May 23, 2014
Switzerland is a top location for Born Globals
Dear reader
Switzerland is a good location for internationally active young companies with a scalable business model, as demonstrated by European and global awards. This year six start-ups are in the Red Herring Europe Top 100 and MassChallenge, the world’s large largest accelerator, reported this week that three medtech start-ups and one ICT start-up from Switzerland have made it to the final. And TrekkSoft, which provides booking software for tourist services, has been selected as runner-up at PhoCusWright Europe.
For knowledge-based start-ups with Swiss roots, an international focus is mandatory – the small home market already ensures this. But the numerous global Swiss corporations also ensure that high-growth entrepreneurial companies act globally from the beginning.
In order to attract local companies, start-ups need to raise their profile and build trust. Therefore, this week three start-ups in the financial sector have merged and founded Swiss Finance Startups (SFS). The goal is to draw the attention of the sector leaders in Switzerland, because “Switzerland has the potential to become a leading finance 2.0 location”.
Even foreign Born Globals have discovered the Swiss advantages: American start-up Silent Circle, which specialises in secure communications technology and which has just generated $30 million in growth capital, this week moved its headquarters to Geneva. The reason? As a location, Switzerland offers big economic business advantages to an enterprise with a global customer base.
The BCN Innovation Award was launched this week: the application period for the prize of CHF300,000 from Neuenburger Kantonalbank runs until January 2015. New companies that want to participate in the Top 100 STARTUPS competition should act immediately – you have until the end of May to complete your profile on the startup.ch platform. Also, the deadline for the Swiss ICT Award expires on 31 May, and start-ups have until 3 June to apply for the second Swisscom Startup Challenge.
Good luck from startupticker to all participants in the Startup Weekends that start today in Lucerne, Sierre and Lugano.
A highlight of the Swiss start-up scene takes place in Berlin in the first week of June: the 2nd Swiss Venture Day offers CTI Invest, Alp ICT and Earlybird a unique opportunity to meet the Berlin digital scene!
Best weekend wishes.
Claus Niedermann
Editor-in-chief startupticker.ch