Lots going on in the sandbox

Dear reader

This week the Swiss Financial Market Supervisory Authority (FINMA) launched a sandbox – after numerous demands from many fintech companies. The sandbox is a fully license-exempt environment for fintech start-ups, and at the same time it allows digital onboarding – the establishment of business relationships via digital channels, putting this form of identification on a par with in-person identification.

Demand for the new facility is great, and fintech start-up True Wealth announced this week that it will enable digital onboarding for its customers. Users can now verify their identity digitally.

It is not the only message from the Swiss fintech scene this week. Qumran closed a financing round of more than CHF 2.4 million with renowned business angels and investors from the investiere network, and Advanon launched a joint platform with Hypothekarbank Lenzburg.

No wonder that a new comprehensive study by Lucerne University concludes that the Swiss fintech industry is developing enormously quickly and is often underestimated in public perception. In addition to the study, this week swiss made software published a book on and for the Swiss fintech scene.

Fintech is also one of the thematic focuses of Kickstart accelerator. The organisation announced this week that its partner companies, including UBS and Credit Suisse, are launching an international fintech accelerator programme under its umbrella.

This week was very busy outside the fintech scene as well. Three Swiss start-ups were presented to Angela Merkel at Cebit. In addition, through its network for the Internet of Things, Swisscom plays a pacesetting role for start-ups, and directory service zip.ch and medtech company Peripal both attracted investors. There was news also from CTI Invest: the organisation has changed its name to Swiss Startup Invest. More news from Swiss Startup Day and Swiss Venture Day in our article.

The deadline for the Mass Challenge Switzerland expire in the week after Easter. Applications for the international Academia-Industry Training programme from venturelab have just opened.

Next week, a discussion on start-up taxation in the canton of Zurich will take place at Technopark Winterthur, and SICTIC Investor Day will take place in Zurich. After Easter, on 31 March, the Swiss Fintech Awards will be presented. We will be there and have three tickets to give away for the Gala Night. Apply to news@startupticker.ch.

No newsletter will appear next week due to the Easter holidays.

Have a spring-like weekend.

Stefan Kyora
Managing Editor, startupticker.ch