The sixth edition of the i4Challenge program  has revealed 10 winning ventures in the categories Innovative Solution and New Ideas. They are developing solutions spanning from underwater operations, wire processing, to the fusion of physical and digital domains.

Knapp 70 Prozent weniger Stürze im Spital beim Einsatz von QUMEAs Präventionssystems: Parallel zum starken Wachstum verzeichnet das Solothurner Startup gute Testergebnisse in zwei schwedischen Spitälern. Nun laufen die Verhandlungen mit Verantwortlichen der dortigen regionalen Versorgungsgebiete. Innerhalb von 9 Monaten hat QUMEA seine Kundenzahl mehr als verdoppelt.

Geneva based Impaakt has secured close to USD 8 million in its latest successful fundraising round. This injection of money represents a renewed vote of confidence in Impaakt's mission to redefine impact measurement and empower business decision-makers with robust impact data and insights. Impaakt benefitted from the advice and expertise of Raphaël Financial Advisory throughout the fundraising process.

LimmaTech is developing highly effective vaccines to stop the spread of infections such as gonorrhea and Shigella caused by emerging antimicrobial resistance. The raised capital of CHF 33 million from the series A round will accelerate its pipeline of preclinical and clinical vaccine candidates.

Life sciences startups CARE and Araris Biotech have appointed a new Chief Executive Officer while wefox and Isochronic welcomed their new Chief financial Officer and Chief Operation Officer, respectively. The executives bring several years of experience in their fields from leading and contributing to the growth of renowned companies including KitchenAid, Covagen and AIG and in their new roles, they will support the startups on their growth journey. 

AIDONIC, Sophia Chatbot and 42hacks address real-world challenges with their innovative solutions in blockchain technology, chatbot-companionship and AI-powered smart mobility and win international prizes.

Aisot Technologies has launched its AI Insights platform, a proprietary, cloud-based artificial intelligence solution that empowers asset and wealth managers to offer personalized investment portfolios at scale. The first customers are already benefiting from the solution.

Jedsy, the Swiss start-up known for its innovative delivery drones, entered into a substantial partnership with Asklepios Kliniken, one of the leading players in Germany's healthcare sector with its 170 facilities and a workforce of over 67,000 professionals. Extensive investigations are already underway for the first routes, including ambitious plans for further 49 connections.

Swiss startup CITUS, an ETH Zurich spin-off, has raised CHF 375,000 in convertible loan funds to boost the development of their skin health solution. The round attracted a diverse group of investors, including accelerators and venture capitalists.  

Das Thurgauer Startup Kemaro baut seine Produktionskapazität aus und hat seit vergangenem Jahr sein Team verdoppelt. Damit trägt das Robotik-Unternehmen seinem starken Wachstum von über 100 Prozent Rechnung. Parallel dazu plant Kemaro einen Ableger in den USA, um den amerikanischen Markt besser bedienen zu können.

Die Investmentgesellschaft buildify.earth wurde vom Switzerland Innovation Park Central gemeinsam mit privaten Investoren und der Zuger Kantonalbank gegründet. Im Fokus stehen Startups mit Produkten und Services im Bereich Kreislaufwirtschaft und CO2-Reduktion in der Baubranche. Ihnen bietet buildify.earth neben finanziellen Mitteln zusätzlich Zugang zum über Jahren aufgebauten Netzwerk des Parks, NEST und anderen Organisationen.

Each selected biotech startup in the BaseLaunch program is eligible to receive CHF 500’000 in addition to expert guidance to accelerate their development. This year, four startups joined the program’s portfolio.

Following its launch and series A round closing in March last year, Aerium Therapeutics, a company focused on developing antiviral therapeutics for COVID-19 and emerging viral threats, is now operational. It has licensed and begun the development of three monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) with broad and potent activity against the predominant variants of SARS-CoV-2.

Today, the Trust Valley Day is taking place in Lausanne with 500 visitors. One of the highlights is the announcement of the startups selected for the fifth season of the Tech4Trust acceleration programme. Thirty startups from Europe, Asia and North America managed to qualify – twelve of them are from Switzerland.

Helio, a Zurich-based startup pioneering a new approach to cloud computing by addressing its environmental and efficiency pitfalls, has closed a CHF 4.7 seed round, combining equity and debt. QBIT Capital led the round. The capital will enable product enhancements to make cloud computing more sustainable and efficient, team growth and expansion in new markets, particularly 3D Rendering and AI.

The newly launched venture capital firm, emma Ventures, seeks to foster diversity in the Venture Capital space. Acting as lead investor, co-lead or co-investor, the VC aims to invest in up to seven startups yearly at the pre-seed or series A stage. Four startups are currently in its portfolio, including Swiss startup CARE.

