Startups and Scaleups

The PwC Startup Team is a community of solvers that delivers sustained outcomes and builds trust.

From Startup to Scaleup

PwC’s Startup Team is here to help. You have the idea, the product, the technology. We’ll give you the support you need: Tax Advisory, Management Compensation, Finance and Business Plans, Audit, Digital Assurance, Strategy Consulting, IPO and much more. We are ready to go the extra mile with you and see the project as a whole. From Startup to Scaleup.

Your Startup Team:
Blaženka Kovács, Petra Schwick and Didier Ehret

Get in touch                                                                                                              

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Our services

Indirect tax

Governments are increasingly looking at indirect taxes as a revenue source and at how reporting and collection can be modernised. In this regard, real-time reporting and e-invoicing are high on the agenda to improve compliance and reduce fraud. PwC’s Swiss Indirect Tax team can guide your Startup through these global trends and challenges. 

Indirect tax

Value chain transformation & TP 

Changing your business model or expanding into new markets impacts upon your transfer pricing. In addition, a stronger focus on sustainable business practices, transparency and your own company needs makes a review of your transfer pricing system even more important. We'll show you how to develop and implement sustainable transfer pricing models based on your specific company requirements.

Value chain transformation

Management compensation 

Startups are all unique – and so are their compensation systems. If it’s to do what it’s meant to do, any compensation system should be a good fit with the company’s strategy. A well-balanced compensation system helps to motivate staff and to foster loyalty to the company, which in turn can position the company as an attractive employer when it's seeking out new talent. We aim to work together with you in devising and setting up a compensation system that meets your specific needs, while being in line with your corporate strategy.

Management compensation

Accounting, finance & businessplan 

Your businessplan is the showcase for your business concept. You can use it to convince potential investors, and at the same time it will act as a useful handbook for your management. Therefore, it should not just describe your idea but also include evidence that your business will be financially successful, based on key indicators. In particular, you should identify all risks and rewards and note that investors attach great importance to detailed liquidity planning. We can offer you solution-oriented advice to give you the confidence and assurance you'll need for the journey that awaits.

accounting and finance

Digital Assurance

Welcome to the new world of auditing. Our technology-enabled audit works with the situation you’re in today. Change is tackled hand-in-hand with you and your team. We take the time to guide you through the ongoing process of identifying areas where innovation makes sense and ensuring that the transition runs smoothly, at a pace you’re comfortable with. Together, we will adapt your processes, controls, structures and corporate governance systems accordingly, as this is the only way to generate, analyse and make proper use of the necessary data for an impactful audit.

digital assurance

Strategy / Industry specialists 

Is your company strategically adrift, capability-constrained or on the way to becoming a supercompetitor? With codified strategic planning tools and methodologies, we help clients improve performance from the start and position themselves for success. Working together, we focus on differentiating capabilities, cutting costs to reinvest in growth, taking advantage of digitisation and opening the door for M&A opportunities.

strategy and industry

IPO / Capital market transactions

More and more Startups today are looking to drive growth through transactions, including IPOs, mergers, acquisitions, spinoffs, carve-outs or balance sheet restructuring. These deals can be highly complex and must be carefully planned, analysed and executed with great attention to the needs and concerns of all stakeholders, both internal and external. Proper due diligence and preparation in the structuring of the deal and the related accounting implications are critical to success, as is strategic and timely communication with stakeholders. Through our global network, our specialists are able to support you in any transaction you are contemplating, in any sector and country you may operate in.

capital market transactions

GAAP conversions

For years, PwC has successfully assisted Startups with accounting conversions from one set of rules to another: US GAAP, IFRS, commercial law or another national law. These conversions represent a challenge for companies as well as their employees and have far-reaching effects on systems and processes. It is therefore important to have a competent consultant who supports you in the implementation phase with technical expertise and an understanding of the business.

GAAP conversions

Legal

The PwC Legal Team offers a unique style of integrated legal advice. We not only provide you with answers, we also deliver solutions tailored to your specific needs and have the ability to adapt as these needs change. As innovative and entrepreneurial lawyer-managers, we work with your own specialists as a team with a focus on practical results - remotely, on site or wherever you need us in the world.

legal picture

Advisory

Markets and industries are repeatedly subject to profound changes. In addition, Startups must also undergo change if they wish to continue to grow. Whilst this brings many risks, the right strategy will also open up new opportunities. We can help you find the right strategy for your business - in Switzerland and abroad. With our sound knowledge and consultancy experience, we can respond to your needs, identify trends, and work with you to develop a successful long-term plan.

advisory picture

"PwC was able to quickly connect us with the right people for our concerns.”

