The route to the mainstream

Dear reader

Getting the Swiss Entrepreneurs Fund off the ground was a challenging and lengthy affair. But now it is delivered. As announced in February, the first closing took place at the end of Q2 with CHF 190 million raised, which is now available for growth financing. The fund has not yet reached its target of CHF 500 million, but is now fully in the communicated schedule. It is difficult to understand the criticisms of the fund being voiced right now.

One of the driving forces behind the Swiss Entrepreneurs Fund and the Swiss Entrepreneurs Foundation is Christian Wenger. And the Zurich lawyer is not only active here: he has been on the road for more than 20 years as a restless driver of the Swiss start-up and venture capital scene, and is also active as an investor. Now he has been named Swiss Business Angel of the Year.

Wenger’s mission will not be fulfilled until more growth capital is available for Swiss start-ups and the asset class has become mainstream, and one in which pension funds invest relevant amounts. There is certainly no shortage of suitable start-ups for growth capital. This week, for example, medtech company AOT made a world first: its surgical robot, which cuts bone with laser, was used for the first time in an operation. L.E.S.S. has already attracted investors and closed a financing round of CHF 14 million, thanks to which its production of revolutionary lighting systems can be started.

Meanwhile, the Swiss start-up scene is attracting interest not only among customers and investors, but also among the general public. For example, the award ceremony for the first >> venture >> Grand Prize was broadcast live on Swiss television. Samantha Anderson won with DePoly: the team is developing a recycling technology that allows PET to be chemically broken down into its source materials to create a closed cycle. And on TV24, the start-up show Höhle der Löwen ran for several weeks and was apparently so successful that a second season is already planned.

The 10 finalists of the Swisscom Startup Challenge will also be competing In front of a jury. Today, the start-ups that will have the opportunity to win a customised business acceleration programme in Silicon Valley were named. Meanwhile, not only Swiss start-ups travel abroad, foreign firms also come to Switzerland: 103 start-up companies from all over the world will be in Zurich next Monday and Tuesday for the selection days of the next Kickstart programme, including some that have already raised a lot of money from investors. My colleague Ritah Nyakato will be there to report.

Have a relaxing weekend
Stefan Kyora 

Editor in Chief, Startupticker.ch