Three Swiss start-ups were just granted Biopôle Start-up funding: Voltiris, Limula and Parithera. Receiving an initial 12 months of funding, Voltiris delivers sustainable energy to greenhouses. Its offer combining at the same time energy efficiency and production yields. Meanwhile, the two others will benefit from a second year of support to achieve key development milestones.

MIRO Analytical is forming a strategic partnership with Bruker Corporation. Following a majority investment by Bruker, MIRO and Bruker Optics will work together to serve the globally increasing demand for high-precision trace gas analysis.

Ces trois startups romandes font désormais partie du programme d’accélération de GENILEM. Porteuses d’innovation et futures créatrices d’emplois, elles remportent trois années de coaching personnalisé pour accélérer leur croissance.  

Zurich-based startup 3db Access AG is a pioneer in secured low-power Ultra-Wideband (UWB) technology and is currently a preferred IP provider for major automotive brands. The startup has joined the Infineon Technologies AG family, a global semiconductor leader in power systems and IoT, boasting €14.2 billion in revenue in 2022.

SNAQ und CarbVis verfolgen beide das Ziel, Menschen mit Diabetes zu helfen, den Kohlehydrat-Gehalt von Mahlzeiten richtig einzuschätzen. SNAQ ist bereits international auf dem Markt erfolgreich. Die App von CarbVis ist als Medizinprodukt klassifiziert. Nun wird die CarbVis AG wird in die SNAQ AG integriert.

Ob in Texas, Österreich oder zuhause: Gleich vier Startups wurden für ihre innovativen und nachhaltigen Technologien ausgezeichnet. Einen RE+-Award gabs für SmartHelio, Swiss Excellence Produkt-Awards für Perovskia Solar und DynaRoads und Loopia gewinnt eine Challenge in Österreich.

Sparta’s technology is designed to substantially increase the speed and effectiveness of commodity traders by presenting market intelligence, pricing and forecasting data in real-time, allowing our users to spot trading opportunities before their competition. The funding will enable Sparta to expand its offering and grow its global presence.

Das Aargauer Startup alletta hat eine Plattform entwickelt, über die Versicherungsangebote von Krankenkassen miteinander verglichen werden können. Die Vermittler-Lizenz ermöglicht es alletta, branchenübliche Vermittlungsprovisionen zu beziehen und Nutzerinnen und Nutzern den direkten, digitalen Versicherungsabschluss über die Plattform.

Bota Systems completed a $2.5 million seed funding round, led by Marathon Venture Capital, with participation from angel investors. This strategic investment enables the startup to scale up production and address the growing demand for robots that have the sense of touch.

Basel-based utility company IWB is the first client to permanently install immersive 3D audio at its facilities. Developed by Swiss startup Audiobreeze, the solution helps users achieve an entirely new emotional, mental and neurological impact through 3D audio scenes in their space.

In a strategic move, the Younergy Group has announced its decision to divest its Solar Installation Division to the Swiss Solar Group, in tandem with the rebranding of Younergy to Youdera. This transformation signifies a shift in their business focus, moving away from solar installation and placing a renewed emphasis on their software solution and solar Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs). 

Im Juni hatte biGENIUS seine cloudbasierte analytische Datenautomatisierungslösung lanciert. Auf den erfolgreichen Start folgte nun eine Kapitalerhöhung. Zudem übernahm mit Gerald Klump ein neuer CEO das Ruder beim Basler Unternehmen.

Medtech startup HeroSupport enhances the effectiveness, safety, and cost-efficiency of cancer treatments with 3D-printed personalised patient-positioning immobilisation devices and standardised workflows. The awarded CHF 150,000 by Venture Kick will help the startup to bring the product to its first customers.

Biolytica, SonarSource and Oculis have appointed three strong leaders to the position of CEO, co-CEO and CCO to support their next growth phase. With their solutions, the startups are providing new approaches to extending the lifespan and treating eye diseases, and cleaning trillions of code.

In Q2 four sustainable startups have been awarded the Innosuisse Certificate. Although their approaches are quite different, they are all working on making construction, buildings and infrastructure more sustainable.

Roche is the first paying customer for IUCLID Assist, the newly launched generative AI tool developed in collaboration with the Luzern-based startup Silver Brain AI to automate IUCLID6 submissions by chemical and pharmaceutical companies to the European Chemical Agency.

Das international operierende Schweizer Health-Tech Unternehmen MediCrops Holding AG hat die Swiss Alpinopharma GmbH übernommen, die bereits erfolgreich Cannabismedikamente im deutschen Markt eingeführt hat. Zudem ist sie Inhaberin der Telemedizin-Plattform Enmedify und bietet zertifizierte Weiterbildungen an.  

To accelerate R&D and the discovery of breakthrough molecules and materials, Atinary Technologies built a machine-learning-based platform that outperforms traditional trial-and-error methods. The secured capital in the seed round led by AgFunder will enable the startup to scale and advance the platform as well as grow the team.

