EthonAI, a pioneering startup in AI-powered manufacturing analytics, has closed its series A funding round, securing CHF 15m. Index ventures led the round and was joined by General Catalyst, Earlybird, and Founderful. Equipped with new funds, the ETH spinoff will build out its platform capabilities and enhance its enterprise offering. 

The Startup Days this week once again provided a wide range of topics and tips and facilitated intensive networking. But despite all the variety, the topic of AI clearly stood out during the event.

Sparrow Analytics is partnering with Swiss Post to provide Swiss citizens with hyperlocal air quality information. Sparrow has equipped Swiss Post's postal vehicles with its patent-pending Nodes (Multi Micro Sensors Unit) to collect and aggregate air pollution data at street level, providing crucial air quality information to Swiss citizens right on their doorsteps in five major cities, to start with.

41 Swiss life science companies, including 27 startups, will participate in the upcoming BIO International 2024 conference in San Diego from 3 to 6 June, joining 5,000 attending companies and 15’000 visitors from across the world. The Swiss delegation will presenting their innovative solutions in the fields of drug discovery, clinical trial management and pharmaceutical consulting services at the Swiss pavilion. 

Cloover connects all relevant stakeholders of the energy transition - installers, prosumers, manufacturers, energy providers, and investors - through its software, finance, and energy solutions. The company has secured USD114 million. The size of the equity investment in the total amount received was not communicated.

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DataHow, a Zurich-based technology company specialized in bioprocess data analytics and modeling, has finalized its Series A investment round led by Momenta. The proceeds will allow the company to accelerate the deployment of its digital bioprocess development and manufacturing platform, DataHowLab.

An der diesjährigen Verleihung der Digital Commerce Awards wurden zum dreizehnten Mal die besten Onlineshops der Schweiz ausgezeichnet. Aus mit 165 Kategorien-Bewerbungen wurden wieder 16 Sieger und ein Champion gekürt. Letztere Auszeichnung geht an das Westschweizer Unternehmen QoQa, welches seit über 17 Jahren Produkte im Bereich Unterhaltungselektronik, Sport, Gadgets, Mode, etc. über seine Deal-Plattform zu günstigen Preisen verkauft.

In a milestone move, Crédit Agricole Next Bank launched in March a new lead management platform and CRM developped by InvestGlass. The goal: to transform its customer experience and automate internal operations. The bank has over 65’000 clients. GenTwo, another leading Swiss Fintech, just announced that Swissquote, Switzerland’s market leader for online banking, is the inaugural member and preferred partner of the new GenTwo Pro for Banks platform.

Die Abfallbewirtschaftung im Kanton Zug soll ab 2025 neu mit E-Fahrzeugen abgewickelt werden. Die dazu nötige umfassende Areal-Lösung mit Trafo- und Ladestation sowie smartem Lademanagement für die Fahrzeuge entwickelt das Immenseer Startup convoltas. Das Jungunternehmen ist erfolgreich unterwegs und hat im letzten Jahr 22 Grossanlagen und 16 kleinere Anlagen realisiert.

Die SaaS-Lösung für automatisierte Jahresabschlüsse von aumico kommt bei rund 150 Treuhändern und KMUs zum Einsatz. Jetzt haben die Zürcher eine Seed-Runde in der Höhe von knapp einer Million Franken abgeschlossen, um die Expansion nach Deutschland und die Weiterentwicklung der Lösung zu bewerkstelligen. Investiert haben Business Angels und Firmenkunden.

SCRYPT, a Zurich-based provider of crypto asset financial services, closed a $5 million strategic funding round led by Braza Bank, the largest Brazilian exchange bank. The firm also announced that it has doubled its client book and seen trading volume increase 18 times year on year.

Light Frame, a Swiss-American FinTech company founded by former Swiss banking and technology executives, announced the closing of an oversubscribed pre-seed round, raising $1.7 million. The capital will allow the startup to ramp up its product development team and further engage potential clients as it prepares for the launch in 2025.

Unter der Marke finally. designt und entwickelt das Jungunternehmen Final Studio seit fünf Jahren Pflegehilfsmittel, Kleidung und weitere Produkte für Menschen in gesundheitlich fragilen Lebensphasen. Mit der Unterstützung des Migros-Pionierfonds sollen diese Produkte nun breiter vermarktet und in grösserer Stückzahl produziert werden.

Lighthouse Tech SA, a pioneering startup and leader in the development of cutting-edge assistive technologies for blind and visually impaired individuals, has closed a seed funding round, securing 500,000 CHF. The Ticino-based start-up will now proceed with the industrialization of its first product.

Le Prix suisse de l'éthique récompense les organisations suisses engagées dans des projets de responsabilité sociale ou de développement durable. Organisé depuis 2005 par les étudiants de la HEIG-VD, la compétition a récompensé cette année quatre startups suisses actives dans des domaines divers.

