On trend

Dear reader

The increasing number of older people creates attractive business opportunities, particularly as science has made advances in understanding and influencing the ageing process in recent years. Four experienced founders have now launched the first ‘Longevity’ company builder in Switzerland, which is intended to produce systematic start-ups.

The pandemic has also made hygiene a hot topic and this trend has been shaped by ETH Zurich spin-off HeiQ, best known for its antibacterial masks. But its ambition goes well beyond face masks: HeiQ wants to become a global leader in materials innovation and has now taken over a Belgian industrial biotech company for this purpose.

Eden Senses is also growing: the start-up is launching a platform for real-time analysis of indoor air data with AIRICA. Session.vc, a Swiss venture capital company launched in 2020 by experienced investors and founders, has now invested in the start-up.

This quick and successful use of opportunities presented by trends is relatively new in Switzerland, and the numerous examples that we reported on this week alone give cause for optimism. In the IT sector, for example, Okomo, which enables companies to provide efficient, personal online customer service, has attracted investors – a popular offer in this era of booming ecommerce.

Support organisations also provide help when it comes to trends: EPFL Innovation Park and Groupe Mutuel have launched the first Swiss accelerator programme that focuses on femtech – for innovative solutions that address female health areas.

Unfortunately, there is still no positive trend to be seen in investment in women-led start-ups. Our article gives the latest figures from Switzerland and a map of 170 investable start-ups with female CEOs.

Speaking of overview, to mark the 10th anniversary of the Top 100 Swiss Startup Awards, Venturelab has published a book on the 438 TOP 100 Swiss deeptech start-ups, with further in-depth information on selected companies and verticals.

Another important national start-up award – from the WA de Vigier Foundation – this week announced the 17 companies that have made it on to the shortlist.

Cellestia Biotech has already been awarded: the company has received the Innosuisse certificate. Our article tells more about the start-up’s history, milestones achieved and its potential.

Important deadlines: registration for two scale-up bootcamps on the topics of mobility, smart city and industrial tech is open until 21 March. The application deadline for Medtech Innovation Day runs until 22 March and until 24 March for >> venture >>. I would also like to point out the Virtual Venture Day on 24 March: the pitching start-ups have now been announced.

Have a good weekend.
Stefan Kyora

Editor in Chief, Startupticker.ch