Nicola Forster is a partner at ◆crstl, where he applies his expertise as a strategist, moderator, and keynote speaker. As a social entrepreneur and legal expert, he is committed to turning powerful ideas into concrete action. His work focuses on the intersection of society and technology, helping both private and public clients innovate and develop new ventures.

Advisory

Nicola leverages his extensive experience in public sector innovation and strategic development to advise foundations, scientific institutions, private companies, and government ministries. His work with crstl focuses on transforming future-oriented ideas into scalable initiatives.

Moderation & Keynote Speaking

As a moderator and keynote speaker, Nicola is frequently booked for a wide range of events. He is known for his humour and his ability to connect with diverse audiences and facilitate discussions that bridge the gap between civil society, government, and the private sector. His speaking engagements cover topics such as public innovation, social entrepreneurship, and foreign policy.

Entrepreneurial & Board Background

Nicola’s background as a serial civic entrepreneur is a key part of his profile. He co-founded the foreign policy think tank foraus and the innovation platform staatslabor. His work extends to the non-profit sector, where he currently serves as the president of the Fondation Science et Cité and is building the foundation Team Ensemble. In addition, he serves on the boards of the crowdfunding platform wemakeit and the Freundeskreis Tonhalle Orchester Zürich.

Nicola has received several awards for his societal engagement, including being named a Mercator Fellow and an Ashoka Fellow. He is fluent in German, French, and English, with good knowledge of Italian. Nicola holds an MLaw from the University of Zurich and has lived in Bern, Lausanne, Montpellier, Brussels, Berlin, Saint Petersburg, New York City, Addis Ababa, and Abidjan.