SECO Start-up Fund (SSF)

Purpose of the SECO Start-up Fund (SSF)

  • provides loans
    (up to 50% of project costs; max. CHF 500'000 / project;
     repayment within 5 years) 
  • to investors with domicile in Switzerland 
  • for start-up business projects (within its first 3 years) 
  • in selected countries (see Liste of priority countries). 

The SSF is a loan instrument established by the State Secretariat for Economic Affairs SECO in 1997. The administration of the fund was delegated to FINANCEcontact in Zurich. This fund promotes private sector investment projects in countries with economies under development or in transi­tion. The projects must be commercially viable and meet recognised environmental and social standards.

Investments in developing and transition economies involve business risks beyond those generally en­countered in Western countries. The aim of the SSF is to share financing and risks with the investor. It does so by co-financing the initial investment phase. Financing by the SSF is in the form of a loan that must be repaid within 5 years.

Start-up Fund fact sheet

Presentation of SECO Start-up Fund