June 21, 2024
Down-to-earth high-flyers
Dear reader
Legaltech start-up DeepJudge has raised almost CHF 10 million in its seed round. Its tool enables organisations in the legal sector to find relevant content instantly across their document repositories. With the conclusion of the financing round, the start-up has launched a unique generative AI interface based on the tool tailored to search for legal context.
In recent years, edtech start-up Taskbase has launched a number of tools based on AI, in particular the use of large language models, including automatic task creation and personalised feedback during task solving. Taskbase has now secured CHF 3.5 million for its European expansion.
Myria Biosciences, which uses AI to engineer complex molecule drugs inspired by natural products in order to tackle previously undruggable targets, has also received investor money. And a Berlin-based company has taken over EPFL spin-off Typeless, which focuses on AI-based speech recognition for the medical field. AI is also used by ETH Zurich spin-off IMAI, which has just secured CHF 150,000 from Venture Kick. The start-up is developing a new type of technology for tissue sample analysis that includes image analysis with AI features.
AI is certainly a buzzword, but these examples show that start-ups are not blinded by it. They use AI as a tool along with additional expertise to bring unique products to the market.
Many entrepreneurs, including Borobotics’ founders, are characterised by their down-to-earth approach. Borobotics’ drilling robot, which is much smaller and lighter than current devices, allowing it to drill in many more places, could help geothermal energy to achieve a breakthrough. Borobotics was awarded the Grand Prize at >>venture>> this week. We report on all 18 winning start-ups in our article.
Just two days after >>venture>>, the WA de Vigier Foundation awards ceremony took place last Wednesday. As keynote speaker, de Vigier alum Simon Ittig talked about the development of his biotech company T3 Pharmaceuticals, which was acquired by Boehringer Ingelheim last year for up to CHF 450 million. He also gave a matter-of-fact account of the difficulties and challenges he faced. Tandem Therapeutics was another biotech start-up to win the award last week. Find out who the other five winners were in our article.
The deadline for Venture Leaders Cleantech is approaching. The application window is also open for a series of other awards, including Watt d’Or, Swiss Technology Award and Venture Leaders Medtech. I would also like to draw your attention once again to the public voting for the Top 100 Swiss Startup Award.
Have a good weekend.
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". 
