Comme annoncé il y a deux semaines à sa clientèle, Cronodeal a plié bagage ce lundi 31 juillet. Pendant près de 4 ans, le site de vente en ligne établi à Bussigny a proposé des offres exclusives à un prix qui diminuait tout au long de la journée. Si le concept original et ludique a séduit en Suisse romande, les membres de la Cronofamily sont arrivés à la conclusion, après mûre réflexion, que les investissements ne se justifiaient plus à long terme.

Die Tübinger SHS Gesellschaft für Beteiligungsmanagement steigt bei CoreMedic ein. Das Start-up entwickelt minimalinvasive Reparatursets zur Behandlung von Herzklappenerkrankungen, für die bisher eine Operation am offenen Herzen nötig war. Mit den neuen Mitteln wird die technologische Weiterentwicklung sowie die sowie die klinische Verwendung der Produkte vorangetrieben.

Polyphor received a first 0.6 mCHF milestone payment from the Wellcome Trust under a Seeding Drug Discovery Award of total up to 2.3 mCHF granted in February 2017. Neurotune was selected for a Wellcome Trust Pathfinder Award.

Software startup iRewind has delivered personalised finisher video clips for the junior athletes participating in the 2017 UBS Kids Cup. Over 1800 clips were produced each day. The startup will again deliver a video clip for each participating kid in the Swiss final.

Every Quarter Swisscom publishes a market overview of different startups in the fields of Regtech, Fintech, and now for the first time, Artificial intelligence (AI). 100 Swiss AI startups have been identified on the map.

EPFL spin-off nViso has reached agreement with ePAT to provide a perpetual license for use of its artificial intelligence software. ePAT’s mobile application uses artificial intelligence to analyze facial expressions to determine pain. In addition nViso takes a strategic stake in ePAT.

Die Berner Innovationsagentur be-advanced holt gemeinsam mit dem Schweizer Programm «Innov-Entrepreneurs/ Graines d’Entrepreneurs» und dem Effinger den Junior Startup Day in die Deutschschweiz. Durchgeführt wird der Event für Jugendliche von 10 bis 18 Jahren am 26. August im Effinger Bern. Mithilfe von Trainern und Unternehmern erleben die Junior Teams die ersten Schritte ins Unternehmertum.

Die Initiative "Smart-up" unterstützt Studierende und Mitarbeitende der Hochschule Luzern bei der Entwicklung innovativer Geschäftsmodelle und bei der Gründung ihres eigenen Unternehmens. Das Projekt wurde nun an der University Industry Interaction Conference mit dem «Good Practice Award» ausgezeichnet.

Die Biketec AG im bernischen Huttwil wurde von der deutschen Zweirad-Einkaufs-Genossenschaft ZEG übernommen. Damit endet die Zeit der Tüftler und Pioniere, die mit der Erfindung des Flyers vor mehr als 20 Jahren begann.

Fintech industry players join have continued to join forces to make Sitzerland a fintech Hub. Recently Swiss Software company Abacus has extended its support to the Swiss Finance Startups (SFS). Abacus will also sponsor upcoming second Fintech day event which is to be help on 4th September 2017.

The Board of Directors of Y-Parc SA have appointed Juliana Pantet to the position of Director of the science and technology technopole Y-Pac. Pantet will take up her duties on September 1, 2017, with the objective of increasing the economic attractiveness of the Y-Pac and the development of start-ups thanks to the experience gained at Silicon Valley.

Beqom, a Fribourg based startup offering a cloud based total compensation solution, has received a $35m investment from Goldman Sachs. The funds will be used to accelerate beqom’s worldwide growth by reinforcing its global presence, increasing the direct sales force and further developing indirect sales channels.

Engineering modelling and simulation technology company Akselos, and the design-focused company LICengineering have been collaborating to deliver the Joint Industry Project (JIP) for oil and gas operators. The two have announced the signing of Royal Dutch Shell as the first operator to participate in the two-year digital twin initiative.

Die Basellandschaftliche Kantonalbank (BLKB) hat gemeinsam mit dem Zürcher Fintech-Startup True Wealth die Online-Vermögensverwaltung Digifolio lanciert. Die digitale  Lösung ist komplett ins E-Banking der Bank integriert. Die Kooperation zwischen der Bank und der Jungfirma wurde vor Jahresfrist gestartet.

Cities around the world are invited to join the Climathon 24-hour global hackathon. The objective is to find solutions to city climate challenges. Representatives of startup incubators, city hall, local businesses, universities or other organisations can register to be the host for their city. Registration closes on 1 August.

