Swiss Venture Capital Report 2014 (Swiss Venture Capital Report (startupticker))

Summary

• Swiss start-ups received a total of CHF415.3 million across 90 venture capital financing rounds in 2013.p.2
• The life sciences sector absorbed the most capital with CHF276 million, representing 67% of total financing.p.5
• Early-stage financing volume increased sharply from CHF32.5 million in 2012 to CHF121.8 million in 2013.p.2
• The top 20 venture capital rounds in Switzerland accumulated CHF 340 million, representing 82% of total investment volume.p.4
• The ICT sector generated the highest number of transactions with 30 financing rounds, representing 33% of all rounds.p.5
• The median funding overall per financing round in 2013 stood at CHF2.8 million.p.9
• Zurich led canton investment volume with CHF 114.2 million, accounting for 27% of total capital invested.p.10

Key insights

1. Total venture capital investment volume in Swiss start-ups grew by more than 30% in 2013 to reach CHF415.3 million across 90 financing rounds.p.2
2. The number of early-stage financing rounds grew by 50% from 30 to 45, while early-stage funding volume nearly tripled to CHF121.8 million.p.2
3. Biotech accounted for CHF 185 million, representing 45% of total investment volume in 2013.p.5
4. Cleantech investment volume rose to CHF30 million in 2013, up from CHF2 million in 2012.p.5
5. Zurich, Vaud, and Geneva represented the top three cantons by both transaction volume and total capital invested.p.3
6. Cantons with significant life sciences hubs like Basel showed strong sector concentration, with up to 100% of invested capital going to life sciences.p.11
7. Start-ups holding the CTI Start-up Label raised over CHF100 million across 29 companies.p.12