Swiss Venture Capital Report 2018 (Swiss Venture Capital Report (startupticker))

Summary

• Total venture capital investment in Swiss start-ups reached CHF 937.7 million in 2017 across 175 financing rounds.p.7
• Biotech remained the largest investment sector, attracting CHF 443.1 million, up more than 10% from the previous year.p.7
• The canton of Vaud led total invested capital with CHF 298.3 million, while the canton of Zurich led in transaction count with 58 rounds.p.24
• Later stage financing accounted for CHF 712.4 million, representing 76% of total invested capital in 2017.p.22
• The top 20 financing rounds combined for CHF 686.7 million, representing 73% of total Swiss venture capital volume.p.11

Key insights

1. ADC Therapeutics secured the year's largest single financing round, raising CHF 196.8 million.p.11
2. Start-ups with at least one female decision maker in management or on the board received 76% of total invested capital.p.7
3. Only 10 out of 175 financed start-ups had a female CEO, together receiving about 2% of total investment.p.7
4. Financing rounds between CHF 2 million and CHF 10 million accounted for 40% of all transactions in 2017.p.23
5. Only a quarter of the total capital invested in Swiss start-ups between 2015 and 2017 came from Swiss venture capital funds.p.9
6. Zug saw strong sector concentration, with nine of its 15 financing rounds going to fintech start-ups.p.24