Last week Snapchat is reported to have acquired the Swiss startup team from Strong.Codes. The startup develops tools that obscure software code which makes it harder for competitors to copy. Strong.Codes will develop a security tool to protect Snapchat from its rivals who are replicating its App features.

Loriot, an Internet of Things (IoT) specialist, has seen significant growth since its foundation in 2015. Today, the startup serves more than 6000 clients in 100 countries. The startup is further expanding its team in its headquarters in Thalwil to extend its core business and customer services.

Peripal, an ETH start-up developing medical devices to facilitate dialysis has completed the first closing of its series A financing round. The funds will be used to accelerate production as the company gets ready for the EU launch in 2018.

Sintratec, a Brugg based startup specialising in 3D printers has today announced the expansion of its distribution network to Eastern Europe. The startup has signed a partnership with the Czech machine tool distributor Tecnotrade. This reseller partnership is a major step for the Swiss high-tech company towards opening up the market in Eastern Europe.

Startups and SMEs with sustainable solutions for water and sanitation are invited to apply for the Swiss Bluetec Bridge program. The program is designed to help them to improve their technology and business model. Selected projects will receive an interest free loan of max. CHF 250,000.

Starmind, a Zurich based company specialising in cognitive computing has developed an AI solution for one of the world’s oldest advertising agencies, J. Walter Thompson Company (JWT). More than 12000 employees in the JWT’s global network can now ask questions and get access to company know-how in real-time.

More than 100 projects from Switzerland and abroad competed for a place in the BaselArea.swiss accelerator program for healthcare startups. 45 percent are from Switzerland. Projects accepted for the final phase will receive a grant of up to CHF 250,000 as well as office and laboratory space free of charge.

In Zurich 38 candidates, including 16 from Switzerland, have enrolled in the “Journey” Climate-Kic’s climate change education programme. The Journey offers knowledge on climate change combined with entrepreneurship skills to allow candidates to create a business model. A visit to the world’s first plant that captures atmospheric carbon with a filter is planned. This was developed by startup Climeworks.

Das Zürcher Startup CVCube, das eine Serviceplattform für Weiterbildung betreibt, hat in den ersten 18 Monaten seit der Gründung ein Kursvolumen von über einer Million Schweizer Franken vermittelt.

Last week the Innosuisse Board welcomed 20 personalities to Innovation Council. The new members bring diversity to the Innovation Council both with their professional experience in business, universities of applied sciences, universities, ETHs. Nine members stem from a startup background.

Investment platform investiere.ch has developed a free job offering platform for startups to expose them to a larger pool of talents for their open vacancies. All job postings will be automatically distributed to investiere.ch’s  partners from the recruiting industry including Xing, jobs.ch, jobooh among others.

Switzerland again ranks number 1 in the 10th edition of the Global Innovation Index (GII), making it the most innovative country in the world with an efficiency ratio of 0.95. Together with Sweden, the Netherlands, the United States of America, and the United Kingdom they make up the Top five.

The Luzern biomedical startup Monarch Bioimplants developing solutions to fight Post-Surgery Impotence announced that it received €1.3 Million. The funds will be used to facilitate production and accelerate market entry.

Ambrosus, a blockchain company based in Zug has been launched. The startup is developing, the world’s first publicly verifiable community-driven ecosystem based on a combination high-tech sensors, blockchain protocol and smart contracts. The platform makes it possible to keep track of the origin of the food products.

Das Zürcher startup dacadoo hat eine neue Kapitalerhöhung mit Rakuten Capital als Hauptinvestor abgeschlossen. Dacodoo entwickelt und betreibt eine mobile Gesundheitsplattform, mit der Menschen ihrer Gesundheit verfolgen können.

Fintech startup Flynt announced it obtained a banking-license from the Switzerland's financial regulator FINMA. The startup now operates under FLYNT Bank AG. The licence gives Flynt the independence to pursue wealth management innovatively.

Der Verwaltungsrat von Innosuisse hat die Mitglieder des Innovationsrats gewählt. Das neue Fachorgan setzt sich aus 20 Expertinnen und Experten aus Wirtschaft und Wissenschaft zusammen. Ab dem 1. Januar 2018 übernimmt Innosuisse als neue Förderagentur des Bundes für wissenschaftsbasierte Innovation die Funktion der heutigen Kommission für Technologie und Innovation KTI.

ETH Zurich spinoff Parquery offering smart parking solutions that automatically identify in real-time available parking spots, has joined forces with a black forest based company Hectronic to develop a smart parking-space detection solution. Hectronic is both a commercial partner as well as a strategic investor in Parquery.

