Proven quality

Dear reader 

Among the most read news items on startupticker are reviews of selected start-ups. They help to gain an overview of the confusing Swiss start-up scene and are used to identify up-and-coming start-ups. Certificates and awards are therefore still important for these companies and the ecosystem. One of these articles presents the five companies that were awarded the Innosuisse Certificate in the first three months of this year: four of the five are from the health and food sector, plus one fintech company. Speaking of fintech, the 10 finalists of the Swiss Fintech Awards were announced this week. The ‘early stage’ category includes promising newcomers, and the ‘growth stage’ category several companies that are on a successful global growth course.

InvestGlass is also on a global growth path with its automated banking platform. Founder and CEO Alexandre Gaillard has had to endure some setbacks – read our article to discover how the company has now become a success.

The new crowdinvesting platform Oomnium, a project by the creators of Wemakeit, is about to be launched. Four start-ups will start their campaigns on Monday and hope to raise up to CHF 3 million.

Another successful crowdfunding campaign caught our eye this week. Lucerne-based DFK has raised more than CHF 500,000 for its Rowbro rowing training machine. DFK stands for Diego and Florian Kaufmann: the brothers come from the family that owns ski manufacturer Stöckli and serve as a board member and board president, respectively.

We also reported on six rounds of financing this week. Domo Health secured the most money with CHF 8.5 million: the digital health start-up not only gained a new investor but also a strategic partner in the form of SAK from eastern Switzerland.

A new study based on the responses of almost 900 investors provides an in-depth insight into the current practice of European venture capital investors. It is one of the few analyses we know of that is broadly based with a focus on the European market.

Startup Days will take place in Bern on 25 May. Together with Seca, we will hold a panel on the subject of growth financing: Sandra Tobler from Futurae, Kai Eberhardt from Oviva and Oliver Heimes from Lakestar will also be there. Registration is now open for this and 45 other sessions, as well as registration for one-to-one meetings. It was clarified this week that federal councillor Guy Parmelin will give the welcome speech.

The Food Hack Summit and BioInnovation Day will take place in Lausanne next week. Impact Hub Basel invites you to its Opening Day and Impact Hub Zurich hosts its annual Open Hub Day.

Registration is open for the Swiss Excellence Product Award until 14 May, as well as for the Tenity Incubation programme for start-ups from the banking and insurance sector. The application deadlines for Venture Leaders Medtech and Venture Leaders Cleantech are now running.

Have a good weekend
Stefan Kyora 

Editor in Chief, Startupticker.ch