January 31, 2025
Scale-ups in sight
Dear reader
The most clicked news of the week once again concerned an exit: Yokoy has been acquired in an all-equity deal by a Spanish unicorn, business travel platform Travelperk. It is clear that exits are crucial for the success of the ecosystem as a whole and that the fintech sector could use a boost right now. Nevertheless, the sale of a Swiss flagship start-up such as Yokoy leaves me with a somewhat ambivalent feeling: the question remains as to whether the potential could not have been exploited further.
This makes it all the more important that the pipeline is well filled with scale-ups. And it is, as this week’s financing shows. Meteomatics received USD 22 million for further expansion. The St. Gallen-based start-up has already achieved a great deal: it employs more than 150 people at six locations and serves 600 companies worldwide, including Tesla, Swiss Re, Airbus, Axpo, EDF Energy and NASA, with unique, high-resolution weather data.
Oxyle has received USD 16 million to ensure its technology makes a global breakthrough. The start-up definitely has the right offer at the right time. Its breakthrough technology represents the world's first permanent and cost-effective solution to PFAS contamination. With its first complete treatment system operational, Oxyle is now able to secure multi-year treatment contracts for 2025 and beyond.
Zug-based start-up naoo operates an innovative social media platform that connects users with business customers. Now it has concluded a financing agreement for EUR 25 million in equity: the funds will enable the start-up to drive forward its technical development, expand its user base and make targeted acquisitions.
Cleantech start-up Voltiris, whose solar modules enable greenhouses to generate solar power, has secured CHF 4.8 million. It has already completed 12 commercial projects with well-known growers in Europe and the new funds will accelerate its solution large-scale commercialisation.
Developments also look good for newcomers. At ETH Zurich alone, 37 spin-offs were established last year, continuing the long-term upward trend. Venture Kick invested a total of CHF 6.7 million in 97 new start-up projects in 2024. The latest winner at Venture Kick is Helix Robotics, which is developing a soft robot manipulator that combines enhanced safety with industrial precision.
Next Tuesday, we will launch Swiss Venture Capital Report in Zurich and Lausanne. I will also present the report’s results at the Corporate Innovation Symposium in Geneva on 6 February. The new report can be downloaded from 9.30 am on Tuesday, and a printed copy can be ordered in your profile until Tuesday.
I would also like to draw your attention to the Swiss Indian Entrepreneurship Day on Thursday in Schlieren, and to some programmes and competitions with a deadline in mid-February, including Venture Leaders Biotech and two accelerator programmes, Tech4Regen and Tech4Eva.
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". 
