April 28, 2017
Digitalisation as a Swiss speciality
Dear reader
In the past, Switzerland has missed some opportunities in the development of IT. However, there are clear signs that it is participating in the process of digitalisation. Numerous start-ups are bringing digital technologies into traditional sectors. An example is ETH spin-off Parquery, which has applied vision analytics to smart mobility and smart parking solutions. Parquery reported financial success this week and has also been able to get experienced employees on board.
Experienced founders are also behind the new forwarding marketplace CargoNow. The platform has started well, but the two founders also know that the digitalisation of logistics is only just beginning and they need staying power.
A more striking combination of traditional and digital approaches has launched EverdreamSoft. The start-up’s game, called Spells of Genesis, combines the collection and strategy of fantasy trading card games with features of digital games and blockchain technology.
We reported this week on another company that uses blockchain outside fintech: the start-up Food Blockchain XYZ wants to provide safety and quality along the food value chain with blockchain technology and its own sensors.
The success of the new online magazine Republik is also astonishing. The project brought in CHF1 million in the first hours of its crowdfunding campaign.
Digitalisation in the energy sector is the focus of DEPsys, which offers a solution called GridEye that simplifies the integration of renewable energy sources into the power grid. The start-up has been incorporated into a global accelerator programme through which the DEPsys team will work with several large power companies.
Start-ups that are concerned with digitalisation also receive support in Switzerland. This week, the Edtech Collider, an incubator for start-ups that deal with the digitalisation of education and training, was inaugurated at EPFL.
At the same time, traditional ICT support offers are open to start-ups outside the software industry. The Swisscom Startup Challenge is looking for start-ups that come from the classic ICT sector as well as young companies that digitalise other sectors. A tailor-made Business Acceleration Trip to Silicon Valley is there to be won, with the application period running until 7 May. And the Swiss ICT Award is also open to start-ups from all sectors.
Next week the Swiss Biotech Day takes place on Thursday in Basel. I will be there and would be happy to meet you.
Have a good weekend
Stefan Kyora
Editor in Chief, Startupticker.ch