Fascinating technology

Dear reader

The Xeltis implant helps a patient’s body to form a new, fully functional heart valve completely naturally. The implant is simultaneously broken down by the body during the process. The first clinical feasibility study is currently underway in Europe and Asia. Thanks to a record investment of CHF52 million, development and testing can be further advanced. It is the largest investment round in Europe for a private company in the field of medtech products since the beginning of the year.

Swiss deeptech has also attracted investors In the IT sector. Scantrust received more than $4 million this week for its IOT platform, which identifies products and devices uniquely and securely.

No wonder Switzerland performs well in an international analysis of deeptech investment. And we received other good news in terms of deeptech this week: the number of graduates in engineering studies has increased significantly over the past five years.

For the trend to continue, it takes great effort to show the benefits and also the fascination of the technology. The first national Digital Day, which takes place throughout Switzerland on Tuesday, should do just that. Start-ups will help to bring digitalisation to life at numerous locations.

Digital Day was founded by digitalswitzerland, which is also behind Kickstart Accelerator. The accelerator’s second programme comes to an end today with a key result: more than 30 collaborations and partnerships have been agreed between the participating start-ups and major companies, including Coop, Credit Suisse, EY, Helsana, Migros, PwC Switzerland, Raiffeisen, Swisscom and UBS.

The accelerator programme MassChallenge Switzerland also ended this week with a festive award ceremony, during which four Swiss start-ups were awarded cash prizes.

The MassChallenge award ceremony took place after the Swiss Innovation Forum, during which the Swiss Technology Award was also presented. Two life sciences start-ups received awards – Inositec and GratXRay.

The event season is in full swing. On 23 November, the demo day of Kickstart Accelerator’s edtech vertical will take place in Lausanne. Startup Day takes place in Zurich on 27 November, and the following day the first IPO Day will bring together high-tech companies such as Xeltis and investment bankers and advisors.

Have a good weekend
Stefan Kyora

Editor in Chief, Startupticker.ch