As of February 1, 2024, student entrepreneurs from universities of applied sciences applying for the First Ventures program will have three options to choose from: Proof, Validate and Execute, each giving them a designated amount of between CHF 25’000 and 150’000 to advance to the next level. Registration is open.

Swiss start-ups are fulfilling their role as innovation engines for the economy as a whole. Artificial intelligence (AI) already plays a business-critical role in one in four young technology companies. This is shown by the sixth edition of Swiss Startup Radar published by the online news portal startupticker.ch and the University of Lausanne.

Die Technologie von MATIS bewahrt vor Kunstfälschungen, diejenige von matriq macht Kunststoffprodukte auf besonders effiziente Weise rückverfolgbar. Beide gewannen einen Swiss Technology Award am gestrigen Swiss Innovation Forum. Der Anlass fand in dieser Form zum letzten Mal statt und wird durch die Open i Konferenz in Zürich abgelöst.

Swiss company Ferrum AG acquired the operations and assets of QualySense, a startup focused on AI-powered grain, seed and bean sorting technologies, with the aim to expand the business and set new benchmarks for sustainability within the food industry. QualySense’s team, including their co-founder, joined the newly formed Ferrum Analytics and Sorting AG.

Die Gesundheitsplattform für Männer sammelte in einer ersten Finanzierungsrunde 1.45 Millionen Franken ein. Investiert haben neben dem österreichischen Digital Health-Investor Calm/Storm Ventures unter anderem Best Smile-Gründer Ertan Wittwer und Oviva-Chef Kai Eberhardt.

The Making Innovation a Reality Africa Health Initiative (MIRAHI) is going into the third edition with four startups selected that will travel to south Africa to investigate the potential of their solutions in the market. The startups are developing solutions to tackle sepsis in newborns, the pregnancy condition preeclampsia, phone addiction and inclusiveness in the medical field.

The IMD World Competitiveness Center has published its seventh edition of the World Digital Competitiveness Ranking, with Switzerland in fifth place for the second consecutive year. The United States topped the ranking with outstanding results across all three broad categories.

St. Gallen-based startup Health Yourself, providing a digital health care solution from testing to treatments, has finalised its seed financing round, securing an undisclosed amount. The proceeds from the round will flow into further marketplace developments for medical services and expansion into the B2B market.

TOLREMO therapeutics AG, the startup on a mission to prevent non-genetic cancer drug resistance, has dosed the first patient in its first-in-human clinical trial evaluating the safety and tolerability, pharmacokinetics, and pharmacodynamics of its lead candidate, TT125-802, in patients across a range of solid tumor indications.

The Geneva-based startup RefFIT offers software for analysing spectroscopic data in material science, enabling users to apply the tool without requiring expert training. This reduces time and costs in data analysis and model development for its growing user base. The startup won the third stage of the Venture Kick program, winning CHF 150,000 to propel its development.

Die Abrechnungsplattform von zevvy unterstützt das Strommanagement in Liegenschaften mit Solar- und Speicheranwendungen. Jetzt gaben die Luzerner den Abschluss einer Finanzierungsrunde bekannt.

Nineteen startups have obtained support from Innosuisse to participate in the upcoming SLUSH 2023 entrepreneur conference, which will take place in Helsinki, Finland from November 30 to December 1, 2023. The complete Swiss delegation will showcase Switzerland’s Innovation prowess to a global audience.

Federal Councillor Albert Rösti presented a CHF 20,000 cheque to ETH startup Irmos Technologies after winning the Swiss Innovation Challenge. Impressed by the startup’s solution for maximising the service life of existing buildings and bridges, the Ulrich-Stamm Charitable Foundation also awarded the startup a special “Construction” prize.

Dutch-Swiss biotech startup Cradle has raised a $24 million in Series A funding. The company, which leverages the potential of generative AI for precise bioengineering, has convinced Index Ventures and Kindred Capital, as well as high-level angel investors, such as Tom Glocer, former CEO of Thomson Reuters and Lead Director of pharma giant Merck.

Compremium, CoreMedic, Cutiss, Comphya and Novostia are making strides in the field of healthcare. Their solutions, addressing critical medical challenges from heart valve diseases to grave skin defects and erectile dysfunction, are currently being tested in humans.

In der gestern Abend ausgestrahlten vierten Folge von «Die Höhle der Löwen» stiessen zwei der der fünf vorgestellten Startups auf Interesse. In beiden Fällen führten die anschliessenden Verhandlungen zu einem Abschluss: Bei Galventa stiegen die Jurymitglieder mit 400 00 Franken ein, bei Lakeside Valley mit 200 000 Franken.

