July 12, 2024
Two-time European champion
Dear reader
Despite an inspiring performance, the Swiss national football team has not made it to the top of the podium at the European Championship tournament. But Switzerland is top in other disciplines. According to the new European Innovation Scoreboard published this week, Switzerland is the most innovative country on the continent. One reason for this is its strong research and, fittingly, ETH Zurich is in first place in the QS World University Rankings: Europe 2025, also published this week.
Strong research leads to strong spin-offs: most of the start-ups that secure funding are created at universities and some even have roots in several research institutions. EPFL spin-off Swisspod closed its pre-series A funding round with a group of international strategic investors and business angels. ETH Zurich spin-off Scrona secured USD 4 million to accelerate the industrialisation and commercialisation of its newly unveiled printing technology. Caplena, which specialises in feedback analysis for B2C enterprise customers and research agencies, and is also an ETH Zurich spin-off, received USD 3 million. In addition, three more university spin-offs have been added to S2S Ventures’ portfolio.
This success is the result of intensive support for research-based start-ups. Many programmes are aimed at students, but there are also other offers. For example, CSEM’s new programme Accelerate is supporting for the first time three start-ups projects that originated outside the technology and innovation centre.
Even those Swiss start-ups without a direct university connection usually have a great deal of expertise; for example, fintech start-up arvy addresses a gap in investment opportunities, and ph. is behind KAEX, a recovery performance booster used by the Swiss national football team and which, as an important step into the US market, has now attracted a well-known fitness centre chain as a partner. Tomplay has also gained an important partner in the US: the app for musicians will be made available to buyers of Yamaha instruments free of charge for three months.
Next week, European Hyperloop Week will take place in Zurich, including Demo Day and Innovate Mobility 2024 at Switzerland Innovation Park Zurich. A good opportunity to become familiar with the high-speed transport system.
We will also be publishing our update to Swiss Venture Capital Report for the first half of 2024 on 16 July. As usual, it will be available to download on our website from Tuesday morning.
Last but not least, I would like to draw your attention once again to the public voting for the Top 100 Swiss Startup Award. You have the chance to vote for your favourite start-up until 21 July.
Have a good weekend.
Stefan Kyora
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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". 
