Swiss Venture Capital Report 2015 (Swiss Venture Capital Report (startupticker))

Summary

• In 2014, Swiss start-ups collected CHF 457 million in 92 financing rounds, representing an increase of about 10 % on the previous year.p.6
• Life sciences start-ups dominated total funding with CHF 355 million, accounting for 78 % of the total capital invested in 2014.p.10
• Investment in the medtech sector rose significantly from CHF 91.3 million to CHF 152.9 million, while ICT capital dropped from CHF 91.5 million to CHF 86.3 million.p.10
• The canton of Vaud led in total invested capital with CHF 200.8 million, surpassing Zurich which attracted CHF 129.4 million.p.14
• The median volume across all financing rounds in Switzerland was CHF 1.8 million, while later stage rounds saw a median of CHF 4.3 million.p.13
• The 20 largest venture capital rounds accumulated CHF 392 million, representing 86 % of total capital expenditure in 2014.p.7

Key insights

1. More than two thirds of the top 20 Swiss venture capital financing rounds were transacted by foreign investors.p.9
2. The ICT sector recorded 45 financing rounds in 2014, representing nearly 50 % of all funding transactions.p.11
3. The funding gap for financing rounds between CHF 2 million and CHF 10 million widened in 2014.p.13
4. Zurich accounted for the highest number of financing transactions by canton with 43 rounds, or 47 % of total rounds.p.6
5. Three Swiss companies completed initial public offerings in 2014: Molecular Partners, Bravofly Rumbo Group, and Auris Medical.p.17
6. US companies were the predominant foreign buyers of Swiss start-ups in trade sales in 2014.p.16
7. Start-ups originating from the cantons of Vaud, Geneva, Jura, and Valais captured 57 % of total invested funds in 2014.p.14