The network between Swiss start-ups and investors, between start-ups and established companies and between support organisations is getting closer. This will strengthen the local ecosystem.
Dear reader
The week before the Christmas break was very busy. We reported on 10 investments, two media-for-equity deals for Planted and CrowdTransfer, and also an exit with the sale of CertX to SGS.
What was noticeable was that not only Swiss start-ups but also Swiss partners were often involved. Fribourg-based certification specialist CertX and SGS, headquartered in Geneva, are just one example. Axpo and a Ticino VC were involved as investors in Hive Power, a Ticino start-up that offers solutions for smart grids. The Technology Fund also provided a loan guarantee.
Yeastup has developed a process in which various highly functional ingredients can be extracted from brewers’ spent yeast. The Aargau-based start-up has now raised almost CHF 9 million to build a large-scale production site. The facility in Lyss (BE) will repurpose a former dairy site of Cremo, Switzerland’s second largest dairy producer. Cremo sees this as an opportunity to reposition itself and explore new, innovative avenues with Yeastup.
We also reported on the three Swiss investors who made it on to this year’s Forbes’ Midas List. Inclusion in this exclusive club is considered a badge of honour in the international VC scene. Encouragingly, all three VCs have invested in Swiss start-ups this year.
Support organisations are moving even closer together: the Deep Tech Nation Switzerland Foundation and the Swiss Entrepreneurs Foundation have joined forces. The former is building on the key pioneering and development work of SwissEF and carrying it forward into the next decade. Operations will be consolidated under the Deep Tech Nation Switzerland Foundation.
The Swiss Fintech Association (SFA) and the Swiss Finance + Technology Association (SFTA) have merged. The new association will provide members with access to a broader network and combine the SFA’s advocacy expertise with the SFTA’s dynamic community platform.
Venture Kick has already attracted new partners in recent weeks and intends to further expand its partner network. The initiative has now announced very ambitious goals for the next few years, including doubling the number of start-ups it supports. A total of 100,000 jobs will be created by 2033.
Finally, a recent announcement: the conclusion of negotiations with the EU has brought new opportunities for start-ups to participate in Horizon Europe, the EU’s research programme, and in particular in the EIC Accelerator. The European Commission has fully activated the transitional arrangement as of 1 January 2025. Startups interested in the EIC Accelerator Programme should start preparations for an application immediately, as the first cut-off date is fast approaching.
Founders who want to apply for the IMD Startup Competition have until Monday. The deadline for the Startup Camp powered by Innosuisse, managed by Swissnex China is 31 December. Applicattions for the W.A. de Vigiger Foundation award are open until 6 January.
Now it is time to wish you a wonderful Christmas and hope you are able to spend time with those who are interested in things other than investments and start-up innovations. We will also shut down operations a little, but will continue to provide you with current information on the website on a reduced scale. A newsletter will not be published next week, 27 December.
Stefan Kyora
Editor in Chief, Startupticker.ch
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The new Swiss Venture Capital Report was published on 26 January. It analyses 304 financing rounds closed in 2020 and includes further article such as an interview with Michael Hengartner, President of the ETH Board, and a list of Swiss "soonicorns". 
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