Start-ups are opening up

Next Tuesday morning, Thomas Heimann from SECA and I will present the results of the new Swiss Venture Capital Report. The presentation can be followed via a live stream on the Startupticker website. I can assure you that it will be very interesting not only in terms of the overall results but also in relation to the trends in sectors, phases and cantons.

The next venture capital report in 2022 will also be very exciting if the promising start to the new year is anything to go by. Medtech start-up Opterion secured the largest amount with more than EUR 8 million, marketingtech company 1plusX received almost USD 8 million for global expansion, and procurement software company Archlet and Latticeflow, an ETH Zurich spin-off with an AI focus, also concluded further financing rounds. SurgeonsLab secured CHF 150,000 from Venture Kick to set up production of its simulator for neurosurgeons.

And there was another exit with the takeover of Once by the Dating Group for USD 18 million. Good news for investors too: Blue Horizon Ventures has raised more than CHF 200 million for its first fund, with investments made in sustainable food start-ups, including Planted and New Roots.

As you may have noticed, openness is on the increase and many start-ups today state the amounts involved in their transactions. TrekkSoft boss Philippe Willi goes one step further by providing open information about the challenges faced by the group from Covid-19, which ultimately resulted in a 30% drop in sales.

The result would have been even worse if TrekkSoft had not benefited from increasing digitalisation. This broad trend is also benefiting other young Swiss companies, such as the 10 finalists of the Swiss Fintech Awards and Seervision – the start-up, which automates video production and is growing rapidly, has received the Innosuisse certificate.

Those that grow rapidly need employees, and recruitment is now made easier with Joinup, a new free-to-use job portal for the start-up scene developed by the ETH Entrepreneur Club and Swisspreneur.

I would also like to point out pending deadlines: Startfeld Diamant (25 January), the Swiss Economic Award (29 January) and the Prix BCN Innovation (31 January).

Have a good weekend – and please don’t forget our presentation on Tuesday morning.
Stefan Kyora

Editor in Chief, Startupticker.ch