Female Founders News #4

With the launch of its financial app with a digital concierge service, Swiss4, a Geneva-based startup founded in 2020 and led by Zhina Asmaei, is redefining the banking experience, guaranteeing security and ease of use for its customers. Elena Gross, co-founder and CEO of Basel-based startup KetoSwiss, is also making strides in the startup space and giving hope to people struggling with Migraines. The startup has, through its subsidiary Brain Ritual, launched its flagship product, MigraKet, a nutraceutical offering relief to migraine sufferers. This milestone also solidifies the company’s position in the US market.

The path to launch can be long and capital-intensive; thus, venture capital is often the lifeline that propels startups from vision to reality. ETH spinoff MindMetrix anticipates launching its flagship product, MyFlow this year, thanks to the support of its latest financing round. Cleantech startup Freesuns, co-founded by Deborah Learoyd, secured CHF 1 million to continue revolutionizing solar technology with its unique solar tiles for any roof shape. Honestmonday, which provides software enabling intuitive, structured and standardized processes for creating a business plan, secured funding from the Berner Kantonalbank while Openversum, the developer of affordable water filters in emerging countries, has banked CHF 600,000 to propel the industrial production of water filters. Zurich-based startup Progile which Daniela Bohli co-founded, has raised CHF 1.3 million to fuel the development of their AI platform, TestResults.io, which empowers software developers and testers to deliver high-quality software efficiently.

The news of successful sales of consumer products from Swiss startups has reached the ears of prominent figures, attracting them to invest. With over 10,000 units of their flagship product sold, Klode is not just reducing waste with its rubbish bins - it has garnered the attention of prominent investors like former basketball player Tony Parker and entrepreneur Kelly Massol, who injected funds into the business. Dropz, the startup driven by co-founder Sabrina Balestra to provide vitamin-enriched flavor cubes, has also attracted a prominent investor and business angel, namely Daniel Gutenberg, which is a significant boost for its ambitious growth plans, especially now that it has reached its break-even point.

Financing rounds involve a long process executed by different parties. For the Founderful Campus, it is the university students. And much as the recently backed startup projects f lacked female-led startups, the VC leads for these rounds were female. Taking on such roles not only allows them to learn about investing but also paves the way to increasing the proportion of women in the VC landscape.

Recognition affirms startups’ ambitions

The journey of entrepreneurship is often paved with challenges, but recognition serves as fuel for the journey ahead. In the De Vigier Awards, which spotlight Switzerland's most promising startups, three women-led ventures, Apheros, Tandem Therapeutics and MYNERVA have earned their place among the Top 15. SURI BioTech, a specialist in the development of science-backed bacterial strains, patented as supplements and food ingredients, also won a spot in the Madrid Food Innovation Hub Accelerator program. The rrreefs team was awarded at the Economist Impact’s World Ocean Initiative (WOI) with the Ocean Changemakers Challenge award, recognizing its approach to restoring coral reefs. The startup’s solution aligns with the award's aim to promote the well-being of oceans while fostering economic growth. Anne-Soorya Takoordyal, co-founder of pvssy talk, a sex education platform for females aged 25 to 45 who suffer from pain, was awarded a CHF 10’000 cash prize at the Societal Innovation Forum.

Beyond accolades and funding, support and strategic partnerships are essential for startup success. The Wyss Zurich Translational Center welcomed new teams in the last six months, including Greta Preatoni, co-founder of MYNERVA. She will receive vast support to advance her project during the coming years. She and her team are working on a wearable neuro-stimulating medical device designed to reduce chronic pain and restore the sense of touch in patients suffering from diabetic neuropathy. Mamta Chabria is the co-founder of Tandem, a biotech startup developing novel peptide drug conjugates to precision target and treat fibrosis-driven diseases, is also in the program.

Having female leaders in the team inspires the next generation of entrepreneurs to step in their footsteps while enabling their respective companies to benefit from their ingenuity to push their businesses forward. Duramon, the startup behind autonomous solutions for corrosion monitoring of reinforced concrete infrastructure structures such as bridges, has welcomed Felicia Nägele as its new Chief Executive Officer. GoBugFree, which provides companies with continuous security for their digital products and systems, appointed Christina Kistler as Co-CEO.

Author: Ritah Ayebare Nyakato
Duty Editor, Startupticker