No drama, just hard work

Dear reader

This week, a journalist asked me whether the situation in the start-up scene is really as dramatic as the investment figures suggest. The amount of capital invested remains at a low level and it is certainly much more difficult to find money today than it was two years ago. The situation is not easy, but I do not see it as a drama.

First, companies are still able to attract investors. Bcomp has just completed a financing round of CHF 36 million. The Fribourg-based specialist in high-performance, natural fibre composites has come a long way and today it produces for Volvo and Polestar on an industrial scale. The new funding will help Bcomp scale its production capacity and expand on the customer and product side.

Investors are also finding money, with Spicehaus announcing the first closing of its second fund. Aiming for five to 10 annual investments, Fund II’s target is a portfolio of about 25 Swiss technology start-ups with international growth potential.

Swiss start-ups also benefit from the fact that traditionally they manage with little venture capital, preferring to generate sales quickly. Kyan Health is a good example: Deutsche Börse recently started using the Swiss start-up’s mental health platform, which allows global companies to offer their employees local access to personalised mental health services. A total of 150,000 employees and their family members in 55 countries already have access to the Kyan Health platform.

Even new projects are coming on to the market. AlpinaSana specialises in personalised nutritional supplements for the elderly and has just won CHF 150,000 from Venture Kick. AlpinaSana’s first production is already sold out and it has secured numerous pilot trials with hospitals and clinics.

Those that can demonstrate market success also attract investors. For example, dropz has already sold millions of its sachets, which can be used to add flavour to tap water. Now Daniel Gutenberg has joined as an investor.

In addition, the difficult business environment means that people are talking more openly about the challenging aspects of entrepreneurship. Examples can be found in our press review. 

Aargau Start-up Day takes place next week – online during the day and in the evening at Technopark Aargau. You can meet me next week at Swiss Biotech Day in Basel and at the Startup Champions Seed Night at EPFL. My colleague Ritah Nyakato will be present at Swissnex Day in Bern.

I would also like to draw your attention to the deadline for the Youngsters competition at Startup Days on 30 April. The deadline for the First Ventures programme is 1 May, and the application window is now open for the next edition of Kickstart. 

Have a good weekend.
Stefan Kyora

Editor in Chief, Startupticker.ch