Support for deep-tech companies

Dear reader

CARB-X is a global initiative that has invested a total of USD 500 million in the fight against drug-resistant bacteria. This also benefits Basel-based biotech company Bioversys, which will receive up to USD 9 million to help develop a novel compound. This example shows how sensible it is to support deep tech start-ups that have a promising outlook but which have a high capital requirement in their early stages. However, due to their quality, Swiss start-ups are in a position to assert themselves internationally in the competition for funding.

Both should be kept in mind when reading the news about support this week. On Thursday, the award ceremony of MassChallenge Switzerland took place. The 12 top start-ups of this year’s programme will receive a total of CHF 500,000, with additional in-kind benefits from partners.

Medtech company Artiria, which has developed a system that enables surgeons to navigate the cerebral arteries of stroke patients quickly and safely, not only excelled at MassChallenge but also at Venture Kick. The start-up from Lausanne received CHF 150,000 from the initiative, as as did Frater and Synendos Therapeutics, also active in the life sciences sector. Since 1 January 2019, Venture Kick has invested CHF 3.8 million in 118 Swiss deep-tech start-ups. Internet platform Smeetz was also successful this week in the search for financial support: it received a ‘FIT Digital Growth by EHL’ loan of CHF 200,000.

Start-ups are not only supported by money: Innosuisse is supporting four companies in their appearance at this year’s Medica, the world’s leading medtech trade fair. Start-ups wishing to take part in the #Swisstech Pavilion at CES Asia 2020 can now apply for a stand. The registration deadline for start-ups that want to travel with Venture Leaders Mobile to the next Mobile World Congress in Barcelona expires this Sunday.

‘We Shape Tech’ is committed to promoting diversity and inclusion. The initiative started three years ago and my colleague Ritah Nyakato visited a ‘We Shape Tech’ event to see how the network is going so far.

This week again several Swiss start-ups were able to attract investors. Following a successful pilot with TeleRetail’s delivery robot, Coca-Cola’s venture arm joined the Swiss start-up as an investor. Artmyn secured CHF 4 million francs, and the Swiss Entrepreneurs Fund announced that it is participating in Nexxiot and Skycell.

You can apply for the IMD Startup Competition until 11 November. Applications are open for First Ventures, the programme for promotion of university spin-offs, until 15 November. I would also like to point out that the next IPO Day takes place on 12 November and that Global Entrepreneurship Week starts on 18 November.

Have a good weekend
Stefan Kyora

Editor in Chief, Startupticker.ch