AI Foundry
ETH Zurich's entrepreneurship program that gives AI deep-tech founders access to supercomputing-scale compute, hands-on engineering support and IP-first venture building, run by the ETH AI Center.
Applications are now open
Applications opened on 2 October 2026. We review applications on a rolling
basis, so you can apply whenever your team is ready.
Questions? Reach out to
What is the AI Foundry?
Supercomputing-scale compute, hands-on AI engineering and IP-first venture building: the support research-driven AI teams actually need to become companies.
Europe produces excellent AI research, but too little of it becomes a company. The gap is rarely the science. It's the compute, the engineering and the IP work between a paper and a product.
AI is changing the start-up playbook. Technology cycles are measured in months, and AI founders need serious compute and engineering from day one. The AI Foundry gives teams access to large-scale compute infrastructure and the engineering expertise to use it, and helps them build a strong IP position before they raise.
Not every team needs the same thing. That's why we start with an intake assessment and build a support plan around your stage, your gaps and your ambitions.
Support tailored to each team
Every team starts with an intake assessment and receives an individual support plan built around its stage, gaps and ambitions.
Build
- Engineering & productisation
- Coaching & venture development with Entrepreneurs in Residence
- Patenting, IP & licensing
- Grants & funding
Access
- Large-scale compute infrastructure
- Investors & fundraising support
- Industry partners & customers
- Talent & office space at the ETH AI Center
Visibility
- ETH AI Center community & events
- Flagship stages such as the AI+X Summit
- Media, PR & channels
- ETH Entrepreneurship ecosystem
What it looks like
- Format: Continuous, not cohort-based
- Duration: Teams typically stay six to twelve months, starting when they are admitted
- Applications: Rolling, from 2 October 2026
- Compute: Up to 10,000 GPU hours per team
- Patent support: One patent application funded (up to CHF 15,000)
- Participation fee: 2% fee-on-raised-capital after joining the program, declining to 0% over 48 months from incorporation.
"ETH produces outstanding AI research, but research doesn't become a company on its own. I am very happy that AI Foundry closes that gap — pairing the AI Center's technical and IP support with Entrepreneurs in Residence from ETH Entrepreneurship, so founders get both sides of what they need to become successful."
Frank Floessel, Lead ETH Entrepreneurship
Application Requirements
Applications to the AI Foundry are open year-round, accepted on a continuous, rolling basis.
The application has three parts:
- Online form: Questions about your project, your team, your link to the ETH AI Center, and the support you are looking for.
- Documents: After you submit the form, we email you to request four documents. They are listed in the table below.
- Interview: Shortlisted teams are invited to a 30-minute interview.
external page Apply now for the AI Foundry
Frequently Asked Questions
The AI Foundry supports ETH researchers, students, and recent graduates in building ambitious AI deep tech start-ups, helping them transition from lab to company.
Full eligibility criteria are outlined in the program guidelines.
Yes, and we especially want to hear from you. We support you with IP strategy, a funded patent application and a clear licensing path with ETH, and we help you on your way to the ETH Spin-off Label during the program.
The AI Foundry uses the 2+2 model: low equity plus a small fee on capital raised.
Equity: ETH takes its standard spin-off equity, typically 2%, when a company licenses ETH intellectual property. This is the usual ETH Transfer arrangement and is not specific to the AI Foundry. Teams that do not build on ETH IP are not affected.
Fee on Raised Capital: The AI Foundry charges 2% on capital raised after joining, declining to 0% over 48 months from incorporation.
Anytime. The AI Foundry is continuous, not cohort-based, and we review applications on a rolling basis.
Yes. The AI Foundry does not require exclusivity. Taking part in another program, at ETH or elsewhere, does not automatically rule you out.
We review your application and get in touch about next steps. If it's a good fit, we start with an intake assessment. If the timing isn't right yet, we'll suggest other ways to stay connected, for example through our AI Founders Community.
For more information, contact us at
Ann-Lauriene Schumacher
Entrepreneurship Manager at ETH AI Center
Nicole Huber
Entrepreneurship Coordinator at ETH AI Center