Opening in sight

Please login or
register
11.06.2021
Stefan Kyora

The first events have already taken place and the travel restrictions will gradually disappear. Although Swiss start-ups have done well during the crisis, this is very good news for the ecosystem.

Dear reader

The Swiss start-up scene came through the crisis well. Even in problem industries, such as travel, companies were able to continue to grow, as the example of Nezasa shows. It now has more customers than before the pandemic and has been able to gain a foothold in North and South America, with travel giant TUI also won as a customer.

Even international exits have been implemented: this week, for example, a company from Silicon Valley took over Zurich-based Modum, which specialises in digital supply chain monitoring and analytics solutions.

Other founders took the opportunity of the strange times to develop business ideas. Madame Sum produces and supplies dim sum creations, and has now been supported by experienced food investors and Geneva bankers with an investment of CHF 1.2 million.

Nevertheless, international expansion should become easier when the travel restrictions gradually disappear, and trade fairs and events are able to take place again. The financing round for IOT start­-up Nexxiot of more than USD 25 million comes at the right time – the money will be used to expand into the US market.

The first international events are already taking place again in hybrid form. For example, three Swiss start-ups received innovation awards on site in Shanghai. The first Venture Leaders Medtech will travel to the US east coast at the end of September: the 10 companies will immerse themselves in the medtech ecosystem in Boston and Cambridge. The Swiss Economic Forum will take place in Thun in September, and the nine finalists for the SEF Award have now been announced.

The competition >> venture >> also selected 15 companies from five verticals, which are now competing for the cash prizes. Three AI start-ups, which impressively have already won at Venture Kick, have now received an additional CHF 150,000 each from the InnoBooster programme.

Startup Days is less than two weeks away and 600 people will be on site in Bern for the hybrid event – a few tickets are still available. The 50 start-ups that will compete against each other in the Startup Battle at the event were announced this week.

We brought just one message from the biotech industry this week: the FDA has approved an Alzheimer’s drug that was developed by Zurich start-up Neurimmune. The news caused a worldwide sensation and a rise in stock market prices not only for Neurimmune’s partner Biogen, but also for other companies that have Alzheimer’s drugs in the pipeline. Solid evidence that Swiss start-ups are quite capable of changing the world.

Have a sunny weekend.
Stefan Kyora

Editor in Chief, Startupticker.ch

0Comments

rss