Stress test is passed

Dear reader

Investment in Swiss start-ups last year amounted to CHF 3.969 billion – an increase of 29.7% on 2021 and a surprisingly positive result in view of the economic conditions. It is particularly encouraging since it shows that the Swiss start-up ecosystem has not only grown in size in recent years, but has also become more crisis-proof. All the figures on investment in 2022 and a 12-page list with information on the individual financing rounds can be found in Swiss Venture Capital Report 2023, published on Thursday and, as always, easily downloadable from startupticker.ch. The report was again published by the news portal startupticker.ch and the investor association SECA, in cooperation with startup.ch.

One of the reasons for the ecosystem’s resilience to crises is the good development in the area of sustainability. The cleantech sector has developed steadily in Switzerland in recent years and attracted almost a quarter of the total amount invested in Swiss start-ups in 2022. Interest in companies with sustainable products has not diminished in 2023 and this week we reported on four investments: the Bell Group has invested in foodtech Yasai. Migros has acquired a stake in Revendo, the largest Swiss supplier of used electronic devices. Kuori, which develops eco-friendly alternatives to plastic materials, has raised CHF 2.3 million. And Dufour, the start-up developing innovative hybrid aircraft, announced the closing of a Series B funding round.

In addition to investments, there were also a number of exits. German firm Lab14 acquired a majority stake in Nanosurf and real estate software house W&W took over proptech start-up Fairwalter. This also a continuation of a trend from last year. The new Swiss Venture Capital Report has a list of more than 60 takeovers by Swiss start-ups, more than double the number of the 2010s when it fluctuated between 20 and 30 trade sales per year.

The report also includes a list of 55 Swiss VC funds in fundraising, a new record. The results of a survey of Swiss VCs complete the content.

Venture Kick presented its annual report this week. The initiative once again increased its activities and made an impressive impact: last year, it supported 89 projects with CHF 6.11 million; in 2023, it is increasing the budget to CHF 6.3 million..

Femtech start-ups have until 1 February to register for the next Tech4Eva programme. I would also like to mention once again the ESA BIC Switzerland programme for space-related companies. And applications are open for food and agritech start-ups for the Swiss-Israeli Lean Launchpad until 17 February.

Finally, I would like to draw your attention to a SICTIC webinar on the new corporate law next Tuesday. And anyone interested in the start-up scene in Ticino should not miss the next start-up day (Giornata cantonale delle startup) on 9 February in Lugano.

Have a good weekend.
Stefan Kyora

Editor in Chief, Startupticker.ch