Deliver, don’t dawdle

Dear reader

Despite the turbulence surrounding cryptocurrencies, Swiss blockchain start-up Proxeus generated $25 million through the sale of tokens within two days and qiibee took in more than $3 million. An important reason for the success may be that both start-ups have already reached important milestones, while only plans and ideas are factored in at ICOs. Proxeus has a beta version of its software that is being tested by potential customers, and quiibee already has a first major customer.

Swiss ICT start-ups attract interest not only as suppliers, but also as takeover targets; for example, AMS, the Austrian electronics group listed on the Swiss stock exchange, has acquired KeyLemon. That Swiss start-ups are popular with technology companies was demonstrated this week by Intel, which presented unobtrusive smart eyewear that uses technology from Lemoptix. Intel took over the Lausanne start-up three years ago and clearly Lemoptix was able to deliver.

These are some of the successes that have convinced me that a new study on Switzerland’s digital innovation capability provides only a snapshot of a situation that will improve quickly. The study concludes that Swiss start-ups are mediocre compared with those in other OECD countries, the most important reasons being too many other attractive career options, lack of social recognition and, not least, missing venture capital.

Enterprises such as Proxeus, qiibee, KeyLemon and Lemoptix show that the technological and economic potential for a place in the leading group exists. And numerous initiatives are available in order to take better  advantage of this; for example, the Innosuisse Market Entry Camps. The four start-ups currently enrolled in its camps in the US are featured in our article. In March, the winners of the venture leaders Tech programme will also travel to Silicon Valley; the names of the 10 start-ups have been made known. Applications are currently open for venture leaders life sciences – this programme will be held in Boston – and venture leaders China. Other initiatives are aimed at the start of the entrepreneurial lifecycle, such as the Semaine de l’Entrepreneuriat in Lausanne in March, and Lish’s new accelerator programme for start-ups co-founded by women. More tenders can be found at our Call to Action tag.

Have a good Fasnacht weekend
Stefan Kyora

Editor in Chief, Startupticker.ch