Switzerland.
Who is this for?
(Young) entrepreneurs – including teams or individuals who have recently founded a start-up or would like to do so.
Associations and small businesses (e.g., farmers, nurseries, food or zero-waste businesses) that want to strengthen their business model and focus on regenerative practices.
The focus of the projects/startups should be in at least one of the following areas:
- Circular Economy
- Food Production
- Biodiversity
Timeline
| Date | Phase |
|---|---|
| BONUS Workshops | Get your application fast tracked |
| 28.10.2025 | Innosuisse Entrepreneurship Training - Circular Economy Fundamentals & Business Model Innovation Garage Kreuzstrasse 4, 4123 Allschwil |
| 18.11.2025 | PLUS Incubator Workshop - Building Circular Economy into your Startup/Project Global Entrepreneurship Week Basel Memox Basel City Bankverein Elisabethenstrasse 15, 4051 Basel, CH |
| PLUS Incubator | How the incubator operates |
| From 17.11.2025 to 16.01.2026 | Call for Applications |
| From 17.01 to 23.01.2026 | Selection |
| 23.02.2026 | Incubator Start - Basel (location TBD) |
| March 2026 | Three one-day intensive workshops |
| April 2026 | Preparation of Market Test |
| May 2026 | Prototype & Testing |
| June 2026 | Finalization & Demo Day Prep |
| 22.06.2026 | Demo Day - Basel (final location TBD) |
Discover the cohort 2025
Why the regenerative economy?
Maintaining the status quo is not enough. To ensure a healthy planet, the regenerative economy is a system designed to create and deliver additional value on multiple levels:
- Social - Fair and equitable treatment of customers, beneficiaries, employees, and stakeholders.
- Ecological - Improvement of planetary health and resource management.
- Economic - Ongoing impact through sustainable business models, products, and services.
Regenerative actors "not only reduce negative impacts, but also contribute positively to the restoration of ecological and social resources" (SDSN Switzerland).
Contact
If you would like to learn more about this program, feel free to reach out to:
Heron Mochny
Program Manager Circular Economy
Sponsors
This program is made possible with the support of BaselCircular. BaselCircular is a public-private partnership between the canton of Basel-Stadt and the Eckenstein-Geigy Foundation. Its goal is to work with and for the Basel business community to build a networked innovation ecosystem and create structures and solutions for established companies and startups in the circular economy.