Joint effort to reach net-zero targets

Dear reader

Good Soaps, a Lucerne-based start-up that develops and markets sustainable detergents and cleaning products, has faced significant challenges with patent wrangles and lawsuits from a major German competitor. In March 2022, the Swiss Federal Patent Court dismissed the competitor’s objections, allowing the start-up to file a patent for its technology. Despite the setbacks, the start-up kept going and has continued to advance its ecological detergents.

Today, the world is celebrating Earthday and a reminder that the achievement of sustainability goals requires more collaboration. The scope and magnitude of sustainability-driven projects in which Swiss start-ups engage demonstrate the level of trust placed by organisations and initiatives in the young companies. Spacetech start-ups Astrocast and Swissto12 promote sustainability in space through their projects – nanosatellite IoT services and 3D printed RF antenna components, respectively. And Haelixa is joining a United Nations initiative to enable traceability in Peru’s cotton value chain – more on these collaborations in our article.

The 12-month accelerator programme Earthshots is also setting the foundation for a greener future by exploring how breakthrough science and deeptech can help reverse damage to the planet. The first cohort, comprising seven start-ups, has completed the programme’s first phase and will go on to meet local and European experts, enhance their go-to-market strategy and raise funds.

Zürcher Kantonalbank Asset Management’s new sustainable private equity fund will make an essential financial contribution to achievement of net-zero targets. The CHF 250 million fund will invest in privately held growth companies that contribute to decarbonisation through renewable energy, mobility, and energy and resource efficiency.

This year’s Swisscom Startup Challenge wants to boost innovations and technology dedicated to climate protection. Start-ups worldwide have until 31 May to apply to win the week-long exploration programme.

Innosuisse’s Swiss Accelerator is open for applications until 10 May. Since Swiss start-ups and SMEs currently do not have access to the European Innovation Council’s (EIC) Accelerator programme, Innosuisse has set a budget of CHF 86 million to support start-ups through this highly competitive programme. The funding amounts to a maximum of CHF 2.5 million per application.

Events worth attending next week include the Spark Award ceremony on 27 April, where you can meet our editor-in-chief Stefan Kyora, and the Meet the Venture Leaders Medtech event on 28 April.

Have a good weekend.

Ritah Ayebare Nyakato
Duty Editor, Startupticker