Relying on their fortitude

Dear reader

Three start-ups found buyers this week. EPFL spin-off routeRANK was taken over by Zurich IT company Netcetera. Swiss Post acquired western Swiss IT security company Hacknowledge. SwissSign, which also belongs to Swiss Post, has bought Sysmosoft, a successful provider of digital signatures. In contrast, Bern start-up Cleverclip is expanding through a merger with web agency Comvation.

The Swiss start-up scene is considered vulnerable in times of crisis due to its high dependence on foreign investors, acquirers and partners. However, the ecosystem is now so well developed and networked that start-ups are able to find partners in this country.

Perseo Pharma is working with Nestlé Health to develop new therapies for digestive diseases. Bühler has formed a joint venture with a serial entrepreneur to develop plant-based meat alternatives. Swiss distilleries are the first customers for Alivion’s methanol detector. And Swiss investors played a leading role in the CHF 4 million financing round of digital health start-up b-rayZ.

Start-up support has been continuously expanded in recent years and significant sums are now at stake. This week, start-ups were promised more than CHF 1.5 million by funding organisations. The Innobooster programme alone supports four companies with CHF 150,000 each. Four start-ups will receive CHF 100,000 from the Fongit Innovation Fund. First Ventures is funding two start-up projects from universities of applied sciences with CHF 150,000 each, and Venture Kick is funding Akina, another digital health start-up, with CHF 150,000.

Nanoleq, Komed Health and Haelixa are significantly further advanced in their development and have now been awarded the Innosuisse certificate, which certifies that they are ready for sustainable growth.

Stefanie Flückiger-Mangual, co-founder and CEO of biotech company TOLREMO, was awarded Female Innovator of the Year yesterday. The award was presented at the Female Innovation Forum, which was held for the fifth time and attracted 250 visitors.

The summer break is slowly making itself felt, but some deadlines expire in July. Registration is open for Venture Leaders Cleantech until Tuesday, and for the Boldbrain Challenge and the GreenTech Startup Battle at Swiss Digital Days until next Friday. Registration for the third Swiss-Israeli Lean Launchpad and the i4Challenge closes in July, and don’t miss the opportunity to vote publicly for the TOP 100 Swiss Startup Award 2022, which is open until 17 July.

The half-year update of Swiss Venture Capital Report will be published next Thursday. It comprises an analysis of investment in the first half of 2022 and the results of a survey of 80 Swiss investors, which provides an indication of how investment will continue over the next 12 months.

Have a good weekend,
Stefan Kyora 

Editor in Chief, Startupticker.ch