Switzerland is crushing it with their startup ecosystem at the moment, particularly in the fields of AI, robotics and cleantech. The Switzerland startup ecosystem is very creative and innovative, and this can be seen by Switzerland ranking in the top 3 on the Global Innovation Index.
Why Do People Launch Startups In Switzerland?
There are many reasons why people choose to start a business in Switzerland, and some of the top reasons are that the government is very supportive of startups by offering many financing schemes, such as the BRIDGE programme, that can help startups in the early stages.
Switzerland is also home to some of the top universities in the world, as well as an educated international workforce. The combination of the two offers startups great options for employees that can help drive innovation and success.
Switzerland has seen a remarkable surge in venture capital investment, which has helped create a closely-knit startup community. This environment encourages strong collaboration among startups, major tech companies, and universities.
Switzerland is a very beautiful country to live in that offers a very high quality of life, making it an easy choice to start a business in and live in permanently.
10 New Startups In Switzerland
These are the 10 recent startups in Switzerland that are worth knowing. Some of these might even reach unicorn status:
1. CarbonPool
CarbonPool is a recent startup that was established in 2023 in Zurich by Frederic Olbert, Nandini Wilcke and Coenraad Vrolijk. CarbonPool is the first carbon insurance company that pays claims in carbon removal credits instead of cash.
The company is focused on environmental services and aims to ensure the carbon removal process is effective. This firm specialises in offering in-kind insurance to cover any failures in meeting net zero commitments, whether due to shortfalls, reversals, business interruptions, or natural disasters. This support helps organisations manage their carbon dioxide removal contracts and prevents them from unintentionally releasing carbon dioxide back into the atmosphere.
The company has raised $12 million in a seed round.
2. Chiral Nano
Chiral Nano is a startup that was founded in 2022 in Zurich, and they focus on next-generation chip technology made with nanomaterials.
They’re a manufacturer specialising in nanomaterial-based transistors designed for the automated assembly of clean nanomaterials at the wafer scale. The company creates cutting-edge transistors using nanomaterials like carbon nanotubes, which are perfect for computing and quantum technologies. This innovation helps their clients achieve commercial applications on an industrial scale.
Chiral Nano has successfully raised €3.6 million to enhance its robotic machine capabilities.
3. FimmCyte
FimmCyte is a biotechnology startup that was established in 2022 in Basel. The company focuses on research and treatment of chronic endometriosis disease.
This biotechnology company is on a mission to speed up the journey toward finding a cure for endometriosis. They’re working on innovative treatments that not only meet healthcare needs but also bring fresh ideas to the table for improving women’s health. Their goal is to empower women to take charge of their health and tackle the medical challenges that have been overlooked.
4. LatticeFlow
LatticeFlow is a startup that was established in 2020 in Zurich by Andreas Krause, Martin Vechev, Pavol Bielik, and Petar Tsankov. The startup focuses on trust and reliability in artificial intelligence.
They’re a developer of system management software that helps clients create and launch artificial intelligence models that are safe, reliable, and trustworthy. Their software features a core programming API for a cutting-edge asynchronous data coordination framework, which aids in testing and certifying systems to ensure that machine learning models perform as intended and are ready for production. This empowers clients to seamlessly integrate AI models into their businesses.
The startup has raised over €14 million due to the increasing need for reliable AI systems.
5. Kooky
Kooky is a startup that was established in 2021 in Zurich by Dmytro Boguslavskyy, Max Zott, and Torge Barkholtz. This startup focuses on single-use plastic waste.
They are a developer of an innovative digital reusable system that aims to replace disposable tableware. This company has created a reusable cup crafted from non-toxic PP polypropylene, free from BPA and other harmful substances. With its smart digital return system, users can easily return the cup, helping food and beverage businesses play their part in achieving zero waste.
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6. Luya Foods
Luya Foods is a Bern-based startup that was established in 2021 by Flavio Hagenbuch, Mike Whyte, and Tobi Kistler with a focus on plant-based meat alternatives.
This company specialises in creating fungi-based meat alternatives, focusing on delivering natural and organic products that are free from additives and excessive processing. They’ve come up with a unique process that blends traditional fermentation techniques with modern technology, transforming okara, a by-product from tofu production, into tasty food options. This innovation allows customers to enjoy meat alternatives that are completely free of additives.
The startup has raised more than €142,000 to scale its operations.
7. Oxyle
Oxyle is a Zurich-based startup that was established in 2020 by Fajer Mushtaq and Silvan Staufert. They focus on addressing water pollution with novel technology.
They are a developer of a groundbreaking wastewater conversion technology and are on a mission to stop toxic and stubborn micropollutants from making their way into our water bodies, all while keeping costs in check. Their innovative system offers much-needed regulatory relief to a variety of customers, including chemical industries, hospitals, and biotech firms, by effectively removing a broad spectrum of harmful organic pollutants from wastewater. This not only helps clients avoid the need for wastewater incineration but also contributes to a significant reduction in CO₂ emissions.
8. DeepJudge
DeepJudge is a Zurich-based startup that was established in 2021 by Florian Schmidt, Kevin Roth, Paulina Grnarova, and Yannic Kilcher. They focus on revolutionising the legal profession with their AI-based platform.
They developed an AI-driven platform for processing legal documents that aims to revolutionise how we handle context-aware legal language. Their innovative platform automatically pinpoints key information and enhances documents by integrating external data sources like legal codes, court decisions, business registries, and encyclopaedias. This empowers lawyers to streamline repetitive tasks and achieve high-quality results.
9. Manukai
Manukai is a Zurich-based startup that was established in 2023 by Daniel Wälchli and Pascal Weber. This startup has brought AI to the metal machine industry.
They have developed a cutting-edge manufacturing platform that’s all about automating and optimising the programming of computer numerical control (CNC) machines. This innovative platform harnesses the power of artificial intelligence to suggest efficient machining strategies, fine-tune tool paths for peak performance, and provide valuable insights through user-friendly dashboards. The goal? To help manufacturers cut down on programming time, reduce machine downtime, and boost overall productivity.
10. Cultivated Biosciences
Cultivated Biosciences is a Zurich-based startup that was established in 2021 by Tomas Turner. They focus on finding animal-free dairy alternatives.
They are creating yeast-based food ingredients that help make plant-based dairy products even creamier. The company has developed a unique fat ingredient sourced from oleaginous yeast, which provides that rich creaminess you expect from dairy. Plus, it boasts a clean label and a sustainable production process, mimicking the texture and colour of traditional dairy products. With low lipid oxidation and natural emulsification properties, they want to offer healthier alternatives to your favourite dairy items.