May 12, 2017
Just start a global player
Dear reader
With more than 4 million app downloads, CodeCheck is one of Europe’s most successful shopping apps. After a round of financing in December, it is now expanding into the US. It all started with a mango. In Cuba, CodeCheck founder Roman Bleichenbacher bought the fruit and learned only later from his Cuban friends that it was not ripe. Since then, Bleichenbacher has not let go of the subject of product information. After years of development, the free CodeCheck database now has more than 38 million products.
I believe in you, the crowdfunding sports portal, also started as a self-help project. Canoer Mike Kurt and fencer Fabian Kauter have been collecting money for their professional sporting careers for years, and now want to help others collect money for their sports projects through I believe in you. The crowdfunding platform has already raised CHF 5 million and the Bern start-up is looking at foreign expansion.
I believe in you is supported by PostFinance, Helsana and Aldi Suisse, and this kind of support is by no means an isolated case. The SIX Group and fintech start-up Lendity organised an astonishing event on the Swiss Stock Exchange this week: 200 participants flocked to the event, which featured not only Lendity itself, but also other start-ups such as Cashare, creditworld and Creditgate24.
Swiss Post announced this week that it has launched a corporate venturing programme, with five to 10 investments planned per year. Start-ups from all over the world will be considered, but Switzerland will certainly be a focal point.
The first Swiss cyber security accelerator has been launched in Geneva. Start-ups can apply now.
And it is not only large companies and investors that look after young companies: in Glarus, an innovation initiative was launched this week that aims to improve the conditions for young companies. Wealth taxes have already become more start-up-friendly through a Landsgemeinde decision.
If you want to know more about startupticker and the Swiss support scene for start-ups, come to the two ‘Meet the Supporters’ events organised by the venture competition next week. My colleague Eugène Schön and I will be there on Thursday in Lausanne and on Tuesday in Zurich.
Registration for the first venture leaders fintech programme is open until Sunday; the application deadline for AXA’s start-up TV show expires on 15 May; documents for the Swiss ICT Awards can be submitted until 22 May.
Have an inspiring weekend.
Stefan Kyora
Editor in Chief, startupticker.ch