Unicorn in sight

Dear reader

When I visited Johannes Reck for the first time about 10 years ago at Technopark Zurich, the idea that Switzerland could produce a worldwide leader in the platform economy seemed foolhardy. But in the latest financing round of CHF 489 million, the ETH spin-off GetYourGuide was valued at CHF 1.3 billion. Investors, including Softbank, Lakestar and Swisscanto, are clearly convinced that GetYourGuide will become the world’s leading tour and activity booking platform.

Despite this success, Switzerland is still too little known as a start-up hub. Many initiatives want to change this, and currently a dozen or so start-ups, together with universities, research institutes and SMEs, are showing their innovations at a sensational Swiss Pavilion at VivaTech in Paris. The fact that Swiss start-ups are among the best was shown at the awards ceremony for European Women Innovators, which also took place at VivaTech. The EU Commissioner for Research, Science and Innovation, Carlos Moedas, presented Michela Puddu, CEO of Haelixa, with the title of ‘Rising Innovator 2019’.

For visibility abroad, initiatives also take start-ups to Silicon Valley and China. Registration is open until Sunday for this year’s Swisscom Startup Challenge, and the deadline for Venture Leaders Fintech, this time travelling to Hong Kong, expires on 9 June.

Three growth companies provided further positive headlines. Private equity investor CapVis acquired a majority stake in the Bern high-tech company Xovis, which makes sensors and software to monitor waiting times and people flow at airports and retails spaces worldwide. Digital health start-up dacadoo is currently increasing its annual sales by more than 100%, and INOFEA has established a spin-off to develop enzymes for the treatment of cancer and rare diseases.

Growth is also signalled by the five Impact Hubs, which have merged to form an umbrella organisation, Impact Hub Switzerland, in order to carry out national projects. And in Basel, the local Impact Hub, which has been active for some time, will in the next few months have its own premises at the Dreispitz Areal.

For the most part, the 30 finalists of >>venture>> competition and the participants in the MassChallenge Switzerland programme are just beginning. Read more in our articles.

Looking forward, you will be able to meet us at several national events. On 28 May, Startup DAYs will take place in Bern: more than 700 people have already registered for the one-day event. The highlights include the Pitching Battle, the appearances of investors, corporates and supporters, the 1:1 meetings, the exhibition with supporters and 11 accelerator programmes, and of course keynote speeches, panel discussions and masterclasses.

The awards of the WA de Vigier Foundation will be awarded in Solothurn on 27 May: the 10 finalists are now known. Next week, the Swiss Economic Forum take places in Interlaken, and the swissnex start-up roadshow Go Global starts on 23 May, where you can meet representatives of the various swissnex locations.

Have a good weekend
Stefan Kyora

Editor in Chief, Startupticker.ch