Creative fundraising

Dear reader

Sparks, the new market segment of the Swiss stock exchange SIX, was launched at the beginning of the year. In order to make it easier for Swiss start-ups and SMEs to get on to the trading floor, SIX set up a preparatory programme of which the first 13 IPO candidates have now completed.

However, Kinarus has gained access to the capital market without an IPO. The biotech company carried out a reverse takeover and is listed on the SIX Swiss Exchange as of today.

Those companies that announced the conclusion of a financing round this week are on their way to stock market-readiness. In alphabetical order, they are Zug-based foodtech Avea, tourism start-up Chain4Travel, medtech start-up Lumendo, weather intelligence start-up Meteomatics from eastern Switzerland, IOT pioneer Nexxiot, Zurich-based fintech Numarics and Vaud-based Smeetz, which operates a ticketing platform for the tourism industry.

A mature ecosystem is defined by routines and best practice, but it also constantly creates free spaces in which new things can be tested. For example, the numerous incubator programmes are usually run by the public sector or large companies, but now two investment companies have taken the plunge: Polytech Ventures Holding and Fusion Partners have raised CHF 11 million from their backers to set up WeBuild Ventures. The industry focus of the start-up studio will be on the topics of proptech, mobility and fintech.

The approach used by the operators of wemakeit is new in Switzerland. The crowdfunding platform turned to its users and now has more than 4,700 owners that have handed over about CHF 6.4 million. 

Thanks mainly to the CHF 76 million that automotive supplier Knorr-Bremse invested in Nexxiot along with the existing shareholders, the Swiss innovation ecosystem received close to CHF 100 million in just one week, money that helps companies implement their growth strategies.

For example, through a strategic acquisition that extends the range of services towards the end customer, as Lausanne-based Astrocast has done. The operator of a network of small satellites in near-Earth space announced the acquisition of Dutch IOT company Hiber this week. Incidentally, the deal is embedded in Astrocast’s planned IPO on Euronext Growth in Paris.

Looking ahead, Investor Summit Liechtenstein will take place next Wednesday. Showcase 2030 with a focus on impact innovation is on the programme in Lausanne on 13 and 14 June. Swiss Medtech Day will take place in Bern on 14 June, and also on the same day Swiss Fintech Investor Day, organised by SICTIC, in Zurich.

Applications are open for the Scale-up Bootcamps on the topics of Fintech & Insurtech and Enterprise Tech & Cyber Security until 12 June. In addition, the deadline for the IFAS Innovation Challenge and Venture Leader Biotech is fast approaching.

Have a good Pentecost

Jost Dubacher
Editor, startupticker.ch