December 5, 2014
Green power
Dear Reader
The highly anticipated debate on the future energy supply in Switzerland begins next Monday afternoon in the National Council. Whatever ultimately remains of the Federal Council's ‘Energy Strategy 2050’, parliament must be clear that large companies, SMEs and start-ups rely on a feasible path with reliable guidelines.
This is the only way that businesses can track their technologies with a view to market success. The Climate Prize 2014, which was awarded last week, demonstrated that clean technologies are available: seven out of 108 projects won prizes and four of these submitted start-ups.
The photovoltaic cells from g2e are very promising. At least the eastern Swiss company Sefar, which manufactures precision fabrics, believes so: it has entered into a partnership with the Lausanne company and taken a stake in it.
Fluctuating energy demands due to solar and wind power puts a strain on the networks: the answer is ‘smart grid’. Ben Energy offers utilities a sustainable business model and develops software tools that enable the consumer to monitor their personal electricity consumption. Last week, the Zurich start-up was awarded the CTI Start-up Label.
Swiss Venture Day next Wednesday will also provide an insight into the energy supply of the future, with pitches from three cleantech companies – TwingTec, eSmart and Anerdgy. My colleague Stefan Kyora will tweet live from the Zurich stock exchange.
Have a good weekend.
Jost Dubacher
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". 
