Swiss startups strengthen top management for the scale-up phase

More and more Swiss start-ups enter the scale-up-phase and recruit experienced managers to lead the growth. The most recent examples:

In April 2020, Evolute will launch its modern online application for wealth managers. Alongside the existing compliance, reporting, and control functions for customer and portfolio management, the online platform will offer an open marketplace for financial products and services. In addition to financial products, specific data and services, such as regulatory audit services and tax reports, will be offered on the marketplace as it develops into an ecosystem.

The new CEO Myriam Reinle, and Evolute’s 38 employees in two locations in Zurich and Lviv, (Ukraine), will develop Evolute’s fintech solution for wealth managers and family offices into a smart marketplace. Myriam Reinle brings over 20 years' experience in building online marketplaces and leading innovative technology startups and agile teams. Prior to joining Evolute, she managed the crowdlending platform Lendico (Switzerland). Before that, she was CEO of the real estate marketplace, immostreet.ch, and long-standing member of the executive board of Homegate. Her first CEO role was in 2011 with the online marketplace Car4You. "With her long-standing leadership experience in online marketplaces in Switzerland, Myriam has what's needed to take Evolute to the next level", says Patrick Barnert, Board of Directors of Evolute.

EcoRobotix has developed solar-powered weeding robots that operate independently and are equipped with sophisticated artificial intelligence and electronics systems. They spray targeted micro-doses of herbicides exactly on the weeds to be killed, thereby reducing the amount of chemicals used, the time needed for weeding and the costs for farmers. The company is planning a third fundraising round this year to finance the launch of the large-scale production of the robots and to obtain market approval in key countries.

Cyril Halter will lead ecoRobtix’ operative expansion in his role as COO. Halter has extensive experience in business creation and development, acquiring solid operational and leadership skills at major firms throughout his career. In 2009 he co-founded senseFly, which has since become a market leader in professional drones. He more recently served as COO of Wingtra, a supplier of mapping drones, where he set up the company’s manufacturing operations and oversaw the ramping up of production.   

Oculis is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company whose mission is to develop novel topical treatments (eye drops) for ophthalmic diseases for both back- and front-of-the-eye in order to improve the sight and lives of patients worldwide. The company’s leading clinical candidates include, OCS-01 and OCS-02. OCS-01 is currently in clinical trial in patients with DME (diabetic macular edema) and post-cataract patients. If approved in DME, OCS-01 has the potential to provide a new non-invasive treatment option for DME patients. OCS-02 is a novel topical anti-TNF alpha antibody in Phase 2 for inflammatory eye diseases and was in-licensed from Novartis.

Oculis has recently appointed Marcia de Souza Lima, M.D., M.I.P.P., as Chief Medical Officer. Dr. de Souza Lima, an ophthalmologist by training, brings extensive leadership experience in medical affairs, clinical trial management and development, strategic corporate planning and partnership development. “We are delighted to welcome Marcia to Oculis,” said Riad Sherif, M.D., Chief Executive Officer of Oculis. “She brings a strong track record in the development of ophthalmologic treatments and complementary experience in areas of increasing importance to the Company. Marcia’s appointment is particularly timely as we have recently presented positive Phase 2 data on OCS-01, a topical treatment for diabetic macular edema (DME) and are preparing to advance that program into late-stage clinical development. We look forward to her leadership in advancing this program, as well as our other late-stage clinical programs with other novel topical therapies in post cataract surgery inflammation, uveitis and dry eye disease.”