The regional jury of the Boldbrain Startup Challenge has picked the ten finalists who will present their innovative projects at the Award Ceremony, scheduled for Thursday, December 7th, at the Palazzo dei Congressi in Lugano.

The current cohort in the Kickstart program is working on diverse solutions, from digital workforce and renewable energy in underground spaces to quantum-resilient cybersecurity solutions. Fifteen Swiss startups secured 16 collaboration deals with different organisations.

Bis 2028 wird der Innovationspark in Allschwil etappenweise von heute 50'000 Quadratmeter auf rund 115’000 Quadratmeter wachsen. Für die vier neuen Gebäude, die Teil des Main Campus des Switzerland Innovation Park Basel Area werden, investiert der private Investor Senn Resources AG rund 350 Millionen Franken.

Effective today, the newly launched matchmaking tool RUNWAY will support innovators seeking funding and empower investors to direct capital towards clean and efficient ventures. Launched by the Solar Impulse Foundation, the initiative aims to accelerate the funding process for cleantech solutions.

HoliYou, MyHandyPlus, Oba!, Sway Finance font désormais partie du programme d’accélération de GENILEM. Porteuses d’innovation et futures créatrices d’emplois, ces startups remportent trois années de coaching personnalisé pour atteindre leurs objectifs de développement.

Fourteen startups, scale-ups and small and medium-sized enterprises have enrolled for the third edition of the six-month Sparks IPO Academy to prepare for their initial public offering. The companies offer a variety of solutions spanning from fintech, Agritech, and industry 4.0 to life sciences.

Three Swiss startups, Avelo, Interax Biotech and AICA are part of different consortiums working on new European-funded projects to address lower respiratory tract infections, develop new methods for characterising the intracellular functions of drug candidates and train robots to disassemble batteries.

Zum achten Mal erscheint die Forbes «unter 30» Liste für Deutschland, Österreich und die Schweiz. Unter den 30 ausgewählten Personen aus der Schweiz stellen Startup-Gründerinnen und Gründer die grösste Gruppe. Hinzu kommen eine Investorin und ein Investor.

Switzerland boasts several startups that leverage today’s advanced technologies to tackle climate-related issues. Four of these companies have received awards from multiple competitions, recognising their innovative solutions for managing energy consumption, recycling fibreglass, and making sustainability reporting easy.

Odne obtained a second FDA clearance and incorporated a subsidiary in the US. The dental medicine company focussing on innovative root canal treatments is now preparing for market launch in the USA in 2024. It is the first commercial market for the start-up.

After receiving the CE mark for its patented Sono-Instruments last week, Spirecut is entering multiple healthcare markets in 2024. Spirecut's exclusive distribution partnerships with Curmed AG in Switzerland and Sovereign Medical Group in the UK, Ireland, USA, and Canada signal a strategic market entry into these key regions.

The neurostimulating medical device from Zurich-based startup MYNERVA helps to reduce chronic pain and to restore the sense of touch in patients suffering from diabetic neuropathy. The startup impressed the jury of the DCB Open Innovation Challenge, winning CHF 100’000 including in-kind suppor to advance the solution.

Miamind, der patienten-spezifische Neurostimulator für nicht-invasive Hirnstimulation kann nun in der Schweiz und Grossbritannien von Neurologen und Psychiatern eingesetzt werden. Das Gerät wurde bei Swissmedic und der britischen Aufsichtsbehörde offiziell registriert. Neurostimulation könnte bei verschiedenen psychischen und neurologischen Erkrankungen genutzt werden.

Fabas sichert sich den Grand Prix Bio Suisse, Neosens siegt bei der Swiss Sustainability Challenge, Publicis Sapient zeichnet Previse mit dem Titel «Best Supply and Trading Solutions» aus und Eggfield und IRISgo holen sich Auszeichnungen an der Igeho. Über das gewonnene Preisgeld und die erhaltenen Förderangebote hinaus, unterstreichen diese Auszeichnungen die Relevanz Schweizer Startups für eine nachhaltigere Zukunft.

Die Migros Zürich hat nach eingehender Prüfung eine Innovation des Schweizer Startups Axino für die Messung der Kerntemperatur von Lebensmitteln in ihren Filialen eingeführt. Die Axino-Lösung wird nun auch in den Migros-Genossenschaften Genf, Waadt, Neuchâtel/Fribourg sowie bei Migrolino getestet.

Dank digitalem Prozess ohne Vor-Ort-Besichtigung kann das Startup Norm Energieausweise deutlich schneller liefern als dies bisher möglich war. Bei der Swiss Life können grüne Hypotheken nun auch mit dem Norm-Ausweis abgeschlossen werden. Swiss Life ist der erste grosse Kunde, den das Startup, hinter dem ein erfahrenes Gründerteam steht, bekanntgeben kann.

