Growth plans in focus

Dear reader

Adequate funding is of course essential for start-ups, as it enables them to implement their strategies and complete outstanding activities. The amount raised, however, varies depending on the investment stage. This week we reported on numerous later-stage financing rounds to bolster start-up growth. Eyewear provider VIU attracted investors from Swiss Start-up Capital, and fintech start-up Vestr, an end-to-end digital platform for investment certificates, completed an over-subscribed series A round led by the SIX Group.

Start-ups in the life sciences sector made the headlines with larger later-stage financing rounds. T3 Pharma, which is developing the next generation of bacterial cancer therapy, made the most significant round with CHF 25 million, to be used to accelerate the process to clinical trials. Gain Therapeutics raised USD 10 million with which it aims to grow its pipeline, and Virometix was able to secure CHF 7.5 million, which will be used, inter alia, to advance pre-clinical development of its vaccine candidates for SARS-CoV-2. Including the funds raised by Calciscon (CHF 0.6 million) and ETH spin-off MyoSwiss (CHF 2.2 million), this sector alone raised more than CHF 44 million this week. 

Speaking of growth, start-ups can also leverage the expertise and resources of other organisations through partnerships. Ticino-based BigOmics Analytics, which specialises in cloud-based SaaS platforms, has reported fast-paced growth and is collaborating with Finland’s BC Platforms to enhance its analytics platform. Green Motion is advancing in the electric aircraft sector with its new charging station FLIGHTXT, envisioned to set the standard for the industry. Furthermore, more than 50 start-ups have entered the Kickstart program in which they will be able to use the platform to meet and forge new partnerships.

In our series of start-ups looking for investors, we presented Relai, which aims to make bitcoin investment easier. CEO Julian Liniger shared insights into the company and his ambitions. 

Finally, due to the corona crisis, many events organisers have adopted new formats to ensure the safety of visitors. Startup INVEST has postponed its annual Startup DAYs to 5 and 6 October; the event will take place both physically and virtually.

Have a good weekend.

Ritah Ayebare Nyakato
Editor, Startupticker.ch