Growing investor base

Dear reader

There is a lot of talk about the metaverse these days. The US-Swiss start-up holo|one already has a working productivity and collaboration tool for enterprise that is used by well-known customers. This has not escaped the notice of large US technology groups: the venture arms of Lenovo and Micron Technology, one of the largest semiconductor manufacturers globally, are among the investors in the USD 8 million financing round just closed by holo|one.

Investments in start-ups have long ceased to come only from traditional VCs. The importance of corporate VCs, as in the case of holo|one, and also of large companies that invest directly in start-ups, is increasing. And Swiss start-ups are able to attract such investors.

Geneva-based Miloo, the brand that offers luxury e-bikes and scooters and which recently opened a showroom in Zurich, secured about CHF 2.5 million in a financing round, with the Brunschwig Group, which manages the Bongénie-Grieder stores in Switzerland, one of the backers.

Another example is provided by Cloudworks, the operator of a digital platform for the entire handling of the building renovation process – HG Commerciale has increased its stake in the proptech start-up.

In addition, we also reported this week on several investments by long-time Swiss investors. Cleantech start-up Daphne Technology secured another CHF 4 million, with Swisscom Ventures (one of the corporate venture pioneers in Switzerland) and private investors introduced through UBS Growth Advisory involved. Serpentine Ventures invested in PatchXR, another Swiss metaverse start-up.

New investors in Switzerland also need new and/or larger teams. The student-led Wingman Campus Fund, which this week announced its first three investments in university spin-offs, takes care of the young talent.

A new matchmaking platform aims to provide a connection between the growing number of investors and start-ups. In a pilot project, the SuisseFund platform, launched by experienced founders, is currently testing whether the need is real.

Next week, the Start Summit will take place in St. Gallen – my colleague Ritah Nyakato will be there. The Venture Day in Zurich will take place on 22 March, and the Venture Challenge programme will start at ETH Zurich on 24 March.

I would also like to point out the deadlines for the DCB Innovation Challenge for start-ups in the field of diabetes and for the SEIF Tech for Impact Awards. Applications are open for the next Accelerator Workshop with Swiss Prime Site on the topic of cleantech until 28 March.

Have a good weekend.
Stefan Kyora

Editor in Chief, Startupticker.ch