Skip to content

Growth Academy

Startups with a strong Product-Market Fit (PMF) grow 3x faster! Nail your PMF!

and benefit as 1 out of 10 selected startups from the Scholarship program for the next Growth Academy

About the Growth Academy

Achieving PMF is crucial for fast and efficient growth but challenging for startups. Those who succeed win customers more easily, grow faster, and attract more investors.
 
The 12-week Growth Academy helps startups systematically reach PMF with a customer-centric, measurable approach. You'll build your own PMF engine to continuously improve, make data-driven decisions, and accelerate growth.
 
The program is designed for startups (b2b, b2c) that generate at least CHF 100,000 to CHF 5 Mio in revenue and are aiming to grow much further!
 
Nail your PMF and build the foundation for startup success and sustainable growth!

Testimonials from participants

From day one we learned key aspects of the PMF concept. We quickly recognised what we could have done better in the early stages of our startup, and now our entire team is aligned to implement our PMF process.

1200_bera_71a3595_sm_cr-1

André Bernard

Co-Founder of matriq

The Growth Academy transfers theory pragmatically into practice. The structured method helps us to ask and answer the right questions. We have often asked ourselves why we didn't think of this earlier.

ZBte1xMF_400x400

Dominik Witz

Co-Founder of Konsento

Learning actionable strategies to sharpen our approach and accelerate the path to PMF has been invaluable. The diverse perspectives from fellow start-ups and expert insights are helping us see challenges from new angles.

CK Portrait

Christian Kramer 

CEO & Co-Founder of FOOD2050 

The academy was an absolute game changer for our established start-up. We have implemented an internal process that enables us to continuously increase the added value of our platform for customers and users in a data-driven way.

joel

Joel Singh

CEO & Co-Founder of Crossiety 

We now have a clear plan and the necessary skillset to measure, evaluate and implement PMF in our company using your process. This goes far beyond our previous intuitive efforts, such as surveys or a KPI dashboard, and gives us valuable guidance.

florence

Florence von Gunten

CEO & Co-Founder of YLAH 

What you'll gain from the Academy

A structured methodology

Gain the tools and insights needed to achieve PMF efficiently and effectively

Insights from top entrepreneurs

Learn from top entrepreneurs such as  Melanie Gabriel, Laurent Decrue, Herbert Bay, Raphael Schaad, Manuel Hartmann, Stefan Zanetti, Thomas Dübendorfer

 

Peer support and valuable exchange

Connect with other founders to share insights, challenges, and solutions through peer-to-peer learning

Work on your case during the academy and apply the method effectively.

Our Guest speakers

Each module involves one of the following top entrepreneurs.

Thomas

Dr. Thomas Dübendorfer

Internet Entrepreneur and Angel Investor, President at SICTIC

Talks about "Investors & PMF"

 

 

Melanie

Melanie Gabriel

Co-Founder Yokoy & Follow the Gradient, Angel Investor

Talks about "Message-Market Fit"

Raphael

Raphael Schaad

Founder Cron (acquired by Notion)

Talks about "Talking to 1'000 Customers"

 

Herbert

Dr. Herbert Bay

Co-Founder and CEO at Earkick

Talks about "Experiment efficiently and effectively"

 

 

laurent-1

Laurent Decrue

CEO & CFO at Holycode™, Co-Founder at Movu, Dein Deal

Talks about "Measure, learn adapt"

Manuel

Manuel Hartmann

Co-Founder and CEO at SalesPlaybook

Talks about "Making sales repeatable"

 

Who should apply

The Growth Academy is the best fit for Startups that meet the following criteria:

  • Revenue Requirement

    Your business must generate at least CHF 100,000 in annual revenue.

  • Ambition to Grow

    You are committed to improving and learning continuously.

  • Team Commitment

    Two members of your team must actively participate in the academy.

and benefit as 1 out of 10 selected startups from the Scholarship program for the next Growth Academy

Impressions from the Growth Academy

  • 1727103432296
  • 1727103429116
  • 1728310486725
  • 1726229636676
  • 1726229633483
  • 1728310481931

Key Program Details

Explore a step-by-step journey through mastering Product-Market Fit (PMF), from assessment to scaling, with expert guidance at every stage.

  • Module 1: Assess your PMF
  • Module 2: Extract the essence of your PMF
  • Module 3: Make your PMF measurable
  • Module 4: Build your PMF Engine
  • Module 5: Experiment smartly and efficiently
  • Module 6: Scale with customer success
  • Module 7: Strategy presentation and awards ceremony

Modules will alternate between in-person sessions in Zürich and online workshops to give you flexibility and access to a broader community.

Dates (Friday afternoon from 13:30 to 17:30):

 

Participants of the previous edition of the Growth Academy

Get more information

Excited to join? Book an interview and find out whether it is a fit.

Don’t miss out on this opportunity to unlock your startup’s full potential! Only 10 startups will be selected.

and benefit as 1 out of 10 selected startups from the Scholarship program for the next Growth Academy

What our experts say

“Product-Market fit is one of the most important pieces of the puzzle for a start-up's success. The Growth Academy takes you step-by-step through the challenges of PMF.”

Lukas-Frösch-1-1

Lukas Frösch Director Entrepreneurship at Swiss Economic Forum

“Many startup founders talk about Product-Market fit, but very few have a systematic approach. The well structured approach is a great guide to achieve it faster and more efficiently.”

duebendorferthomas

Dr. Thomas Dübendorfer Internet Entrepreneur, Angel Investor, and President at SICTIC

Meet the organizers

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit.

michael-sauter

Michael Sauter

Co-Founder

With extensive experience in innovation and entrepreneurship, Dr. Michael Sauter has coached over 100 startups and developed two startup programs. He brings a global perspective to PMF Factory, having spent time in Silicon Valley where he gained firsthand insights into scalable business models. Michael is committed to driving Swiss startups toward long-term success through deep customer understanding and data-driven growth strategies.

Martina_Portrait

Martina Biedermann

Co-Founder

With a wealth of experience in corporate innovation, intrapreneurship, and investor relations, Martina has played a pivotal role in fostering startup success. She has a proven track record of helping companies navigate complex corporate environments while fostering entrepreneurial thinking and building strong relationships with investors. Martina’s passion for innovation and her deep understanding of the startup ecosystem make her a trusted advisor for scaling businesses and unlocking new growth opportunities.

image-3

More about the topic

Download the free e-book!

Including Success Stories of Bexio, Xovis and Cron

Section I & II available now:

✓ Understanding Product-Market Fit

✓ How to focus on Product-Market Fit

✓ How to iterate towards Product-Market Fit

Download for free 

 

FAQ

Who are the organizers?

The Growth Academy is organized by the PMF Factory and NZZ Connect.

How to join the Growth Academy?

Apply using the linked form. Shortlisted companies will be invited for a virtual selection interview.

Where is the Growth Academy taking place?

The modules will alternate between in-person sessions in Zürich and online workshops, offering flexibility and access to a wider community.

What are the selection criteria?

Revenue: Minimum CHF 100,000

Ambition: A strong desire to grow and learn continuously

Commitment: Two team members are required to attend

As we can only accept 10-15 startups per academy, we will invite shortlisted candidates to a virtual selection interview to evaluate their fit.

Any other questions

Contact us at

✉️ academy@pmf-factory.com 

Powered by