Switzerland's startup ecosystem is highly advanced, with Zurich and Geneva being key hubs for innovation. As of 2023, Switzerland is home to around 5,000 startups. The Swiss government supports innovation through initiatives like Innosuisse and the Swiss National Science Foundation, which provide funding, resources, and mentorship for startups. In 2022, Swiss startups raised approximately €2 billion in venture capital. These factors collectively highlight Switzerland's dynamic and evolving startup landscape.
As of 2023, Switzerland's startup ecosystem includes around 5,000 startups. In 2022, these startups attracted approximately €2 billion in venture capital funding. This substantial investment underscores the ecosystem's growth potential and robust nature. The market's size and financial backing reflect its capacity to foster innovation and sustain a competitive edge within Europe and beyond.
Switzerland's startup ecosystem is characterized by several key strengths, including a highly educated workforce, a strong financial sector, and world-class research institutions. The country excels in sectors such as fintech, healthtech, and cleantech. These strengths are bolstered by Switzerland's robust industrial base and government support, positioning it as a leader in the European startup scene.
Zurich and Geneva are the primary hubs of Switzerland’s startup ecosystem. Zurich is known for its strengths in fintech, healthtech, and cleantech, attracting significant investments and producing notable startups like Climeworks and Nexthink. Geneva has a vibrant tech scene with strengths in biotech and international trade. These cities are instrumental in driving Switzerland's economic growth and technological advancements.
In addition to Zurich and Geneva, emerging hubs like Lausanne and Basel are gaining prominence in Switzerland’s startup ecosystem. Lausanne, home to EPFL, is strong in deep tech and medtech, while Basel is a hub for pharmaceuticals and life sciences. These emerging hubs are expanding the reach and diversity of Switzerland’s entrepreneurial landscape, offering new opportunities for innovation and growth.
Switzerland’s startup ecosystem benefits from a strong network of incubators, accelerators, and co-working spaces that provide essential support and resources for entrepreneurs. Initiatives like Venturelab and the Swiss Innovation Park have significantly boosted the ecosystem by offering mentorship, resources, and international exposure. This supportive infrastructure is crucial for nurturing early-stage companies and fostering a collaborative entrepreneurial environment.
Despite its strengths, the Swiss startup ecosystem faces challenges such as high living costs and regulatory complexities. Navigating these hurdles can be time-consuming and complex for startups. Addressing these issues requires strategic efforts and supportive policies to sustain growth and competitiveness in the global market.
Switzerland has significant opportunities for growth in sectors like fintech, healthtech, and cleantech. The country's strong focus on sustainability and green technology drives innovation in renewable energy and environmental technologies. Switzerland's strategic location in Europe and strong trade relationships provide startups with opportunities for international expansion. With continued investment and innovation, Switzerland's startup ecosystem is poised for further growth, contributing significantly to the European and global markets.
Switzerland's startup ecosystem demonstrates remarkable resilience and adaptability. The country's commitment to innovation, coupled with strong government and institutional support, enables startups to navigate challenges and capitalize on opportunities. The diverse talent pool and high level of digitalization attract entrepreneurs and investors alike, ensuring sustained growth and success in the face of global economic shifts and market dynamics.
Boston - Seattle - Los Angeles - San Francisco Bay Area - New York, U.S.A. - Canada - Europe: Germany, United Kingdom, France, Italy, Spain, Poland, Romania, Netherlands, Belgium, Czech Republic, Greece, Portugal, Sweden, Hungary, Austria, Switzerland, Denmark, Finland, Slovakia, Norway, Ireland, Luxembourg, Malta, Icelan
Software (Web Marketplace Saas..) • Businesses Solutions • FinTech (& Financials services) • Retail (& E-Commerce) • A.I. (& Big Data) • HealthTech (& Fitness) • Healthcare (& Wellness) • Online Social • Consumer
Principal at Index Ventures
Most Interested In
The most ambitious founders with deep connection to their mission who will build the next $100B businesses by achieving it.
Not Interested In
Anyone not committed to their company for the rest of their life.