Olivier KoflerCEO Carvolution

Our Team

ICT

Foto Samuel

Samuel Häring 

Senior Manager, PwC Switzerland

Are you wondering how to keep track of all regulatory changes and where you could have one single point of contact? With his extensive experience at PwC in Zug and Zurich, Samuel has a large network and knows where to find the right specialist. He will support with your daily questions from an accounting or business perspective and is also able to support you on your IPO journey.

E-Mail 

LinkedIn

Blaženka Kovács

Partner, PwC Switzerland

Blaženka's many years of experience in screening a wide variety of companies helps her to identify challenges, including those of young entrepreneurs, and to help them overcome them - from the first steps in founding a company, to going abroad and going public. She is specialized in industrial manufacturing and technology and brings a wide range of experience in supporting in the deals environment, internal controls implementation, GAAP conversion and audit services. 

E-Mail 

LinkedIn

 

Pharma/Biotech

Rahel Sopi

Director, PwC Switzerland

After years of focusing on multinational pharmaceutical companies in Switzerland, Rahel joined the Pharmaceutical and Life Sciences team in Silicon Valley for three years, where she successfully helped several Startups and established companies to go public. She understands the challenges and brings the necessary expertise and network to provide you with practical and efficient support at every stage of your business journey.

E-Mail 

LinkedIn

Petra Schwick

Partner, PwC Switzerland

Petra supports established companies in adding value to their M&A and IPO transactions. Specialising in pharma and biotech, she acts as a sparring partner for projects in the deals and audit environment and supports companies in bridging the gap from startup to scaleup. She brings together PwC pharma and biotech specialists globally to find pragmatic solutions for her clients.

E-Mail

LinkedIn

Medtech

Regina Spälti

Director, PwC Switzerland

Thanks to her many years of experience, Regina knows the typical challenges that young founders have to face during along the way. For Regina, short and fast routes mean success - which is why she is personally committed to ensuring that Startups are always put directly in touch with the right experts at PwC. 

E-Mail 

 

Blaženka Kovács

Partner, PwC Switzerland

Blaženka's many years of experience in screening a wide variety of companies helps her to identify challenges, including those of young entrepreneurs, and to help them overcome them - from the first steps in founding a company, to going abroad and going public. She is specialized in industrial manufacturing and technology and brings a wide range of experience in supporting in the deals environment, internal controls implementation, GAAP conversion and audit services. 

E-Mail 

LinkedIn

 

FemTech

Rahel Sopi

Rahel Sopi

Director, PwC Switzerland

After years of focusing on multinational pharmaceutical companies in Switzerland, Rahel joined the Pharmaceutical and Life Sciences team in Silicon Valley for three years, where she successfully helped several Startups and established companies to go public. She understands the challenges and brings the necessary expertise and network to provide you with practical and efficient support at every stage of your business journey.

E-Mail 

LinkedIn

Blazenka Kovacs

Blaženka Kovács

Partner, PwC Switzerland

Blaženka's many years of experience in screening a wide variety of companies helps her to identify challenges, including those of young entrepreneurs, and to help them overcome them - from the first steps in founding a company, to going abroad and going public. She is specialized in industrial manufacturing and technology and brings a wide range of experience in supporting in the deals environment, internal controls implementation, GAAP conversion and audit services. 

E-Mail 

LinkedIn

Cleantech

Stephanie Janoska

Manager, PwC Switzerland

As Team Leader Corporate Responsibility at PwC Switzerland, Stephanie is responsible for all activities around Environment, Community and Responsible Business. She also drives the project management for our net-zero commitment. In this way, she is constantly expanding her network with Startups that contribute to the SDG goals. Do you think your cleantech Startup has the potential to solve important problems? Then Stephanie will be happy to support you with her internal and external network to drive innovation together.

E-Mail 

LinkedIn

Blaženka Kovács

Partner, PwC Switzerland

Blaženka's many years of experience in screening a wide variety of companies helps her to identify challenges, including those of young entrepreneurs, and to help them overcome them - from the first steps in founding a company, to going abroad and going public. She is specialized in industrial manufacturing and technology and brings a wide range of experience in supporting in the deals environment, internal controls implementation, GAAP conversion and audit services. 

E-Mail 

LinkedIn

 

FinTech

Blazenka Kovacs

Blaženka Kovács

Partner, PwC Switzerland

Blaženka's many years of experience in screening a wide variety of companies helps her to identify challenges, including those of young entrepreneurs, and to help them overcome them - from the first steps in founding a company, to going abroad and going public. She is specialized in industrial manufacturing and technology and brings a wide range of experience in supporting in the deals environment, internal controls implementation, GAAP conversion and audit services. 

