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IMD and Innovaud LeadiNNg to Scale-Up Program

Recognition Year(s): 2025
School: IMD
Location: Switzerland

The LeadiNNg to Scale-Up program brings together and leverages the strengths of Innovaud, the innovation and investment agency for the French-speaking canton of Vaud in western Switzerland, and the International Institute for Management Development (IMD). This partnership has supported the growth and success of Vaud startups in a novel way since 2022. A key component of the program is the collaboration between IMD faculty and experienced entrepreneurs in each session.

Call to Action

IMD and Innovaud have been supporting startups for many years through such initiatives as the IMD Startup Competition and Scale Up Vaud programs. Until now, there had been a gap in Vaud’s innovation support ecosystem for tech startup founders who, after getting their business off the ground and completing their all-important first funding round, needed targeted aid to kick-start the scale-up process, recruit talent, and grow their companies.

The LeadiNNg to Scale-Up program filled this gap. “CEOs are often left alone to make all the decisions when their company starts to gain traction,” said Patrick Barbey, the director of Innovaud. “With the program, IMD and Innovaud are aiming to propel startups to scale with even better support.”

Founding a startup can be a lonely process, and it can be helpful for founders to know that their peers are facing the same challenges. This is why the program focuses on building trust among participants. “Though we’ve had quite a bit of experience with startups and scale-ups, we did quite a bit of research and interviewed every candidate to design this program to focus on the essentials for them,” said Jim Pulcrano, IMD adjunct professor and faculty director for the program.

Since the program launched in 2022, it has consisted of 10 sessions of three to four hours each, held over six months. It emphasizes the themes of leadership, organizational design, strategy, networking, and community building.

Innovation Description

The LeadiNNg to Scale-Up program assists CEO entrepreneurs in Vaud to transition from startup to scale-up. It focuses on closing the gap between business learning and leadership skills while fostering and building connections. Entrepreneurs can grow their potential businesses without losing sight of the very innovation and offerings that make them distinct.

Participants’ learning journeys begin with a 30-minute call with Innovaud, followed by a 60-minute interview with an IMD professor to evaluate the firm’s scalability and program fit. Then a full-day kick-off session in Lausanne introduces them to the program and fosters a network of trusted peers.

Over six months, participants attend 10 sessions of three to four hours each, featuring insights from IMD professors and experienced entrepreneurs. Sessions are held every three weeks in the evenings on the IMD Lausanne campus. The program concludes with a ceremony in June in Lausanne.

The program’s content enhances leadership skills to effectively manage a scaling team. Participants learn how to build a scalable organization with appropriate structures, processes, and culture. Further, they develop strategies for effective market penetration, sustainability, and growth management.

The LeadiNNg to Scale-Up program emphasizes the importance of a strong community of peers and mentors, which provides essential support and insights. Serial entrepreneurs participate in sessions to share their experiences as well as offer practical advice and inspiration.

This program equips participants with the knowledge and tools needed to scale their businesses while connecting them with a network of like-minded leaders, supporting their journeys toward sustainable growth.

Innovation Impact

IMD and Innovaud share similar missions to positively impact leaders’ performance for the common good, and the LeadiNNg to Scale-Up program has achieved some early success in this regard. Innovaud benefits from IMD’s contribution to business and leadership skills, and IMD benefits from the cultivation of a positive entrepreneurial spirit.

Since its launch, 42 startup CEOs and other leaders have completed the program, and another cohort began in January 2025. “It was very reassuring to be able to discuss common problems and to be able to learn from other experiences,” said participant Deborah Learoyd, CEO and co-founder of Freesuns. Govinda Upadhyay, CEO and co-founder of SmartHelio, said, “The program gave opportunities to look into risks and new technics for scale-ups.”

Companies involved in LeadiNNg to Scale-Up have created more than 550 jobs in Switzerland and raised over 200 million CHF (approximately 220.6 million USD) in venture capital. TreaTech, based in Lausanne, secured nine million CHF (about 9.9 million USD) in Series A funding to revolutionize waste treatment and renewable gas production. Swibeco, another notable participant also based in Lausanne, has grown from 27 to 55 employees since joining the program in 2021.

Jim Pulcrano added, “With the first three cohorts of the IMD-Innovaud LeadiNNg to Scale-Up program, I have had the opportunity to help and work closely with the founders of very many Vaud-based startups. Through this experience, we have seen that we are having a very positive impact on the startups’ finances, staffing, and trajectories.”

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