London, U.K. - Europe: Germany, United Kingdom, France, Italy, Spain, Poland, Romania, Netherlands, Belgium, Czech Republic, Greece, Portugal, Sweden, Hungary, Austria, Switzerland, Denmark, Finland, Slovakia, Norway, Ireland, Luxembourg, Malta, Iceland, Monaco
Businesses Solutions • FinTech (& Financials services) • Retail (& E-Commerce) • A.I. (& Big Data) • HealthTech (& Fitness) • Web Security (& Privacy) • Future Of Work • Medical Devices (& Hospital Services) • Healthcare (& Wellness) • Mobility
General Partner, Index Ventures
General Partner, Index Ventures
, U.S.A. - Switzerland - Europe: Germany, United Kingdom, France, Italy, Spain, Poland, Romania, Netherlands, Belgium, Czech Republic, Greece, Portugal, Sweden, Hungary, Austria, Switzerland, Denmark, Finland, Slovakia, Norway, Ireland, Luxembourg, Malta, I
HealthTech (& Fitness) • Food & Beverage • Medical Devices (& Hospital Services) • DeepTech • Healthcare (& Wellness) • Consumer
Co-founding partner @ Redalpine
Dr. Michael Sidler serves as Co-Founding Partner and Board Member at Redalpine Venture Partners. He also is an Angel Investor. He serves as Chairman at BiognoSYS. He also serves as Board Member at Memo Therapeutics, Versantis and Genialis. He served as the Board Member at OnSite Lab. He has earned PhD in Life Sciences.
Zurich - Geneva, Switzerland
Software (Web Marketplace Saas..) • Businesses Solutions • FinTech (& Financials services) • Hardware (& Manufacturing) • CleanTech • HealthTech (& Fitness) • Material Science • Investment Management • Mobile
Swisscom Ventures is the venture capital arm of Swisscom AG, the leading telecommunications and IT provider in Switzerland. Since their inception in 2007, they have invested in over 50 IT, digital media and telecommunication companies from offices in Switzerland (Zurich and Lausanne) and the USA (Silicon Valley). As a strategic investor, they offer entrepreneurs access to Swisscom technical infrastructure and market channels in addition to financial support. They focus on sectors of domain expertise such as Telco & IT Cloud, DeepTech and Cybersecurity as well as Big Data & AI related new business models where they leverage access to Swisscom's technology and market experts.
Munich Germany - London - Zurich Switzerland - Paris France - Berlin Germany - Nice France - Stockholm Sweden - New York City (NY) - Vilnius Lithuania - San Diego California - Cambridge Massachusetts - Boston Massachusetts, U.S.A.
Media • Education • Businesses Solutions • Energy • Retail (& E-Commerce) • CleanTech • A.I. (& Big Data) • HealthTech (& Fitness) • Web Security (& Privacy) • Gaming (& eSports) • Food & Beverage • Medical Devices (& Hospital Services) • Aerospace (& Defense) • DeepTech • Healthcare (& Wellness)
FOUNDER.org is an investor and company building program for student entrepreneurs who are solving big problems.
Berlin, Germany - Europe: Germany, United Kingdom, France, Italy, Spain, Poland, Romania, Netherlands, Belgium, Czech Republic, Greece, Portugal, Sweden, Hungary, Austria, Switzerland, Denmark, Finland, Slovakia, Norway, Ireland, Luxembourg, Malta, Iceland, Monac
Software (Web Marketplace Saas..) • BioTech • HealthTech (& Fitness) • Healthcare (& Wellness) • Consumer • Woman Focused
Founder and General Partner at RTA.vc
Most Interested In
I'm interested in early stage VC funds (including solo GPs). I invested among others in these funds: Point Nine Capital, Adjacent, RABA Partnership, Market One Capital, Amino Collective.
Geneva, Switzerland - U.K.
Software (Web Marketplace Saas..) • PropTech • IT (& TMT) • Hospitality (& Events) • Media • BioTech • Businesses Solutions • FinTech (& Financials services) • Hardware (& Manufacturing) • Retail (& E-Commerce) • Sales (& Marketing) • Entertainment (& Sports) • A.I. (& Big Data) • HealthTech (& Fitness) • Web Security (& Privacy) • Gaming (& eSports) • Analytics • Cloud Services (& Infrastructure) • Developer tools • Future Of Work • Food & Beverage • Insurance (& InsurTech) • Logistics (& Distribution) • Medical Devices (& Hospital Services) • Robotics • Real Estate (& Construction) • Healthcare (& Wellness) • Investment Management • Life Science • Mobile • Mobility • Nanotechnology • Oncology • Online Social • Consumer • Pharmaceutical (& Medicine) • Woman Focused
Index Ventures is a venture capital firm which specializes in seed, early stage, later stage and growth capital investments. The firm focuses on investing in companies based in Europe, operating in the biotechnology, retail, clean technology, media and life sciences sectors. It was founded in 1996 and is based in Geneva, Switzerland.