E-Mail 

LinkedIn

Consumer products

Sandra Burgstaller

Senior Manager, PwC Switzerland

Are you a Startup with a product that you would like to launch in the consumer products sector? Do you have many questions - but nobody to ask? Sandra is your contact person on the topic of Startup & Scaleup. She has been supporting young companies in their growth for many years. Her priority is to support you in your development without losing sight of the essentials. 

E-Mail 

LinkedIn

 

Blaženka Kovács

Partner, PwC Switzerland

Blaženka's many years of experience in screening a wide variety of companies helps her to identify challenges, including those of young entrepreneurs, and to help them overcome them - from the first steps in founding a company, to going abroad and going public. She is specialized in industrial manufacturing and technology and brings a wide range of experience in supporting in the deals environment, internal controls implementation, GAAP conversion and audit services. 

E-Mail 

LinkedIn

 

Investors

Blaženka Kovács

Partner, PwC Switzerland

Blaženka's many years of experience in screening a wide variety of companies helps her to identify challenges, including those of young entrepreneurs, and to help them overcome them - from the first steps in founding a company, to going abroad and going public. She is specialized in industrial manufacturing and technology and brings a wide range of experience in supporting in the deals environment, internal controls implementation, GAAP conversion and audit services. 

E-Mail 

LinkedIn

 

Jürg Niederbacher

Partner, PwC Switzerland

Jürg is an expert on tax and setting up structures for Startups, who as a "networker between the worlds" brings together Startups and all the subject matter experts they need. He supports Startups in a very pragmatic way in the further development and professionalization of their set up not at least to ensure future profits are taxed at reasonable level and unnecessary risk exposures can be mitigated. In addition, he is also a jury member at the Swiss Economic Forum Award. Privately, he prefers to ski in winter and play a nice round of golf in summer.  

E-Mail 

LinkedIn

Petra Schwick

Partner, PwC Switzerland

Petra supports established companies in adding value to their M&A and IPO transactions. Specialising in pharma and biotech, she acts as a sparring partner for projects in the deals and audit environment and supports companies in bridging the gap from startup to scaleup. She brings together PwC pharma and biotech specialists globally to find pragmatic solutions for her clients.

E-Mail

LinkedIn

Didier Ehret 

Partner, PwC Switzerland

In the Romandie Didier is responsible for all topics around Startups and Scaleups. He is passionate about promoting young companies in the Romandie, always keeping the entire Startup ecosystem in mind. He finds the connection of young companies with corporates and investors particularly exciting. In addition, he cultivates a close relationship to family businesses and especially to the NextGens.

E-Mail 

LinkedIn

Other industries

Sandra Burgstaller

Senior Manager, PwC Switzerland

Are you a Startup that doesn't fall into any of the above industries? You have many questions - but no contact person? Sandra is your contact person around the topic Startup and Scaleup. She has been supporting young companies in their growth for many years. It is important for her to support you in your development without losing sight of the essentials.  

E-Mail 

LinkedIn

Blaženka Kovács

Partner, PwC Switzerland

Blaženka's many years of experience in screening a wide variety of companies helps her to identify challenges, including those of young entrepreneurs, and to help them overcome them - from the first steps in founding a company, to going abroad and going public. She is specialized in industrial manufacturing and technology and brings a wide range of experience in supporting in the deals environment, internal controls implementation, GAAP conversion and audit services. 

E-Mail 

LinkedIn

 

All industries

Pierre-Alain Dévaud

Director, PwC Switzerland

Pierre-Alain is an expert in auditing and consulting for startups and established companies. He has accompanied a number of startups through to flotation and assisted young companies in matters relating to funding and to business advice, putting them in touch with the appropriate contacts to ensure they have the comprehensive support they need.

E-Mail 

LinkedIn

Didier Ehret 

Partner, PwC Switzerland

In the Romandie Didier is responsible for all topics around Startups and Scaleups. He is passionate about promoting young companies in the Romandie, always keeping the entire Startup ecosystem in mind. He finds the connection of young companies with corporates and investors particularly exciting. In addition, he cultivates a close relationship to family businesses and especially to the NextGens.

E-Mail 

LinkedIn

Would you like to learn more about PwC's Startup initiative?

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Contact us

Patrick Züchner

Patrick Züchner

Regional Business Development Leader Family Business & Middle Market Central, PwC Switzerland

Tel: +41 58 792 17 68

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