March 11, 2016
Growth on solid ground
Dear reader
Currently, much is talked about disruption. Digitalisation interrupts well-rehearsed value-added chains and destroys established business models. Disruptive projects are sexy. But whether they are lucrative, time will tell.
What works, however, is the systematic digitalisation of proven services. Staff Finder, for example, has built a recruitment platform that already collaborates with 5,000 enterprises. Now the Zurich firm has achieved a first round of funding with institutional donors and, according to Techcrunch, has collected €20 million. “Before someone gives you money, you have to prove that you’re worth it,” wrote Staff Finder CEO Viktor Calabrò a year ago. He has clearly provided the evidence.
The jury of ‘Entrepreneur of the Year’ discovered Calabrò two years ago, when it made him the winner in the category ‘emerging entrepreneur’. Last year was the turn of Jan Lichtenberg of InSphero, and now a successor to both is being sought. The registration period runs until the end of April.
Women are still rare in the technology sectors. A new Swiss women’s network WE SHAPE TECH has been established to change this state of affairs. The opening event with more than 100 participants took place in Zurich this week.
In eastern Switzerland, Startfeld Diamant, the award for innovative young entrepreneurs, announced the names of its five finalists for 2016.
In Valais, MyAirSeat has launched an app to announce available places on Alpine sight-seeing and taxi flights. The first offers are already available.
Looking forward, the 52nd Swiss Venture Day will be held on Wednesday afternoon at Technopark Zurich. In the morning on the same site, Angel Day will take place on the theme ‘Tax and Tax Structuring’. Both events are organised by CTI Invest.
Finally, again in eastern Switzerland, the technology conference START Summit 2016 begins next Friday. About 1,500 people are expected, among them my colleague Stefan Kyora.
Have a good weekend.
Jost Dubacher
Editor, startupticker.ch