A busy week

LimmaTech Biologics, a Swiss biotech startup from Schlieren, has raised an additional USD 3 million from healthtech investor Tenmile, bringing its series A round to USD 40 million (CHF 34,7 million). The funding will be used to further advance the company’s proprietary self-adjuvanting and multi-antigen vaccine technology platform and  to initiate Phase 1 clinical trials for their Staphylococcus aureus candidate and Phase 2 trials for the Shigella vaccine candidate.  

Multiwave Technologies and the Clinique de la Main - Geneva have entered into a strategic partnership for the development of a portable MRI device dedicated to upper limb imaging. As part of this, Clinique de la Main has acquired a minority stake in Multiwave, and become a strategic partner to assist in the R&D of this new device. The medtech has raised over CHF 20 million to date and has started selling its portable MRI device for brain imaging research on key markets.

Biotech giant Biogen discontinues further development and commercialization of Alzheimer's drug ADUHELM and will terminate the associated clinical study. With this decision, all IP rights are returned to the original developer, Schlieren-based startup Neurimmune. While Biogen will now focus on the newly approved drug LEQEMBI, Neurimmune will further develop and test ADUHELM.  

Fällt Ihnen strukturiertes Arbeiten auch manchmal schwer? Haben Sie zu viele Tasks aufs Mal? Mit unserem Partner bexio, Business-Software-Anbieter für Startups, Selbstständige und KMU, zeigen wir Ihnen, wie ein verbessertes Zeitmanagement mit der Timeboxing-Methode Ihren Arbeitsalltag erleichtert.

Physical Passports could become obsolete. Swiss SaaS startup Travizory Boarder Security SA is developing an AI-powered security technology to meet the growing demand for biometric solutions in border control and enable secure passport-free travel. This vision has garnered substantial backing from industry players, including the UK-based venture capital firm BACKED.

In Zürich hat das Startup Cada Fertility eine erste Praxis des für Reproduktionsabklärungen eröffnet und bereits einige Patientinnen und Patienten aufgenommen. Um künftig das gesamte Behandlungsspektrum rund um den Kinderwunsch anbieten zu können, baut das Startup derzeit eine eigene Klinik sowie ein zusätzliches Labor für Fruchtbarkeitsbehandlungen auf.

Eine Investorengruppe, vertreten durch das Multi-Family Office Verium, hat einen signifikanten Minderheitsanteil an der Impact Acoustic AG erworben. Damit will das Luzerner Startup seine internationale Präsenz weiter ausbauen und sein Portfolio mit diversen Akustikprodukten aus recycelten Materialien zu erweitern. Die Höhe der Transaktion wird nicht bekannt gegeben.

Ab Freitag strahlt SAT.1 Schweiz eine sechsteilige Serie zum Arbeitsalltag in Start-ups aus. Für die Sendung wurden drei Teilnehmer des *zünder Accelerator Programms ausgewählt: IRISgo, Alligator und Mister Beam.

Nexthink celebrates its 20th anniversary by acquiring digital adoption trailblazer AppLearn, marking a significant leap in Digital Employee Experience (DEX). As the inventor of DEX, Nexthink has already saved millions of productivity hours for over 1,200 customers. Through this acquisition, Nexthink is aligning with its longstanding vision to offer enterprises a one-of-a-kind solution addressing every aspect of digital workplace management, and restore time to employees and IT in every enterprise.

This year's annual Startup Days event in Bern will include some changes, including a new pitching format called Youngsters. The jury will select the finalists to present at the event, and the best startups will be recognized as the ‘Catch of the jury’. Early-stage startups with promising business ideas and early traction are invited to apply, and players in the ecosystem are invited to nominate startups. Applications close on 30 April.

EPFL spin-off AeroSpec developed a technology that measures the chemical composition of aerosol pollution, offering detailed insights into its source, composition, and health effects. The startup obtained CHF 150,000 from Venture Kick after winning the third stage of the program to accelerate its growth and development.

