October 25, 2013
Bern, Wroclaw and Schachen
Dear reader
Last Wednesday, 570 participants flocked to Bern to participate in the 10th CEO Day. For entrepreneurs, investors, supporters and representatives of industrial companies, it was a long and intense day, because an intensive work atmosphere prevails at these CEO Days. So it is not surprising that the day is a milestone for some companies. Mark Oswald from the Innovation Foundation at Schwyzer Kantonalbank explained that his investment in TrekkSoft this summer had resulted from a process started at CEO Day, 2012. This year, Oswald presented to the start-ups during the ‘Investors on Stage’ programme item: check out our report for other investor presentations and which companies came out on top in the Dragon’s Den competition.
Elodie Dahan from EPFL spin-off OsmoBlue was not present at CEO Day this year. And with good reason: the night before in Wroclaw, Poland, the company had won the European finals of Climate-KIC’s Venture Competition 2013.
The international competitiveness of young Swiss entrepreneurs is also apparent in other examples. Biognosys has received a US patent, Pumpipumpe has been nominated for a German environmental award, and young ski company The Faction Collective has completed a financing round with a British VC and British business angels.
While these start-ups are already internationally successful, young entrepreneurs are constantly emerging. This week, for example, Hairlist from Schachen in canton Lucerne launched its reservation platform for hairdressing and beauty salons.
Founders come from all regions of Switzerland, so it is fitting that Swiss events are taking place throughout the country, such as Global Entrepreneurship Week (14-22 November) and the third Mobicamp on 31 October. Switzerland's only dedicated event to all things mobile brings together more than 20 speakers from three continents. The event is fully booked, but startupticker.ch will report on the highlights.
The application phases for three major competitions – Alp ICT Venture Night, the Pioneer Award and the Prix Strategis – end on 30 and 31 October.
Finally, I would like to draw your attention to the recently published Swiss Venture Guide, which gives a really interesting overview of the start-up and venture scene in Switzerland. In addition to the print version, it can also be read on a completely redesigned website.
Have an inspiring 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". 
