What’s next_Project

[Translate to English:] What's next_Project

The support programme for entrepreneurial projects

Applications open until 16 August 2026

“What’s next_Project” is the Z-Kubator’s support programme for ZHdK graduates, focused on developing projects with clear entrepreneurial potential. It enables you or your team to further develop projects from the arts, design and education using entrepreneurial strategies.

The programme offers low-threshold, early-stage and individual support. Supported by Zürcher Kantonalbank.

Please note the following changes:

  • There are now two phases:
    • Validation: 1 October – 31 December 2026, with up to 8 projects
    • Incubation: 1 January – 30 September 2027, with up to 4 projects
  • ZHdK graduates from the last 5 years can now apply.
  • Call for applications 2026/27 opens: 9 April 2026.
  • Application deadline 2026/27: 16 August 2026. 

 Who is the program aimed at?

  • All Bachelor’s and Master’s graduates from all ZHdK majors up to a maximum of five years after graduation (graduation years 2021 and later),
  • as well as academic staff (junior researchers) who are employed at ZHdK at the time of application.
  • Anyone who wants to actively refine, advance and realise their project from an entrepreneurial perspective;
  • and who would like to learn from the expertise of specialists and exchange with other ZHdK alumnae and alumni. 

 What are the benefits of participating?

  • Campus Card for access to the infrastructure at Toni-Areal (including workshops, photo cluster, editing suites, equipment rental, library, digital infrastructure, and more).
  • Workshops with experts on topics such as business model & strategy, prototyping, financing and company formation, fundraising, or presenting.
  • Individual mentoring and consulting by external coaches and the Z-Kubator team.
  • Peer-to-peer exchange with participants of the programme “What’s next_Compass” as well as the Z-Kubator community.
  • Building your own business network and opportunities to present yourself and your project.
  • Direct financial support of up to CHF 6,000 per project. 

Information sessions on Zoom
We recommend attending one of our online Q&A sessions:

  • Wednesday, 6 May 2026, 12:00-13:00, Zoom Link
  • Thursday, 2 July 2026, 12:00–13:00, Zoom Link
  • Wednesday, 5 August 2026, 12:00–13:00, Zoom Link 

 Jury 2026/27

  • Simona Boscardin: Founder ON FIRE; Lead Communications & Editorial, Stiftung Team Ensemble; What’s next_Project Alumna 2025
  • Renato Soldenhoff: Partner, Unternehmen ohne Namen; Co-Head, ZHdK CAS Crafting Futures & Expert, CAS Strategic Design
  • Nadja Stäubli: CEO & Creative Director, Sula GmbH; ZHdK Alumna
  • Yves Burgener: Programme Lead, Z-Kubator
  • Philipp Kotsopoulos: Head of Z-Kubator

Application

Applications can be submitted until Sunday, 16 August 2026, 23:59:

  1. PDF with all information required for the application
  2. Download template "What’s next_Canvas" (part of your application)
  3. Google Forms link to submit your application
  • WNP OverviewWNP Overview

Z-Kubator contact
Yves Burgener, +41 43 446 20 87

Showcase at the Creative Economies Forum 2025

  • Creative Economies Forum - CEF Workshop 2025. Image: © Jasmin FreiCreative Economies Forum - CEF Workshop 2025. Image: © Jasmin Frei
  • Creative Economies Forum - CEF Workshop 2025. Image: © Jasmin FreiCreative Economies Forum - CEF Workshop 2025. Image: © Jasmin Frei
  • Creative Economies Forum - CEF Workshop 2025. Image: © Jasmin FreiCreative Economies Forum - CEF Workshop 2025. Image: © Jasmin Frei
  • Creative Economies Forum - CEF Workshop 2025. Image: © Jasmin FreiCreative Economies Forum - CEF Workshop 2025. Image: © Jasmin Frei
  • Creative Economies Forum - CEF Workshop 2025. Image: © Jasmin FreiCreative Economies Forum - CEF Workshop 2025. Image: © Jasmin Frei
  • Creative Economies Forum - CEF Workshop 2025. Image: © Jasmin FreiCreative Economies Forum - CEF Workshop 2025. Image: © Jasmin Frei
  • Creative Economies Forum - CEF Workshop 2025. Image: © Jasmin FreiCreative Economies Forum - CEF Workshop 2025. Image: © Jasmin Frei
  • Creative Economies Forum - CEF Workshop 2025. Image: © Jasmin FreiCreative Economies Forum - CEF Workshop 2025. Image: © Jasmin Frei

