Popular Switzerland

Dear reader

For once, Zurich has made it into a worldwide top 10 start-up city ranking. According to a new study, Zurich does not have the largest start-up ecosystem, but it is one of the world’s most attractive places for start-up employees. Good news for young Swiss companies looking for employees internationally.

Switzerland is also still in demand as a location for company headquarters. At the end of last year, biotech group Roivant, founded in 2014, moved to Basel. This week, Roivant announced the completion of a $1 billion financing round.

Spin-offs from Swiss universities also benefit from foreign investor interest. The space start-up Else has received CHF3 million, with the financing round led by Airbus Ventures. The investment arm of the European aircraft manufacturer has already invested in another Swiss start-up this year with BestMile.

In addition, Swiss companies can take advantage of the country’s reputation abroad in terms of security and discretion. This week, companies active in the IT security sector reported success stories. DSwiss has exceeded the threshold of one million users with its secure cloud storage SecureSafe, and Lucy Phishing has gained the support of an important partner in the US – already the most important market for the start-up.

Security in another sense at ETH spin-off Novamem, which produces drinking water filters. After success with an outdoor water filter, Novamem has now developed a filter for the home area and is thus targeting a market worth billions. A crowdfunding campaign with social media accompaniment will make the new product known.

Our short interview with Reto Lämmler, CEO of TestingTime, gives a glance behind the scenes at the marketing of a B2B start-up. Lämmler explains how content and inbound marketing work at the IT start-up and how this has contributed to the fact that TestingTime is currently leading the Top 100 Startup Award public vote, which runs until 17 August.

The deadlines of other awards move closer: applications for the Climate-KIC Accelerator can be made until Sunday. The deadline for the Swiss Technology Award expires on 25 August and on 27 August for the Creative Business Cup, which is open for the first time to Swiss start-ups.

The popularity of Switzerland is also likely to be good news for GoodFestival – the event for sustainable innovation will take place in Lausanne in October.

Have a good weekend.

Stefan Kyora

Editor in Chief, startupticker.ch