Swiss cybersecurity startup Futurae has seen strong growth in the past 12 months, portrayed by a 110% increase in usage over the last 12 months, new customers and signing multiple partnership with core banking providers. The newly appointed CEO, Philippe Cayrol, will drive the company in the next phase.

The student-run venture capital firm S2S Ventures has this year invested in four startups from Central and East Switzerland. The young startups, spanning the fintech, medtech, healthcare IT, and ICT sectors, impressed the investor team with their sustainable and user-friendly solutions.

The new Consulate of Switzerland in Osaka, Japan, will officially open its doors on 30 September 2023, making it the first Swissnex office in the country devoted to promoting science, research, and innovation. A range of services will help startups explore market opportunities in Japan while showcasing Switzerland’s innovation strengths. During the opening, the audience will experience firsthand some of the startups and scaleups keeping Switzerland on the radar.

Dans un élan porteur pour l'économie des technologies médicales du Jura, l'accélérateur DayOne Tech se révèle aujourd'hui être un pilier incontournable. En octobre 2023, 4 nouvelles startups viendront enrichir ce programme novateur. 

Zwar fällte der Bundesrat 2022 einen Richtungsentscheid und begrüsste einen nationalen Innovationsfonds für Scale-ups. Entsprechende Schritte zur Schaffung eines solchen Fonds gab er hingegen aufgrund fehlenden finanziellen Spielraums derweil nicht in Auftrag. Nun hat der Ständerat eine Motion von Johanna Gapany an die vorberatende Kommission überwiesen, um das Geschäft auf parlamentarischem Weg neu zu beleben.

Nagi Bioscience, a Swiss life sciences startup developing next-generation laboratory equipment to unlock the full potential of alternatives to animal testing, is thrilled to announce the successful closure of its Series A funding round. The company has secured an oversubscribed 12.4M CHF investment from top-tier venture capital firms across Europe.

Das Zürcher Startup maison vermittelt seit 2022 freie Büroflächen von KMU-Unternehmen oder einzelne Arbeitsplätze in Bürogemeinschaften. Nun hat das Jungunternehmen seine Plattform auch für kommerzielle Vermieter geöffnet. Als erste Immobilienverwalter stellen Livit und Privera ihre Büroflächen in den maison.work-Marktplatz.

Debiopharm Innovation Fund, the strategic investment arm of Swiss biopharmaceutical company Debiopharm, with $150 million under management, launched today a seed funding initiative. It plans to deploy additional capital to support up to 15 seed-stage startups each year to accelerate the digital transformation of cancer care and Pharma R&D.

Despite the ever increasing data-dependance for all critical business decisions, companies are prevented from collaborating on and valorizing sensitive data because of cyber risks, fear of losing competitive edge and regulatory constraints. Helping organizations to overcome this hurdle, Tune Insight closed a $3.4m funding round as it helps them automate collective intelligence extraction, reduce data liability, streamline compliance, while re-enforcing data security and privacy.

Die 2021 gegründete Stiftung Clima Now engagiert sich mit Projektförderung und Investments gegen die Klimaerwärmung. Im Rahmen des jährlichen «Clima Now Spotlight» werden innovative Lösungen von Startups und Spin-offs ausgezeichnet und ein Preisgeld von insgesamt 190'000 Franken ausgeschüttet. Jetzt stehen die sieben Finalistinnen und Finalisten fest.

Pymwymic, a leading impact investor, and Horticoop, a group of about 400 members active in Horticulture globally have acquired a significant new stake in Vivent to help accelerate its expansion to new markets. Both Netherlands-based investors recognize the transformative effect Vivent’s crop health solutions have in improving the profitability of growers and the sustainability of food production.

The newly launched Maxi Cosi See Pro baby monitor by Dorel Juvenile is the first product worldwide to integrate Cry Analysis AI technology, developed by Swiss startup Zoundream, marking the startup’s first large-scale market launch. Parents can now recognise and understand the meaning of their baby’s cry.

According to the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), Switzerland is again the most innovative country in the world. WIPO published its Global Innovation Index, a ranking of more than 130 countries today.

Das FinTech-Startup Numarics hat sich seit seiner Gründung 2020 zu einem grossen Arbeitgeber entwickelt: Über 160 Personen arbeiten für den innovativen Treuhanddienstleister. Die Schweizerisch-Albanische Gesellschaft würdigt diese Entwicklung und zeichnet Mitgründer Kristian Kabashi mit dem Unternehmerpreis 2023 aus.

Cet été, Westhive SA, l’un des plus grands fournisseurs de surfaces de bureaux flexibles de Suisse, a ouvert avec succès son septième site dans le nouveau quartier d’affaires genevois de Lancy Pont-Rouge. Les premiers locataires de l’espace de travail Westhive d’environ 4500 mètres carrés dans le bâtiment Alto sont, entre autres, Microsoft, Chain IQ et Snowflake.