Index Ventures invests in multi-stage, transformative companies who are willing to challenge convention. The firm is especially dedicated to the information technology, clean technology, and life science sectors. They back the best and most ambitious entrepreneurs with a tight-knit collaborative partnership that retains a shared mission of seeing opportunity instead of obstacles. Index Ventures has teamed up with exceptional entrepreneurs in 39 cities around the world and have helped them grow into new regions. They provide a full-service partnership where they bring a lot of experience and expertise to the table.
In November 2022, they launched their second seed fund Origin II, a $300M fund focus on early-stage investing. It is $100m larger than Origin I, and is a highly collaborative fund, with seed-specific support, that works alongside solo GPs and angels, to help companies be best positioned for success.
Basel, France
Software (Web Marketplace Saas..) • Other • IT (& TMT) • Media • BioTech • AgroTech • FinTech (& Financials services) • Hardware (& Manufacturing) • Energy • Retail (& E-Commerce) • CleanTech • HealthTech (& Fitness) • Food & Beverage • Material Science • Medical Devices (& Hospital Services) • DeepTech • Healthcare (& Wellness) • Mobile • Consumer • Pharmaceutical (& Medicine)
Seventure Partners is a venture capital firm that seek to invest in the hardware and telecommunication, information technology and life sciences sectors. The firm was founded in 1997 and is based in Paris, France.
Walnut Creek California - San Francisco Bay Area - Beijing - Beverly California - Chatham Massachusetts - Atlanta Georgia - Basel - Chapel Hill North Carolina, U.S.A.
Software (Web Marketplace Saas..) • Businesses Solutions • FinTech (& Financials services) • Energy • Retail (& E-Commerce) • Sales (& Marketing) • A.I. (& Big Data) • HealthTech (& Fitness) • Developer tools • Medical Devices (& Hospital Services) • Healthcare (& Wellness) • Mobility • Consumer • Woman Focused
Bull City Venture Partners is a venture capital firm and is based in Durham, North Carolina. The firm invests in early-stage companies operating in the software, mobile, e-commerce, health and internet sectors.
Palo Alto - Austin - Salt Lake City - Provo - Seattle - Boston / New - New York - San Jose - San Francisco Bay Area - California, U.S.A. - Global: U.S.A., Australia, Canada, Germany, U.K., Israel, France, Italy, Spain, Netherlands, Belgium, Switzerland, Denmark, Finland, Luxembourg, Malta, Iceland
Software (Web Marketplace Saas..) • BioTech • FinTech (& Financials services) • HealthTech (& Fitness) • Future Of Work • Medical Devices (& Hospital Services) • DeepTech • Healthcare (& Wellness)
Most Interested In
I'm looking for prime movers that are developing auto-pilot for the intelligent enterprise particularly in network and software monitoring, HR, sales, and supply chain. In consumer: marketplaces and anything with high engagement
Not Interested In
e-commerce / retail / ad optimization
San Francisco Bay Area, U.S.A. - Global: U.S.A., Australia, Canada, Germany, U.K., Israel, France, Italy, Spain, Netherlands, Belgium, Switzerland, Denmark, Finland, Luxembourg, Malta, Iceland
Software (Web Marketplace Saas..) • Retail (& E-Commerce) • HealthTech (& Fitness) • Medical Devices (& Hospital Services) • Healthcare (& Wellness) • Consumer
Venture Capitalist in search of the 𝙣𝙚𝙭𝙩 𝙗𝙞𝙜 𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙣𝙜... nbt.substack.com
Most Interested In
Consumer businesses that have early signal that they can be category-defining companies. We typically lead the Series A.
Not Interested In
I personally am not interested in pre-launch companies.
Austin - Texas, U.S.A. - Global: U.S.A., Australia, Canada, Germany, U.K., Israel, France, Italy, Spain, Netherlands, Belgium, Switzerland, Denmark, Finland, Luxembourg, Malta, Iceland
HealthTech (& Fitness) • Medical Devices (& Hospital Services) • Healthcare (& Wellness) • Consumer • Woman Focused
Healthcare Lead @ GFC
Earliest Stage Health VC