About the Conference
Celebrating Diversity, Collaboration and Impact
The RiseUp Summit, organised by the Female Founders Initiative Switzerland, isn’t just another event in the entrepreneurial calendar: it’s a movement. The summit celebrates inclusivity, diversity, and tangible growth. Our mission is to foster increased collaboration, ensuring that founders of all genders and backgrounds have equal opportunities to succeed. Our aim is to create a more diverse ecosystem by giving space and a platform to inspire and empower women and by welcoming all who recognize and value the power of diversity and collaborative spirit. Everyone’s participation is crucial in our joint effort to drive progress towards gender equality. Together, we can create a more inclusive and equitable startup landscape.
While the allure of becoming a “unicorn” startup is strong, we champion the Zebra approach — businesses that are committed to sustainable, impactful growth. At RiseUp, we champion this ethos, empowering entrepreneurs to build diverse, resilient, purpose-driven ventures that yield excellent returns on investment. Join us and tap into a network of like-minded entrepreneurs and investors. Amplify your business potential, foster invaluable connections, and ensure that in the pursuit of growth, you never lose the essence, the sparkle, that makes your venture truly unique. Be a part of this transformative journey, where we don’t just aim for the stars; we create our constellations. Let’s rise up, together, fostering an ecosystem that values diversity, sustainability, profitability, and genuine impact. Join us and tap into a network of like-minded entrepreneurs, investors and experts.
At RiseUp and with our initiatives, we empower entrepreneurs to build diverse, resilient, and purpose-driven ventures.
— Merle Zur, Lead Programs & Partnerships
Merle Zur
Merle is the Lead for Programs and Partnerships at Impact Hub Zurich. Her background is in Intercultural Communication and after having lived and worked in Germany, Hong Kong, the Netherlands and the UK, her path finally led to beautiful Zurich. When Merle is not moderating, building up partnerships or planning programs, you can find her outdoors on a run along the river or hiking up a mountain, on a yoga mat, or enjoying many good cups of coffee.
Marcela Durand
Marcela is Lead of the Female Founders Initiative and Program Lead in Entrepreneurship & Diversity at Impact Hub Zurich. She brings expertise in PR, event and project management. With a background in Entrepreneurship and Brand Management, she founded her own fashion brand and worked with several companies in the fashion industry. Marcela also has extensive experience in the real estate sector. Committed to advancing gender equality, she is passionately dedicated to creating equal opportunities for founders within the Swiss startup ecosystem.
Vanessa Mohrig
Vanessa is part of the Female Founders Initiative Team and responsible for Marketing and Community Building at STARTUP CAMPUS. She is a Marketing Allrounder with extensive experience in startups, SMEs, and global companies. As as a founder herself (started her own company a couple of years ago) she knows the challenges that women entrepreneurs face in the business world. This is why she is dedicated to building a strong community of inspiring women who empower, inspire and support each other.
Annina Graf
Annina is a project associate at STARTUP CAMPUS and part of the Female Founders Initiative Team. She holds a master’s degree in business administration and brings hands-on startup experience to the table. Passionate about fostering innovation, she’s particularly devoted to supporting female founders in the startup ecosystem. Annina’s dedication to gender equality fuels her passion for our initiative. Beyond the office, she finds joy in traveling and connecting with new people, embodying a spirit of exploration and connection.
Ana Luiza Davin
Ana Luiza Davin is a globally-minded professional with a passion for entrepreneurship and event management. With a strong background in business administration and experience across Brazilian and Swiss business landscapes, Ana’s journey includes managing a family restaurant and coordinating vendor relationships across Europe for a leading IT firm. Currently, she’s embracing motherhood while staying engaged with Zurich’s entrepreneurial community and pursuing an MBA.In her free time, Ana enjoys diving, exploring new cultures, and hiking in the Swiss Alps.
Johanna Mattila
With extensive experience in IT product development and customer experience, Johanna is committed to nurturing an inclusive entrepreneurial community. Her passion for our mission is palpable, driving her dedication to volunteerism. Johanna’s approach goes beyond lending a hand; she actively seeks to enact positive change, empowering female entrepreneurs to flourish at the RiseUp Summit.
Rachel Ware
Rachel is a driven self-starter, who does not shy away from challenges and is always eager to learn new things. In her journey, she’s worn many hats – from creating costumes for leading TV shows and commercials in South Africa and Poland; through co-creating a ~$150m VC fund in Singapore; to scaling up a leading e-bike subscription start-up in Australia. This year, she is excited to lend her varied life experience to a cause she’s passionate about – women supporting women. In her spare time, she loves spending time outdoors with family, and binge-reading crime novels.
