July 18, 2014
Swiss start-ups: the hotbeds of tomorrow
Dear reader
This week, the western Swiss start-up BestMile reported on the implementation of the second test phase of its autonomous shuttle vehicles. The ETH Lausanne spin-off was founded only last February and now the world’s first operator of driverless and autonomous shuttle services is involved in two European research programmes. Three autonomous shuttle vehicles are currently being tested at EPFL’s site.
Another vision of the future is the wearable mini-computer in eyeglasses and watches. A few large corporates have already presented such product innovations to the public, such as Google with its Google Glasses. EPFL spin-off Composyt Light Labs wants to provide the big players with a wearable display technology for glasses. The young western Swiss company has a prototype with an integrated mini-computer, which can be reduced in size to a bare minimum, according to a statement. A project with potential that this week won the final of venture kick and is supported with seed money of CHF130,000.
Medtech start-up Swisstom has reached two important milestones. The young company from Landquart introduced its first product to the market, and almost simultaneously it reported the successful completion of its third financing round to the tune of CHF4.4 million.
However, neither good technology nor money alone can make a good entrepreneur. If you are thinking of starting, or have already established, your own company, you can increase your knowledge of business development at the CTI Entrepreneurship courses from the Commission for Technology and Innovation. The first courses start from 11 August and if you register now, you will have a confirmed place.
Founders have until next Tuesday to apply for the accelerator programme from the Entrepreneurs’ Organisation (EO) Switzerland. The conditions are that the start-up must operate successfully in the market, post a turnover of at least CHF250,000 and put on rapid growth. Coaching experience and a broad international network are on offer – EO has more than 10,000 successful entrepreneurs as members and is active in 40 countries.
Have a sunny weekend.
Claus Niedermann
Editor-in-chief 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". 