Participants 2026

Digital Organ Works Catalogue
Nina Roth, MA Music Performance Orgel, 2025
​The Digital Organ Works Catalogue is designed to significantly simplify and support the work of organists and church musicians by providing a digital, easy-to-use, and comprehensive search function for organ works based on detailed criteria. At present, musicians must consult various sources — mostly in paper form — making keyword or advanced searches difficult and very time-consuming. The link in the title is a first prototype by Nina, who is also a data scientist.

More about the Digital Organ Works Catalogue
 

Image: Screenshot orgelwerke.org. © Nina Roth

Touriski
Anja Fritschi and Tara Jenkins, both BA Interaction Design, 2025
Touriski is an educational board game that teaches avalanche safety in a playful and interactive way. In light of the growing popularity of backcountry skiing and snow tours, the project addresses the challenge that life-saving knowledge about avalanche prevention is often presented in a dry and hard-to-access manner. Touriski translates complex topics such as risk management, tour planning, and emergency response into a tangible and engaging game experience.

More about Touriski

Image: © Anja Fritschi & Tara Jenkins

Kymu
Elia Salerno and Stepan Vedunov, both BA Interaction Design, 2025
Kymu is a complementary telerehabilitation ecosystem for pediatric neuromuscular physiotherapy that reduces visit burden and boosts adherence and autonomy. Therapists assign personalized home exercises and assessments via a web app. Children use a TV to perform guided sessions and motivating exergames. Kymu captures objective data like range of motion and balance, enabling remote monitoring and personalized care to improve outcomes and quality of life for children with neuromuscular conditions.

More about Kymu

Image: © Elia Salerno & Stepan Vedunov

Previous participants

Participants 2025

Para
Tabea Wschiansky, BA Industrial Design

ON FIRE
Simona Boscardin, BA Cast/Audiovisual Media

Fresq.art
Dzhuliia Kolodko, MA Interaction Design

Participants 2024

N'KO-LAB
Klervie Mouho, MA Visual Communication

KIM - Nachhaltige Kontrolle invasiver Mücken für urbane Gebiete
Meret Jans, BA Industrial Design

NEUNOI
Narada Zürrer, BA Industrial Design

Participants 2023

Gaze Contemporary
Joshua Amissah, BA Trends & Identity

Strobo
Susanne Barthl, Hanna Hodžić, Flavia Bienz and Jill Böhringer, MA Trends & Identity

hooq
Janick Zumofen (BA Industrial Design), Livia Zumofen and Beat Müller

Participants 2022

Flink
Zoë Urand and Roman Engler, BA Interaction Design

Maison Verte
Christoph Ibrahim, BA Trends & Identity

ARIS by ISYO
Stella Waldvogel, BA Industrial Design

Sai Bot
Tobias Gutmann, MA Fine Arts

Participants 2021

Elements
Timo Flury (BA Industrial Design) and Severin Meier (MSc Mechanical Engineering ETH)

netzwerk wildi blaatere
Johanna Benrath, Sarah Gailer, Fiona Schreier, Chloé Bourgogne, Lea Niedermann and Johanna-Maria Raimund, BA and MA Theatre

Somebodyelse
Eliane Zihlmann, Raffaele Grosjean (BA Industrial Design) and Pascal Felber (MA Game Design)

Participants 2020

5am Games
Selina Capol, Martina Hotz and Aleksandra Iakusheva, BA Game Design

Age Lab
Stefan Zahler, MA Design

Futuress
Eliot Gisel, MA Art Education

Participants in the pilot phase November 2017 - June 2019

Ateliers Dätwyler
Brigitte Dätwyler, Lecturer BA Art Education

Null-state / Chaosflöte
Melody Chua, MA Music Performance and MA Transdisciplinary Studies

Sphery
Anna Lisa Martin-Niedecken, Game Design