Numab Therapeutics has entered into a definitive agreement whereby Johnson & Johnson acquires Yellow Jersey Therapeutics (YJT), a wholly-owned subsidiary of Numab to be spun-off to Numab's shareholders. YJT comprises all assets relating to NM26, an investigational first-in-class bi-specific antibody for the treatment of atopic dermatitis (AD) set to advance into Phase 2 clinical development.

Seven companies have been selected for the second cohort of the QAI Ventures Accelerator program. These visionary startups from Europe and North America are set to drive significant advancements in quantum computing, sensing, and communications. Switzerland is represented by a fintech and a quantum computing startup.

Bei 7000 Schweizer Online-Shops ist es nun möglich, Kreditkartendaten einmalig einzugeben und anschliessend mit nur einem Klick zu bezahlen. Möglich macht es eine Partnerschaft zwischen Payrexx und Visa. Clanq und Cornèr Bank erleichtern hingegen das Sparen und wenden sich damit insbesondere an Familien.

103 early-stage startups have been selected to join MassChallenge Switzerland 2024 Accelerator Program, that’s 8% of applications received from around the world. Among the participants from 5 continents, 21 come from Switzerland. All companies are committed to sustainability.

Das AKB Lab am Aarauer Bahnhofplatz soll innerhalb der nächsten zwei Jahre im Rahmen einer Public-Private-Partnership sukzessive zum Innovations- und Start-up-Hub für Unternehmen aufgebaut werden. Dort soll neben einem Mini Coworking Space zukünftig die Start-up- und Innovations-Community eine wichtige Anlaufstelle erhalten.

Seit Sommer 2023 behandelt die Hospital at Home AG Patientinnen und Patienten in Kooperation mit verschiedenen Spitälern, Spitex-Organisationen und Hausärzten spitaläquivalent zu Hause. Die Gesundheitsdirektion Kanton Zürich unterstützt das innovative Angebot für drei Jahre mit einem Subventionsbeitrag, der dem Kantonsbeitrag an die stationäre Spitalversorgung entspricht.  

IMD held the 2-day Venture Asset Management program twice so far, attracting experienced and novice investors worldwide to explore the intricacies and advantages of investing in startups. Participants have expressed a positive echo, demonstrating the need for more education about investing in startups and investing in Venture Capital.

EPFL spin-off DemoSquare provides an AI-based platform to monitor and analyze political and regulatory activities, thereby simplifying political processes for public and private organizations. Winning CHF 150,000 investment from Venture Kick allows the startup to fast-track its development.

Five startups in the fields of smart aviation, life sciences, AI-powered medtech and consumer experience announce new C-level appointments with experienced personalities whose startup and business acumen promise to bring success. 

Swiss life science and medtech startups in the fields of neuroscience, immunology, longevity and spinal cord research are reaching exciting milestones. Some have just entered clinical studies while others successfully completed their trials. ONWARD Medical’s positive pivotal trial results were published in Nature Medical, a leading journal in the field.

SixPeaks Bio AG has made its debut with a pipeline of therapies for healthy weight loss. The company has secured $30 million in Series A financing led by founding investor Versant Ventures and a strategic collaboration with AstraZeneca that will provide additional, non-dilutive financing of up to $80 million over the next two years.

Last Wednesday at the Olympic Museum, the 31st winner of the Strategis Prize was announced from among the 90 candidates for this year's award. The winner is HeroSupport SA, which offers a breast immobilization solution that improves the efficiency and cost-effectiveness of medical treatments. It won the CHF 50,000 prize thanks to the promising quality of its invention, which caught the attention of the jury.

100 start-ups applied, and after several selection rounds, four of them are left. They demonstrate the breadth of the fintech sector as well as the ongoing trends towards AI-based solutions and climate fintech.

Hapag-Lloyd, one of the world’s leading liner shipping companies, relies on Nexxiot’s tracking solutions. With 1 million dry container monitoring devices already installed, the company has launched the tracking solution “Live Position”, making it a frontrunner in using IoT technology on a large scale.

Launched in 2014, Swixx BioPharma is today one fastest-growing, largest, independent, intercontinental commercial platforms for the biopharmaceutical industry. The company expands to Latin America through a strategic acquisition and combination with Biopas. This acquisition follows on the entry of Swixx BioPharma into the Middle East region in September 2023.

With its new round of investment, supported by a consortium of new and existing investors, SwissDrones is set to deliver its long-range uncrewed helicopter systems globally. This announcement comes shortly after the startup’s 7-digit capital increase in January.

Mit KI-Start-up Nexoya gewinnt erstmals ein Schweizer Startup die I-COM Data Startup Challenge. Den diesjährigen Stage-Up-Award nimmt mit TightValve ein Startup in der Gründungsphase mit nach Hause. Und anlässlich der VivaTech-Konferenz gab es für Witty Works eine Auszeichnung bei der Startup Challenge der Manpower Group und für Authena einen Innovation Award von Luxusgüterriese LVMH Moët Hennessy – Louis Vuitton.

