October 8, 2021
Shaping digitalisation
Digital health company MindMaze was seen as one of the first Swiss unicorns. After its financing round in 2016, it was valued at more than USD 1 billion. Now the company has been able to confirm its unicorn status. With the USD 125 million financing round announced yesterday, its valuation has risen to more than USD 1.5 billion. The digital neurotherapy platform is already in use in more than 20 countries.
Fintech Loanboox is also very successful. Five years ago, it had the idea of brokering large loans via an online platform – and very successful it has been. Since then, borrowers have been able to complete more than 2,100 transactions with a volume of CHF 25 billion in seven countries.
The trend towards digitalisation, fuelled by the special circumstances of Covid-19, can be seen in all sectors. And Swiss start-ups can be found practically everywhere, as shown by the two new holders of the Innosuisse certificate. Kido Dynamics applies big data analytics to mobility data, already has well-known customers and is now on a global expansion course. Pexapark’s operating system enables its clients to manage, sell and buy renewable energy – and it’s growing rapidly, with sales tripling over the past 12 months.
What all digital solutions have in common is that they have to be tested – which is where TestingTime and its platform for placement of test users comes into play. Now Norstat, the leading data collector for market research services in northern Europe, has taken over the Zurich start-up.
A successful company sale is the best qualification for a commitment as a business angel. The three new investors on the TV show Die Höhle der Löwen, who come from the digital sector, have precisely this background. The new episodes can be seen from 26 October on channel 3+.
The team behind company builder Maximon is also very experienced; the first two start-ups have now been founded and financed by Maximon’s Co-Investment Fund.
As much as digitalisation changes our everyday life, an important lesson we have learned over the past 18 months is that direct human encounters are indispensable. So it’s good to see that larger in-person events are taking place again, such as the party this evening for the 10th anniversary of Impact Hub Zurich. Read our article to find out what the hub has achieved over the past 10 years.
On Monday, the Startup Forum St. Gallen will take place at the Olma. On Wednesday, ‘Open Doors’ at the USI Startup Centre in Lugano offers the opportunity to immerse oneself in the local start-up and innovation scene. And on Friday, the event launch of the ETH Entrepreneur Club will bring together students, start-ups, scientists and other interested parties.
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". 
