David Hengartner

David Hengartner is an External Lecturer at ETH Zurich's Chair of Entrepreneurship. He leads Swisscom Kickbox, an intrapreneurship program fostering innovation by empowering employees to validate startup ideas using Lean Startup methodologies. He teaches the 'Lean Startup Academy' course for Master/PhD students, guiding them in entrepreneurial ventures. Previously, he worked in consulting, banking, founded startups, and engaged with Swiss innovation ecosystems. He holds a M.A. in Business Administration from the University of St.Gallen (HSG), specializing in Entrepreneurship and Marketing, and a Design Thinking degree from the University of Technology Sydney.

Education:

• M.A. in Business Administration, University of St.Gallen (HSG)
• Design Thinking Degree, University of Technology Sydney

Research Focus: David specializes in corporate innovation, entrepreneurship education, and Lean Startup methodologies. His work bridges academic theory with practical application through programs like Kickbox and ETH's Lean Startup Academy.

Initiatives: He pilots ETH-branded Kickbox for students, enabling entrepreneurial validation via ethz.getkickbox.com. His efforts emphasize bottom-up innovation and cross-sector collaboration in Switzerland's startup ecosystem.