Tackling global challenges in public health and agriculture management, two Swiss startups have received European funding to further develop their innovative solutions. Correntics AG from Zurich has secured €1.5 million through the Eurostars programme, while Schlieren-based Avelo AG has received €3 million from Horizon Europe. 

Das Zürcher Startup FlexAgility verfügt kurz nach dem Launch im April 2024 bereits über einen Pool von rund 400 juristischen Fachpersonen für seinen Personalverleih. Etwa ein Dutzend Unternehmen haben die Dienste des Jungunternehmens bereits in Anspruch genommen. Das frische Kapital von VC exelixis capital gibt nun zusätzlichen Schub für die Startphase.

Taurus, focussed on institutional-grade digital asset infrastructure, announces the opening of its newest office in Vancouver, the first in North America. The Government of Québec intends to invest equity in H55, a pioneer in electric aviation technologies. The two start-ups are not alone in their activities in Canada. A recently published study by Switzerland Global Enterprise sheds light on the strong bilateral trade relations between the two countries.

Global health and humanitarian aid organization Project HOPE and Swiss biometrics startup Global ID are joining forces to introduce an innovative biometric authentication solution for managing participant data in health and emergency interventions around the world. The first project will provide care to some 75,000 people in Namibia, with the aim of reducing HIV infection among vulnerable populations.

The closing of its first financing round sets DAAV in a new position to advance, test and roll out its AI-enabled mobility device, DAAV-air, for persons with reduced mobility at airports. Spicehaus Partners led the CHF 1 million round, supported by KickFund and business angels.

The number of spin-offs at the University of Basel has steadily increased in recent years - with the life sciences sector standing out. 25 life sciences spin-offs have been founded in the last four years alone. The University has thus established itself as one of the most important Swiss spin-off centres in the life sciences sector. We present the spin-offs of 2023 - including eight life sciences companies.

Diesen Februar expandierte der österreichische Online-Supermarkt Alfies nach Zürich. Mit der Übernahme des Blitz-Lieferdienstes Stash wird das Geschäft nun ausgeweitet. Geliefert wird im Grossraum Zürich. Der Stash-Standort in Luzern stellt noch diese Woche den Betrieb ein.

Eine Fachjury hat aus den 36 Nominierten, darunter international agierende Grossunternehmen wie Sika oder Komax, die fünf Finalisten für den Green Business Award ausgewählt. Dieses Mal machen die Startups und Scaleups Synhelion, Algrano, New Roots, Distran und Selfrag den Sieger unter sich aus. Im Juli können sie ihre Lösungen dann vor der Hauptjury präsentieren.

Sintratec ceased operations recently due to recent bankruptcy proceedings. The 3D printing OEM, founded in 2014, shipped systems to customers in over 50 countries. Despite recent successes the company was unable to financially sustain the business.

Tech4Trust, the Swiss acceleration program dedicated to cybersecurity and digital trust startups, announces the 12 finalists selected for the final stage of the program. These startups will compete for the title of best cybersecurity and digital trust startups of 2023-2024 during the Awards Ceremony on June 6 at the Unlimitrust Campus.

Lausanne-based startup Limula has raised CHF 6.2M ($6.8M) to take its cell- and gene-therapy manufacturing solution to the next stage of development while continuing to onboard selected cell therapy developers to run pilots. The oversubscribed round was led by US investor, LifeX Ventures, with participation from several renowned investors from Switzerland and beyond. 

CUTISS AG, a Swiss pioneering life sciences company specializing in skin regenerative medicine and tissue engineering, announced the first closing of CHF 25 million in its Series C funding round. To date, CUTISS has raised a total of CHF 92 million from private investors, family offices, and public bodies.

At the 8th edition of Viva Technology, Europe's largest tech event, which will take place from 22 to 25 May 2024 in Paris and online, 23 Swiss startups will present their innovations in the Swisstech Pavilion. The selected startups are developing solutions in the fields of sport, cleantech, digital health, medtech, AI and robotics. 

Catering to the growing demand for its digital leasing platform, LeaseTeq has obtained non-dilutive growth funding to strengthen its market position and accelerate its expansion beyond Switzerland. This step was achieved through Lendity, a provider of growth capital.

Zug-based startup Splint Invest has acquired all assets from Elephants, a Ticino-based co-investment platform for luxury watches. This strategic move allows Splint to further diversify and enhance its investment opportunities for its more than 10,000 active users. 

Finanzierungen mit Hilfe der Crowd verzeichneten im Jahr 2023 das zweite Mal in Folge einen Volumenrückgang. Auch Kampagnen von Startups konnten sich dem Abwärtstrend nicht entziehen. Insbesondere beim Crowd-Investing floss deutlich weniger Geld als noch 2022. 

Tenity, redalpine and Privilège Ventures have welcomed new leaders in the roles of Managing director and General Partner to guide them through their new strategic direction as they continue to support startups and entrepreneurs. The appointment of the Silicon Valley investor and startup expert marks its first steps in establishing its US base.