September 25, 2015
Swiss start-ups in the public gaze
Dear reader
‘Protect the Graph’ is the name of the Facebook blog that gives information about security issues. Last Tuesday, a post was devoted exclusively to the Swiss start-up ProtonMail, which has become the first email service to offer support for PGP-encrypted Facebook emails. It was not the only time this week that Swiss start-ups caused a stir in the US. LEDsafari qualified for a Forbes competition, in which the winners will receive $1 million, and the team from Ava, which has developed a wearable device to help women become pregnant, appeared at TechCrunch Disrupt. You can watch the performance in our video section.
What stands out here is how quickly founders today look to the big stage. ProtonMail and Ava were both founded only in 2014. The time when Swiss start-ups tinkered for years with the technology and then ventured out cautiously into the public gaze seem to be over, at least for ambitious start-ups.
This does not mean that companies such as Ava are turning their backs on Switzerland. The team has already scooped a range of prizes: it is a winner of Venture Kick, the Swisscom Startup Challenge and the WA de Vigier Foundation award.
By the way, applications are open for the next WA de Vigier Award until 30 September. Registration for several prizes is also possible from this week: the Pioneer Award, the Prix Neode and the new competition ‘SAFT - Energy startup solutions for 2050’ from Swissnex San Francisco, Impact Hub Fellowship and Impact Hub Zurich. Start-ups looking for investors have until Sunday to apply for the next SICTIC Investor Day in Lausanne.
Finally, a reference to an extensive article from our correspondent Ryan Vannin about the start-up ecosystem in Ticino. The scene may not be as well known as in the German and French-speaking regions, but the article shows how lively it is and the many promising young companies involved.
Have an eventful weekend.
Stefan Kyora
Managing Editor, startupticker.ch