Digitalisation start-ups in the spotlight

Dear reader

This week, the Swiss start-up scene made it into the global spotlight again. The reason was a growth financing round for Scandit: the ETH spin-off, which focuses on scanning and augmented reality solutions, received CHF 80 million from an international group of renowned investors, with the lead investor from Silicon Valley.

A survey of its members by the industry association Swiss Finance Startups showed that not only are a few outstanding companies such as Scandit doing well, but two-thirds of Swiss fintech start-ups are currently growing, with more than half recruiting new team members.

Apparently, the surge in digitalisation triggered by the pandemic more than outweighs the restrictions, such as cancelled business trips. Start-ups that solve a tangible digitalisation problem or increase the efficiency of products and processes have good prospects, as demonstrated by other financing rounds this week. E-signature start-up Skribble closed a financing round in the seven-figure range, VRM Switzerland, which is developing a VR helicopter simulator, received CHF 9 million from investors, Romande Energie increased its stake in proptech start-up Tayo, and the bike platform velocorner.ch also attracted investors.

OnCyt, which we portrayed in our weekly start-up pitch article, is looking for investors. The start-up has developed a product that can be used to monitor microorganisms in real time – a quantum leap in water control, for example, and quality assurance for many production processes.

Applications opened for two important competitions this week. The Ticinese Boldbrain Challenge offers 20 early-stage start-ups a 90-day accelerator programme, with participants able to win cash prizes worth CHF 120,000. A webinar for interested parties will take place on 17 June. The Swiss Technology Award has also started – the technology award is being given for the 22nd time

I would also like to draw your attention to a special programme from EIT Climate-KIC. The initiative supports climate-positive start-ups that have been affected by the corona crisis and also projects that contribute to the rebooting of the economy with up to EUR 500,000. The deadline is 7 June.

Applications for this year’s Kickstart Accelerator programme close on 8 June, and start-ups that want to pitch at the Swiss Blockchain Investor Day have until 3 June to apply. The next Virtual Venture DAY will take place on 25 June. The deadline for start-ups is 10 June.

Next week sees a series of interesting online events and webinars from investiere (2 June), Innosuisse (4 June), SEF4KMU (4 June) and Startup Invest (4 June). In addition, the Startup Forum Graubünden will take place virtually on 2 June.

Finally, I would like to draw your attention to  our articles on the support measures implemented in the German-speaking and French-speaking cantons. We have updated them this week.

Have a good weekend.
Stefan Kyora 

Editor in Chief, Startupticker.ch