Hello everyone, I have a software prototype of an information system with applications not only to the finance industry but with IT outsourcing and other industries.

I am now looking for investors and intend to put up the company somewhere in the Canton of Vaud (probably Lausanne or Geneva), but with a global customer reach inclusive of Singapore, Australia, and possibly the rest of Asia. Can somebody please point me to the right direction?

Also, will there be problems if the stockholders (or majority of them) are non-EU citizens? Or does the Canton of Vaud require a local to be part-owner?

Your help is greatly appreciated. Thank you!

I think you would do better looking in Canton Zug or Zürich. You need a good private bank, and this would be a good place to start,

http://yellow.local.ch/en/d/Zug/6300...ment&where=Zug

http://yellow.local.ch/en/d/Zuerich/...s+Bar&rid=m7Tp

Shareholders can be anybody but at least 1 director with signing authority for the company must be resident in Switzerland. If only 1 director is resident then it must be sole signing authority.

This site (which I'm sure you probably found on google already & now I'm wondering why I'm recommending it) has lots of info on setting up a business in Vaud:

http://www.vaud.ch

This page in particular might be of interest:
http://www.vaud.ch/en/our-services/c...up-developing/

Many thanks, miniMia. I have already come across the information.

Anyone else knows about any entrepreneurship association(s), angel investor association(s), and/or networking events?

I would like to know for other cantons. Thanks.

You're looking for seed money from the Swiss Equity & Corporate Finance Association or Swiss Business angels association-
Make a very good choice who you're going to select. My experience: avoid corporate VCs.

PS: i know the IT outsourcing business and I've been involved in VC funding for my startup.

Have a try here:
http://www.venturelab.ch/index.cfm?C...36&page=118306
http://www.internationallink.ch/cvci.html (Vaud chamber of commerce)
http://www.science-park.ch/index.php (the science park of EPFL which has a lot of IT and finance start-ups and looks the ideal place for your business)

And you have large range of links here but I'll let you check them all by yourself lol. (this page is in french but most of the linked websites are in english i guess) http://www.vd.ch/fr/themes/economie/...nomique/liens/