Entrepreneurial thinking and action are part of the DNA of the University of St.Gallen (HSG). A study conducted in 2025 (link) once again confirmed that HSG is one of the best universities for business founders. Entrepreneurs with ties to HSG are active in a variety of industries, including health, energy, mobility, finance, and food, and their mission is becoming ever clearer – developing sustainable solutions to societal challenges. The lively start-up culture on campus demonstrates how innovation and responsibility can go hand in hand.
Sallea AG is an impressive example of the targeted use of entrepreneurship to solve systemic social challenges. The Zurich-based start-up develops processes for producing plant-based structures on which muscle or fat cells are cultivated for meat and fish substitute products. The company was founded at the end of 2023 by three women. The business expertise of HSG alumna Anna Bünter was crucial to its successful establishment – a strong example of the fruitful collaboration between HSG and ETH Zurich.
In 2024, Sallea secured $2.6 million in a pre-seed financing round to develop a proof of concept. The company had previously won $1.8 million in project funding and the Venture Kick prize of CHF 150’000. This was followed by being included in the top 100 Swiss start-ups. The team also received support from the HSG Entrepreneurship Ecosystem – for example, through the HSG Entrepreneurial Talents Programme.
"HSG is a great place for developing an entrepreneurial mindset. It shows you how to recognise opportunities, take calculated risks and create real added value in different contexts," says Jessica Farda, CFO of Noriware and participant in the HSG Entrepreneurial Talents Programme.
HSG offers numerous formats for training responsible entrepreneurs. These include coaching, female mentoring and the HSG Entrepreneurial Champions Programme run by HSG Entrepreneurship. Further, sustainable entrepreneurship is embedded in the curriculum, in courses such as Social Entrepreneurship and Sustainable Business Model Innovation, where students learn how to use entrepreneurial tools specifically to develop solutions to ecological and social challenges.
In addition to curricular and institutional support, student initiatives such as START Global also shape HSG’s start-up culture. The annual START Summit is Europe's largest student-organised conference for technology and entrepreneurship, where Pascal Bieri, co-founder of Planted, was named HSG Founder of the Year in 2024.
Planted develops plant-based meat alternatives and has set itself the goal of "removing animals from our plates step by step – bite by bite". Today, Planted sells its products in several European countries, employs over 200 people and is considered a pioneer in alternative protein research. The award recognises not only the entrepreneurial achievement, but also its contribution to society.
So the impact of entrepreneurial activities is not limited to Switzerland. As the Leading House for the Latin American region, the Institute of Management in Latin America provides targeted support to start-ups looking to expand into Brazil, Colombia or Mexico. The START Fellowship – a student-organised incubator and accelerator programme – also supports young entrepreneurs from Latin America and Africa by bringing them to St. Gallen for four months. Here, they receive comprehensive support, including workshops, mentoring, and financing – further examples of the far-reaching and comprehensive impact of entrepreneurial and societal engagement at HSG.
