December 23, 2016
A great year for start-ups
Dear reader
Even so near Christmas, the Swiss start-up scene is still very active; for example, two apps with great potential were launched this week that solve quite different problems. Crowd simplifies the search for events and appointments with friends, and the app from start-up imito turns smartphone photos into a professional tool for doctors.
Four young companies were supported by substantial contributions. Insolight and Vatorex each received CHF130,000 from the initiative venture kick, and Fondation pour l’Innovation Technologique (FIT) supported Sensiwall and Embion Technologies with interest-free loans of more than CHF100,000.
And in terms of financing, there is still a lot going on; for example, Phi Pharma, Stonestep and Multiwave reported investments. The Ticino big data start-up C-Labs has been taken over by SGS, and the Geneva-based biotech company Genkyotex will merge with the Euronext-listed Genticel.
The week was a reflection of 2016 as a whole and quite impressive: several IPOs and big financing rounds made headlines, government policy acknowledged start-ups and new initiatives brought fresh impetus.
We talked to Nicolas Bürer, managing director of digitalswitzerland, about its good record, the results of the past year and the plans for 2017. We are pleased to announce that digitalswitzerland is now a Supporter of startupticker.
Similarly, Jordi Montserrat also talked to us about two international programmes organised by venturelab.
At year end, as every year, numerous awards are announced. I would like to mention the WA de Vigier Foundation award, venture leaders’ Silicon Valley trip and the two regional competitions Prix Perl and Startfeld Diamant.
Swiss Venture Capital Report will be published in January. You can pre-order it now and also register for the two brunches in Zurich and Lausanne.
The newsletter will not appear next week, but you can keep up to date with all the news on our web portal.
Happy Christmas and all the best for 2017.
Stefan Kyora
Editor in Chief, startupticker.ch