Startcup Ticino is ready to start the three-month acceleration program, a first of its kind in Ticino, with 25 startups selected from the first round of application. The startups will have the opportunity to share their experiences and transform the idea in a concrete business project.

Dagsmejan, a start-up from St. Gallen with the mission to reinvent sleepwear, has completed a Kickstarter campaign with pre-orders of almost CHF 40’000. This is more than 175% of the defined target, which brings Dagsmejan to the Top 5% of all Kickstarter campaigns ever launched worldwide, and 2nd in Switzerland in the apparel category.

Das Berner Start-up enersis suisse AG und Navitas Consilium SA (NCSA) aus Martigny haben Ende Juni 2017 ihre Partnerschaft bekannt gegeben. Die Unternehmen werden ihre Aktivitäten in digitalen Energieplattformen für Städte, Gemeinden und Versorgungsunternehmen zusammenführen, um ein gemeinsames, umfassendes visuelles Analysetool für Energiemanagement und -planung zu schaffen.

Best Mile welcomes Christopher Choa and Randell Iwasaki to join its advisory board. The two will strengthen BestMile’s ability to match the rapid expansion of the autonomous mobility market. Bestmile developed the world's first cloud platform for the operation and optimization of autonomous vehicle fleets.

The Biotech Startup Polyneuron Pharmaceuticals AG announces that the European Medicines Agency (EMA) has granted an Orphan Drug Designation for PN-1007 as a novel treatment for anti-MAG Neuropathy. An important milestone in the development of the new therapy.

Technology start-up Fanpictor has entered into agreement with the American Football club Carolina Panthers to commemorate the upcoming Fat Fest 2017. The startup will create a light show created by 75,000 smartphones in the Bank of America Stadium.

IRsweep, the provider of high-performance mid-infrared sensing solutions has closed an investment round with a Switzerland-based industrial company as an investor. The funds will be used to speed up market entry.

Die Gründerszene boomt. Die knapp 22‘000 Neueintragungen im ersten Halbjahr 2017 sind ein neuer Rekordwert. Die beliebteste Rechtsform ist die einer GmbH.

Imagine IF! is a global competition and accelerator program for deep technology. The program offers selected early stage science-based ventures mentoring programs, free office space and the chance to win a cash prize of CHF 25’000. The winner will also be invited to compete against the Top 20 startups from around the world. Registration closes on 28th July 2017.

Loanboox, la plateforme du marché monétaire et des capitaux pour les communes, villes, bailleurs de fonds institutionnels et banques, est l’une des plus grandes plateformes de financement peer-to-peer en Europe. Depuis mars 2017, elle est présente en Suisse romande.

Kickstart Accelerator, an initiative of digitalswitzerland operated by Impact Hub Zurich, has today announced the 30 startups for its second cohort that will join its 2017 program, as of September. Among them are nine Swiss startups in the verticles Fintech, Food and Smart cities.

Das Luzerner Startup-Unternehmen Shareline lanciert im September eine Onlineplattform, auf der IT-Dienstleistungen eingekauft werden können. Bereits haben sich über 100 Freelancer aus der ganzen Deutschschweiz für die Plattform registriert.

Bereits sind fast 80 Organisationen und Unternehmen aus der ganzen Schweiz Mitglied bei digitalswitzerland. Jetzt wird die Präsenz in der Romandie verstärkt. Dazu konnte digitalswitzerland Martin Vetterli von der EPFL als Präsident und Nationalrat Fathi Derder als Vizepräsident des Steering Committee für die Westschweiz gewinnen.

Jungunternehmen sowie kleine und mittlere Unternehmen (KMU), die umweltfreundliche oder energiesparende Projekte entwickelt haben, können bis 1. September bei der Klimastiftung Schweiz Fördergelder beantragen. Diese werden im November ausbezahlt.

Players in the Swiss medtech industry will convene at Messe Luzern from 19 to 20 September 2017 for the Swiss Medtech Expo 2017. Six competence partners and 160 exhibitors will show practical examples of how new designs, materials, technologies and processes are leading to innovations in the medical field. The new MedTech.plus platform will also be launched.

Medtech startup PB&B has received an additional CHF 1 million equity investment from its strategic investor. This investment will be allocated to launching the first-in-human clinical trial in 2018 for volume restauration of aging midface.

Seedhopper announces the opening of its summer prize for the best business ideas addressing an unmet need related to health and personal care. Up to three prizes each of CHF 20,000 will be awarded with the additional offer of a fast track into Seedhopper’s new support program for health and personal care start-ups in Switzerland.