June 28, 2013
Faster shoes and amazing trips
Dear reader
It was a dramatic finish: at the Olympic Games in London in 2012, triathlete Nicola Spirig’s sprint at the end of the 10,000-metre run won her the gold medal. After a baby break, the Swiss athlete has started training again – and this time she’s wearing running shoes from Swiss start-up On, after separating from her previous supplier Nike. This is a huge success for the young company from Zurich, launched in 2010.
Normally, promising Swiss start-ups are in the B2B business, but more and more are showing that they understand the consumer business. The best examples are HouseTrip and GetYourGuide, and both continue to evolve. At HouseTrip this week, Michael van Swaaij, former CEO of Skype and European head of eBay, took over as chairman of the board. And GetYourGuide presented its new design and images taken by professional photographers of its tours and activities around the world.
But even newcomers to the travel sector are making their mark. Zurich-based start-up Nezasa has just launched its online platform – it offers customisable trips in collaboration with high quality local service providers that know the destinations very well.
Swiss start-ups are making background travel easier too. A software solution from NeuroPie will help Sao Paolo’s international airport cope with the rush of travellers expected at the FIFA World Cup next year and the Olympic Games in 2016.
Although start-ups may impress with their innovative ideas, young companies miss this innovation when it comes to financing. A new study by Ernst & Young on the challenges and expectations of young entrepreneurs shows that many founders believe that too few deals fit their situation.
But despite the difficult situation, SWISSto12 has convinced the Zürcher Kantonalbank to invest in the start-up and BioVersys has been able to attract investors and complete a Series A financing round. The amount has not been disclosed, but since the seed round in March 2011 earned the company CHF2.5 million, this round will have been correspondingly greater.
BioVersys has also generated income in recent years through entrepreneur prizes. Whoever wants to follow its example should take a look at those prizes where the application deadline is Sunday.
Have an inspiring weekend.
Stefan Kyora
Managing Editor, startupticker.ch