The place to be

Dear reader

Twelve blockchain start-ups have been selected for the first CV Labs incubator programme. The companies come from seven countries, with five from the US alone. When asked what lured them to Switzerland, the participants say that Crypto Valley is simply ‘the place to be’ for blockchain companies – and all can imagine a permanent stay in Switzerland.

Incubator programmes and awards are an excellent way of drawing attention to Switzerland and bringing promising founders to Switzerland. Currently, half a dozen such programmes are open to applicants from abroad; we have compiled them in an article.

Foreign partners and investors have long been aware of Swiss start-ups, demonstrating that Switzerland is a good location not only for crypto, but for deep-tech start-ups of all kinds. The Zurich-based drone start-up Auterion, for example, has been able to attract two US heavyweights, GE and the US Department of Defense. This allows Auterion to further develop its software and represents a major step in the conquest of the commercial drone software market.

Biotech company Numab has entered into a licensing business with a Chinese partner, and Amal Therapeutics is receiving support from German pharmaceutical company Boehringer Ingelheim for its first clinical trials. In terms of financing, GetYourGuide has attracted Softbank, and a partner of Softbank Investment Advisors has joined the firm’s board of directors.

At the same time, the increased activity of Swiss investors is noticeable in terms of financing; for example, BioMedPartners and BB Pureos Bioventures acted as joint lead investors in the CHF 12.5 million financing round for Alentis Therapeutics.

Annaida Technologies and Neural Concept have secured CHF 130,000 each; the two EPFL spin-offs were successful at Venture Kick.

Speaking of competitions, public voting for the Top 100 Swiss Startup Award has been open since 1 May. The winner will be presented in the Top 100 Magazine and will be able introduce itself to the hundreds of spectators at the awards ceremony.

Startup Day will take place in Bern on 28 May: 333 people have already registered. Start-ups can register for the Pitch competition, which is worth CHF 50,000, until 12 May.

Next week you can meet me at Swiss Biotech Day, at the Pionierpreis award ceremony and at Niederer Kraft Frey and SFTA’s fintech event.

Have a good weekend
Stefan Kyora

Editor in Chief, Startupticker.ch