March 21, 2014
Two trade sales and an IPO
Dear reader
Prionics is one of the most well-known start-ups from the 1990s. The spin-off from the University of Zurich caused a sensation in 2000 with its BSE testing, and since then the company has become a globally successful retailer of pet diagnostic products. Now US medtech group Thermo Fisher Scientific has acquired Prionics. It was not the only sale of a Swiss start-up company this week: SAFEmine, based in Baar, was taken over by Swedish firm Hexagon.
In addition, an IPO has been announced: Bravofly Rumbo Group, headquartered in Chiasso, wants to make its stock market launch in the second quarter of 2014. The group operates a number of internet travel booking sites for flights, package holidays and hotels. It will be the first internet IPO on the Swiss Stock Exchange since 2000, when online bank Swissquote went public.
Such exits are crucial for the start-up scene. Investors get their money back and at the same time they are a signal to new donors that it is certainly possible to make money with Swiss start-ups.
However, internationally renowned venture capital investors do not need to be convinced. The latest example is venture capital firm Wellington Partners, which this week invested in Dacuda. Together, they want to create another European global technology leader.
Other sources of money are available to young companies in the very early stages, in addition to investors. This week it was announced that the Hasler Foundation will support Valais start-up Geneemo with CHF150,000, and the CTI is supporting a joint research project from Novertur and the Institute of Information and Communication Systems (ISIC) at Haute Ecole Arc (HE-ARC). In addition, ETH spin-off FASHWELL won CHF 10,000 at the START Summit last weekend.
The 20 winners of this year’s venture leaders programme, however, will benefit mainly from valuable contacts, inspiring input and a unique experience with their trip to Boston and New York. Experience shows that it is worth reading the list of the 20 winners, as future high flyers appear regularly on it.
Have a relaxing weekend.
Stefan Kyora