My Red Couch Talk with Elena Weber

Posted on 9 September, 20269 September, 2026 by Angie Weinberger

Elena Weber is the Bridge & Accelerator Manager at SINGA Switzerland and a Business Partner at Renova. With a background bridging business law, entrepreneurship, and startup scouting, Elena helps non-EU entrepreneurs navigate the Swiss business landscape and build scalable ventures from the ground up.

In this episode of Red Couch Talks, Elena sits down with Angie Weinberger to discuss the realities of migrant entrepreneurship in Switzerland. She shares practical legal workarounds for non-EU founders (such as joint ventures and associations), the power of corporate mentorship programs with partners like Deloitte, and how her personal passion for extreme water sports—like cliff diving and freediving—helps her master fear and risk management in executive decision-making.

Key Talk Takeaways:

Unlocking Migrant Entrepreneurship: How SINGA helps non-EU founders and refugees overcome Swiss incorporation and visa/permit hurdles through incubation and joint ventures.
Managing Risk & Fear: How cliff diving and freediving teach psychological resilience, helping leaders distinguish between perceived fear and actual danger in high-stakes business environments.
Ecosystem Mentorship: The impact of corporate volunteering partnerships (such as Deloitte) and how mentorship led Elena to join startup founder Divya as a business partner at Renova.
Navigating Swiss Trust Dynamics: Why patience, relationship-building, and long-term commitment are the essential currencies for networking success in Switzerland.
Celebrating 10 Years of SINGA: A look ahead to SINGA’s 10th-anniversary flagship event, SINGA Stories, taking place in Zurich on 27 October.