Broad growth

Dear reader

Two success reports came from Sleepiz this week. First, its financing round was increased by an additional CHF 1.8 million, and, second, it concluded a partnership with Infineon, one of the world’s largest chip manufacturer; this will allow Sleepiz’s sleep solution to be integrated into any smart home device.

Aeler also shows great potential. Thanks to more space and an aerodynamic design, the start-up’s shipping container reduces transport CO₂ emissions by 20%. To better meet the high demand, AELER closed a financing round of CHF 7 million.

Power wheelchair manufacturer Scewo received a further CHF 3 million from investors, which will go towards building up the market in Germany. And the Wecan Group is also all about growth: the fintech has attracted 13 banks and more than 70 external asset managers as customers with its compliance solution in only 10 months, and can now expand nationally and internationally, thanks to another financing round.

Two support initiatives show how broadly positioned the Swiss start-up scene is in terms of growth companies: 14 start-ups have entered the second phase of Innosuisse's Scale-up Coaching programme and 11 companies have joined the Scale Up Vaud programme. A total of 43 Vaud-based firms are now part of the programme and together created 800 jobs in Switzerland in 2021 and nearly 6,000 globally since they were first established.

Every year, the IFZ Fintech Study provides an in-depth analysis of the sector, and here also the signs are pointing to growth. Although the number of companies is slightly fewer, the median number of employees and generated capital has risen.

Our analysis of investment in women-led start-ups, which we publish every year on International Women’s Day, also delivered mixed results this year. In 2021, for the first time, more than 10% of financing rounds in Switzerland were completed by start-ups with a female CEO. However, the growth of this share is slow and the situation is even worse when it comes to invested capital, with only 4% flowing into women-led companies in 2021.

Applications are open for Venture Leaders Medtech until Sunday, with the prize a business development trip to Boston. The application deadline for Bluelion’s LikeMinded acceleration programme is also 13 March, and applications for the Swiss Fintech Awards are open until 18 March.

The next Startup Invest Venture Day will take place on 22 March and the eight start-ups that will pitch have been selected. Finally, I would like to mention a new service from Swisspreneur – the organisation now enables pooled seed investments.

Have a good weekend.
Stefan Kyora

Editor in Chief, Startupticker.ch