Make way for founders

Dear reader

Who said that linear television is dead? Last Tuesday, the German-Swiss private broadcaster TV24 broadcast the first episode of the start-up show Die Höhle der Löwen and achieved dream ratings. Read our interview with jury member Bettina Hein. Born in Berlin, she built up a multimillion-dollar company in the US and is currently working in Switzerland as CEO of St. Gallen IT start-up Hello Yellow.

Hein is also involved in the financing of MyCamper. The Basel sharing platform received an investment commitment of more than CHF 300,000 from the jury members, and the deal has been confirmed.

In current financing rounds, drone manufacturer Wingtra has raised USD 10 million from investors that include ZKB and Credit Suisse Entrepreneur Capital.

Zurich-based regtech start-up Skribble and EPFL spin-off Neural Concept announced seven-figure commitments. The Vaud start-up develops deep learning algorithms for CAD tools, and Skribble simplifies the digital signature process to the point where it could finally make the breakthrough.

In the build-up and growth phase, a founder barely thinks about corporate tax. But the statistics show that about half of all Swiss start-ups develop eventually into normal SMEs with 20 or more employees. We show what last Sunday’s vote on corporate tax reform means for innovative companies beyond the break-even point.

Looking ahead, the Swiss start-up scene will meet at the Bern Kursaal next Tuesday: 1000 participants have already registered for Startup DAYs, and startupticker will have three representatives on site. Tickets are available until the last minute. New slots for the 1:1 meetings have been made available today.

And last but not least, this afternoon the three winners of this year’s Swiss Economic Award were announced in Interlaken. They are New Roots, PXL Vision and Pickwings.

Have a relaxing weekend.
Jost Dubacher

Editor startupticker.ch