Many prizes, many start-ups

Dear reader

Many insiders on the start-up scene are convinced that the same handful of companies always win at Swiss awards and competitions. But this conviction does not stand up to a reality check. For example, this week the nine finalists of the Swiss Economic Award were chosen on Campus Day, and on Monday the WA de Vigier Foundation announced the names of its 10 finalists. There is not even one overlap.

And so it continues. Temenos is looking for the best fintech start-up. Seven Swiss start-ups will pitch on 17 April at the regional Innovation Jam in Geneva. None of these was nominated for the WA de Vigier prize or the Swiss Economic Award. The same applies to the start-up companies that were able to convince juries abroad this week. Bodygee won a prize at a major German trade fair, and Fotokite won $1 million at a competition in New York. There are now so many good start-ups that there are more than enough to choose from.

This week, not only start-ups were honoured. On Monday, the teams at Kraftwerk Zürich that had started digitalisation projects a year ago as part of the digitalswitzerland challenge were in the spotlight. Two of the projects that presented their results are of much interest to start-ups. The first project team using blockchain technology was able to officially set up a new company in less than two hours. The second group is working on a digital stock exchange that gives unlisted companies access to equity financing.

Speaking of equity financing, this week Polyphor became the fourth Swiss technology company this year to announce its IPO. The intention is that the biotech company is quoted on the Swiss stock exchange in the second quarter.

Next week you can meet me at the Venture Day in Zurich. My colleague Eugène Schön will participate in the innovation forum Forward in Lausanne.

Have a sunny spring weekend.
Stefan Kyora

Editor in Chief, Startupticker.ch