January 17, 2014
Start-ups benefit from collaboration
Dear reader
There is a clear trend: more and more large companies are working with start-ups. One of the pioneers in Switzerland is SBB, which has established its start-up programme in just one year. In our interview, Manuel Gerres, Head of Start-up Relations SBB, explains why SBB Start-up is working with partners in Zurich, Berlin and Tel Aviv, and when, where and to whom start-ups will pitch during the first Switzerland Rail Pitch Summit in a moving train.
IBM is one of the international pioneers in working with start-ups and the IBM Global Entrepreneur Program has now gained a foothold in Switzerland. So it is no coincidence that during IBM’s Global Entrepreneur Week, an event will also take place in Zurich on 4 February.
Just last week, the first award ceremony of the venture 2014 competition took place, with Roche CEO Severin Schwan making the keynote speech.
Events such as venture’s awards ceremony are very encouraging, not only because of the high level of the 10 winning projects, but because the competition, organised by ETH Zurich, Knecht Holding, the CTI and McKinsey & Company, is a very good example of the collaboration between various supporters with completely different backgrounds
FinTech Innovation Lab London also operates a similar collaboration, by the way, and Swiss IT company Squirro has qualified for this year’s programme.
Young Swiss entrepreneurs have not only attracted organisers and jury members in the past week, but also investors. OTI Greentech received expansion capital and Centralway Ventures joined SecureSafe.
Finally, some information on a few opportunities that should not be missed: places are still available for the Swiss Pavilion at CeBIT and at Hannover Messe; the call for proposals for the BCVs Prix Créateur started this week; and registration for participation in the Swiss Economic Forum has been open for the last few days; until end of January you can also register for the Swiss Economic Award.
Have a good weekend.
Stefan Kyora
Managing Editor, startupticker.ch