In a strategic move to reposition its focus on its core RNA delivery technology, Altamira Technologies has sold a majority stake in its subsidiary Altamira Medica AG to a Swiss private equity investor for CHF 2 million. The subsidiary develops and commercialises Bentrio®, an FDA-cleared, drug-free OTC nasal spray for treating allergic rhinitis.

Evolva Holding SA, a pioneer in natural molecules and industrial biotech, faced the risk of shutting down its wholly-owned operating subsidiary, Evolva AG, due to financial difficulties. To avoid this, the company agreed to sell all of its business operations to Danstar Ferment AG, a Swiss affiliate of Lallemand Inc., for CHF 20 million. This deal is considered the best possible outcome for the company and its stakeholders.

Belgian hospital AZ Groeninge is the first health institute in the country to implement PIPRA’s AI risk prediction tool, which helps prevent post-operative delirium in patients over 60 years of age undergoing surgery. AZ Groeninge will implement the tool into its existing clinical workflow. In addition, they are embarking on a collaborative project to develop an innovative AI-based delirium risk assessment tool for ICU patients.

ETH Zurich spin-off Alivion has secured CHF 3.8 million in funding to accelerate the ongoing development of its breath analysis platform and to test it in patients. The funding comprises a capital increase and a non-dilutive grant from Innosuisse.

Long-term collaboration, access to a global network, coaching, and funding are some of the benefits that Aidonic, Algorized, and Digipharm will exploit during the next months to promote their business development. The three startups have been selected to participate in some of the world’s most prominent accelerator programs, giving them a platform to fast-track their growth.

Boehringer Ingelheim expands its immuno-oncology portfolio with the acquisition of bacterial cancer therapy specialist T3 Pharma, a clinical stage biotech company, based in Allschwil. T3 Pharma has developed a proprietary therapy platform that uses live bacteria to deliver immune-modulating proteins to cancer cells and tumor micro-environments. Operations of T3 Pharma will be kept in the Basel region following the acquisition.

Following its positive beginnings in the US market, which included a collaboration with the US army, LatticeFlow has established a firm based in the country with a new legal entity based in San Francisco and a team to oversee operations. This strategic move marks a pivotal expansion moment in the startup’s growth journey.

Lucerne-based creative agency [COLLECTIVE] created the art marketplace PLAKATIV.STORE. Launched in March 2022, the platform is already selling around 120 posters monthly, underlining the popular demand for affordable art.

Qaptis, a Swiss start-up developing a technology for capturing CO2 at source, on board heavy-duty vehicles, and Friderici Spécial, a Swiss leader in road transport, have just signed a strategic partnership, embarking on a bench test campaign to refine the technology before integrating it into a company truck.

Elephants' first three campaigns were a tremendous success. In just ten days each, co-owners were attracted for three iconic luxury watches. A total of almost 150,000 Swiss francs was raised. The Ticino-based start-up is constantly expanding the platform, and the next big step will be the launch of a secondary market.

The finale of the fourth edition of the SEF.WomenAward will take place on 8 March in Zurich to recognise women with an outstanding track record in entrepreneurship. The jury has selected six female founders and leaders for the categories «Young Entrepreneur of the Year» and the «Entrepreneur/CEO of the Year».

FOUND, a tech startup shaking up the recruitment space using artificial intelligence and data science, has raised CHF 2.2 million in its first financing round led by arc investors and several strategic partners. The funding will facilitate the company’s growth and expansion.

Lausanne-based biped.ai, a pioneering Swiss tech startup, announces a successful funding round of CHF 1.2 million to fuel its growth. This significant investment underscores the tech community's confidence in biped.ai's groundbreaking solution for enhancing the mobility of blind and visually impaired individuals. The funding round attracted a host of renowned investors.

Using advanced simulation and artificial intelligence, Transcality is building cost-effective and up-to-date digital City twins of the future to evaluate the present and plan the future. This solution impressed the Venture Kick jury, who awarded the startup CHF 150,000 to accelerate its development.

Deeplight designs the next generation of integrated photonic lasers for the telecoms and sensing markets and has received a Tech Seed loan from the Foundation for Technological Innovation (FIT) to enhance the robustness of its lasers. ProSeed upcycles brewing by-products into valuable raw materials for the production of food ingredients. With the FIT FoodTech loan, the start-up aims to optimise its technology and extend its market reach.

The InnoBooster program's selection committee was impressed by five outstanding projects, awarding them CHF 150,000 and support over 18 months. Two projects are dedicated to the development of sustainable and enhanced plant-based food alternatives, while three projects are focused on pioneering solutions within the construction, photonics, and legal sectors.