August 2, 2013
Successful founders have big plans
Dear reader
In recent years, some start-ups have become model companies and this week it was mainly those companies that had good news to offer. They are all growing strongly but they still have big plans. This week, several companies were able to take an important step toward ensuring their future growth.
The internet company GetYourGuide, which already operates the largest portal for the booking of tours and activities at the resort, has acquired a company in New York and thus strengthens its position in one of its key North American markets. Incidentally, Johannes Reck, CEO of GetYourGuide, will be the first guest at the new monthly event Startup Grind, in Zurich. You can experience it as a Fireside Chat on 20 August.
Medical technology company Hocoma is another flagship company from the Swiss start-up scene. It has just released its figures for 2012: the company with 140 employees generated sales of CHF30 million – an increase of 13% over the previous year. The prospects for growth are good, as recently Hocoma was able to complete a large financing round.
Chemspeed, a Basel-based company in the field of laboratory automation, has also found an investor in Investnet AG, which is providing Chemspeed with growth capital. And Glycovaxyn has secured CHF5 million from the prestigious British Wellcome Trust.
Even though Switzerland is currently in the middle of summer holidays, the end is fast approaching and with it the start of the events and training season. On 12 August, the first course of the CTI Entrepreneurship's training programme starts in Berne and in the following weeks classes begin in several Swiss cities. In our overview you will find the dates of all modules. On 20 August the CTI Medtech Event, the first big event this autumn, takes place in Bern. And then other important events follow in quick succession – a look at our list of events and training will keep you up to date.
Have a cool weekend.
Stefan Kyora
Managing Editor, startupticker.ch