Open Application - Volunteer

Startup Nights is building its next volunteer team. This is a general open application for people who want to help shape the event but do not see the right currently advertised role. Startup Nights brings founders, investors, students and innovators together in Switzerland. The role is volunteer-based and unpaid, with flexible preparation work and event-facing contributions in Winterthur.

Tasks

Tell us where you could add value. Depending on your strengths, you might lead or support a workstream, improve a process, coordinate people or partners, contribute to communications or community or help deliver event operations. You will define clear outcomes, take ownership from start to finish, and make decisions within your area. You will work closely with a volunteer team and communicate early when plans or commitments change.

Requirements

• Proactive and willing to suggest and start useful work.
• Reliable and accountable: you keep commitments or raise risks early.
• Able to work independently and collaborate across a 60-70-person team.
• Clear communication in German and English; other languages are useful in some areas.
• Relevant experience can come from work, studies, community, sport or personal projects. Startup experience is welcome, not required.

Benefits

Contribute to a major Swiss startup event and help connect founders, investors, students and innovators. Build practical experience, relationships across the startup ecosystem, and a result you can point to. Preparation can be planned flexibly; event-facing roles require on-site availability in Winterthur on 6 and 7 November 2026. Startup Nights is volunteer-based and unpaid.

Tell us what interests you, what you have done, and what you would like to own. The application takes about 6 minutes. We ask for a brief background, your preferred contribution area, a concrete example of staying accountable when work became difficult, your preparation availability, and whether you can attend the required event dates if the role is event-facing. We review submissions and will contact you about a potential fit and next steps.

The Swiss Startup Association (SSA) is the umbrella organisation and the voice of Swiss startups. As a sector-independent non-profit organisation, the SSA gives startups a strong voice vis-à-vis politics, business and the public and works to improve the conditions for startups in Switzerland.

Beyond its political engagement, the SSA fosters a community for startups, recognizing the unique challenges they face. Through networking opportunities, educational sessions, and practical services, the SSA collaborates with industry partners to offer tailored support and valuable resources to guide founders on their entrepreneurial journey.