September 18, 2015
The Swiss start-up scene takes off
Dear reader
Switzerland featured in two international rankings this week: according to the Global Innovation Index, Switzerland is innovation champion for the fifth consecutive time. This is not least thanks to outstanding universities, ETH Zurich and EPFL, which are both in the QS World University Rankings’ top 15.
And the start-up scene had something to celebrate. The Award Gala to choose the Top 100 Swiss Startups took place in Lausanne, where 300 guests cheered the best start-ups. In first place this year was L.E.S.S., a start-up that wants to replace LEDs through better and more efficient technology.
But improvements are always welcome, and this week a number of initiatives were launched that will give the Swiss start-up scene significantly more thrust. The initiatives implemented in collaboration with partners are particularly pleasing.
In the new Zurich-based ImpactHub, which will be officially opened today with a festival, a number of large companies are looking to work with start-ups, including Swisscom, Credit Suisse, Migros and SIX.
ImpactHub is also the Community Home of the newly launched Kick Foundation. The Foundation will contribute to the coordination and networking of successful innovation and start-up initiatives, and expand existing services. The foundation’s partners comprise ETH Zurich, the Gebert Rüf Foundation, the promotion fund Engagement Migros and Swisscom. The core of the Foundation’s programme is the accelerator initiative Venture Kick, launched in 2007.
A new element in the Foundation’s programme is an international summer camp for start-ups – Kickstart Accelerator. The camp will be launched in cooperation with the Digital Zurich 2025 initiative, also officially launched this week.
Other important news of the week: 3Brain, Fashwell, Konduko and MiniNavident received the CTI Startup Label this week. FanPictor closed a financing round of almost $2 million and Fotokite brought in more than $300,000 via crowdfunding for a new, low-priced Fotokite model.
Finally, some dates and deadlines: you can apply for the elevator pitch of CTI Invest until 20 September, UBS Future of Finance Challenge, 23 September; PostVenture15, 25 September; Best of Swiss Apps, 28 September; and WA de Vigier Award, 30 September. In addition, you can sign up for the next Swiss Mobicamp now: 10 start-ups have the chance to win an exclusive meeting with a senior manager at Rovio.
Have a creative 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". 