L’EPFL, la HEIG-VD, l’UNIL s’associent au plus haut niveau avec le soutien de l’Etat de Vaud et dévoilent les contours du Programme [seal]. Son but: stimuler la collaboration entre les trois hautes écoles et d’accélérer le transfert de connaissances et de technologies vers le tissu socio-économique dans le domaine de la confiance numérique et de la cybersécurité. Le lancement du Programme est accompagné d’un premier appel à projet. Les startups intéressées peuvent s’inscrire d’ici au 3 mai prochain.

Vier Monate nach dem offiziellen Markteintritt nutzen bereits 30 Unternehmen die Software von BTB Tec. Das Zürcher Startup hat einen bisher händischen und sehr aufwändigen Arbeitsschritt der Offertenerstellung digitalisiert. Was nun für die Heizungsbranche bereits möglich ist, soll Schritt für Schritt auf weitere Branchen ausgeweitet werden. Zudem ist Versicherer AXA auf BTB Tec und seine Lösung ineexa aufmerksam geworden. Derzeit loten beiden die Möglichkeiten einer Vertriebspartnerschaft in einem Pilotversuch aus.

Zurich-based startup Rematter addresses the excessive usage of unsustainable concrete in the construction industry by offering sustainable and cost-effective floor slabs made of earth and timber. The CHF 150,000 from Venture Kick will enable the team to further automate the robotic production of their sustainable and high-performing concrete-alternative. 

Nine startups have been selected to join the recently launched Microsoft Switzerland AI Tech Accelerator. Starting 12 February, the cohort will get access to technology infrastructure and experts to advance and deploy their solutions.

Das Digital Health-Startup QUMEA hat in einer Series A-Runde 9 Millionen eingesammelt. Nebst allen bestehenden Investoren unterstütze eine neue Investorengruppe die deutlich überzeichnete Finanzierungsrunde. Zu dieser Gruppe gehören die Zürcher Kantonalbank, PB Invest und zwei Family Offices. Die neuen Mittel werden für das Wachstum eingesetzt, um die Marktführung in ausgewählten internationalen Märkten zu erlangen. Darüber hinaus wird das Produktangebot von ausgebaut.

Zurich-based startup CarbonPool provides credit insurance with claims payments made in-kind, ensuring companies can guarantee the carbon credits that they buy materialise. The secured funds of CHF 10.5 million ($12 million) will support the company in becoming the world’s first insurance company with a carbon credit balance sheet.

Investment in knowledge-based young companies fell by 35% in 2023 compared with the previous year. The slump was particularly pronounced in the segment of comparatively mature start-ups with high capital requirements. The number of financing rounds remained stable. This is shown by Swiss Venture Capital Report, published by the online news portal startupticker.ch and the industry association SECA in cooperation with startup.ch.

Die Investitionen in wissensbasierte Jungunternehmen gingen 2023 gegenüber dem Vorjahr um 35 Prozent zurück. Ausgeprägt war der Einbruch im Segment der vergleichsweise reifen Startups mit hohem Kapitalbedarf. Die Zahl der Finanzierungsrunden blieb stabil. Dies zeigt der Swiss Venture Capital Report (SVCR), herausgegeben vom Online-Newsportal Startupticker.ch und der Branchenvereinigung SECA in Kooperation mit startup.ch.

En 2023, les investissements dans les jeunes entreprises basées sur le savoir ont reculé de 35% par rapport à l'année précédente. L'effondrement a été marqué dans le segment des startups relativement matures ayant des besoins en capitaux élevés. Le nombre de tours de financement est resté stable. C'est ce que montre le Swiss Venture Capital Report (SVCR), publié par le portail d'actualités en ligne Startupticker.ch et l'association de la branche SECA en coopération avec startup.ch.

