August 16, 2013
Start-ups sought for competitions
Dear reader
The summer has not only been meteorologically good, many start-ups have also made progress; for example, in terms of funding. This week TrekkSoft and Nezasa reported the conclusion of financing, and particularly pleasing is that both start-ups have managed to win high-profile industry insiders as a donor. Armin Meier, the former CEO of Kuoni, is participating in TrekkSoft, and the founders of Doodle Labs and Amazee, are on board at Nezasa.
But already autumn is slowly casting its shadow and so various competitions are restarting: start-ups can apply now for the Startup Battle at the first Startupfair, Zurich Technopark's Pioneer Award, sponsored by Zürcher Kantonalbank, and for Best of Swiss Apps. More awards and their application deadlines can be found on startupticker.ch.
Swisscom's StartUp Challenge is already on to the next round and the 10 finalists have been announced – the jury will select the winner from the top five. But the audience can choose its favourites too – submit your vote for your favourite start-up and win an iPad mini.
In addition to the competitions, three events were announced this week: the swissnex outposts in Boston and San Francisco are planning a very special route for their roadshow in Switzerland. They will allow visitors to vote in which Swiss cities the roadshow should stop in order to inform start-ups about the American market and the CTI Start-up US Market Entry camps.
The other two events are devoted to two important issues for start-ups: at the Startimpuls Special on 28 August, experts from IBM and a successful young company will give an insight into the possibilities offered by IT in marketing today – 'Smarter Marketing' are the key words. Zurich hub's MatchMeUp event provides assistance in the recruitment of experienced team members – impact-driven start-ups can apply now.
Last but not least: you have until 20 August to register for participation in this year's CTI Medtech Event. And the 10th CEO Day (23 October) is looming – details soon on startupticker.ch.
Have a sunny weekend
Stefan Kyora
Managing Editor, startupticker.ch
News
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". 