With the acquisition of Chemspeed, Bruker has made its third acquisition in the Swiss startup space since 2023. Chemspeed is a Swiss provider of vendor-agnostic automated laboratory R&D and QC workflow solutions focused on modular automation and robotics solutions for chemical research, pharma drug formulation, materials research for cleantech and consumer applications.

Transmutex SA, a nuclear engineering startup based in Geneva, announces a new round of financing to further develop its solution for a safer, lower-cost, proliferation-resistant nuclear energy technology. The Series A2 round is co-led by Union Square Ventures and Steel Atlas.

Kinarus Therapeutics Holding AG in Liquidation and Curatis AG propose to combine companies and reverse bankruptcy procedures of Kinarus. The combined entity will comprise the existing business of Curatis AG as well as assets from the bankruptcy estate of Kinarus. Curatis will be listed on the stock exchange.

The Venture Kick Annual Report 2023 reflects the philanthropic foundation’s growing contribution to Switzerland’s strong position as a deeptech startup hub. Since its launch in 2007, the startups supported by Venture Kick have attracted more than CHF 8 billion in investment and created 13,305 jobs. Last year alone, the accelerator invested CHF 6.23 million in 118 startups. 

Women empowerment to close the financial and sustainability - these are some of the key aspects that convinced juries worldwide to award Lars Brille and Ellexx. Eightinks and Yeastup are among the finalists of the Hello Tomorrow challenge. They will present to a global audience in Paris in March.

The Startup Champions Seed Night is an annual startup presentation event bringing together the most promising entrepreneurs from Swiss universities, angel investors, mentors, industry leaders, and scientists for an onsite audience of 400+ people.

The Mars Habitat Challenge is hosting its 4th edition and looking for pioneering startups to develop solutions and business models that help create a self-sustaining Habitat on Mars.

The Swiss InsurTech Hub is organizing its second ecosystem meetup for like-minded players in the insurance sector to discuss current trends. Startups from Switzerland and Israel will present to the audience.

Venture Kick is an initiative from private donors. Potential entrepreneurs from Swiss colleges and universities present their business ideas to the jury of Venture Kick, with the chance to win seed capital of up to CHF 150,000 over three stages. The first stage is the Venture Pitch: eight project teams compete against each other, with five teams receiving CHF 10,000 each and continuing further in the competition.

Fort du grand succès de la première édition qui a réuni près de 200 personnes, le Centre Suisse d'Intelligence Artificielle pour les PMEs (CSIA-PME), projet issu des hautes écoles du domaine Ingénierie et Architecture de la HES-SO, organise la deuxième édition des AI Days@HES-SO les 6 et 7 février 2024. Comme lors de la première édition, cette manifestation se tient sur deux sites : Lausanne et Sion.

Did you know that having the right board can substantially enhance your success? Companies with strong & diverse boards are 43% more likely to experience higher profits, receive 60% more interest from investors, have 60% higher Return on Invested Capital and reduce their probability of bankruptcy by 30%.

Participants will explore new investment prospects presented by startups seeking funding and support in this virtual gathering.

Du hast gerade deine eigene GmbH oder AG gegründet? Du bist dir nicht sicher welche Aufgaben und Pflichten als Geschäftsführer/in (GF) oder Verwaltungsrat bzw. Verwaltungsrätin (VR) auf dich zukommen?

We know that Zurich is full of entrepreneurial women! This event aims to bring them together and give you access to female entrepreneurs and passionate women in business.

Sustainable Technology is not only one of the top 3 technologies to focus on in 2024; it impacts us all! This event offers insights about ClimaTech and AgriFoodTech.

AI Sparx: Healthcare focusses on the fascinating world of artificial intelligence in the healthcare industry.

Venturelab, together with the Swiss-Indian Chamber of Commerce (SICC) and the Zurich University of Applied Science (ZHAW) are happy to invite you to a discovery and networking event, celebrating Swiss-Indian Entrepreneurship and Innovation.