Swiss Venture Capital Report 2019 (Swiss Venture Capital Report (startupticker))

Summary

• In 2018, nearly CHF 1.24 billion in venture capital was invested in Swiss start-ups, representing an increase of 31.8% on the previous year.p.7
• The total number of financing rounds for Swiss start-ups grew by 31.4% to reach 230 in 2018.p.7
• The ICT sector (including fintech) generated CHF 685 million in venture capital in 2018, growing by 123.6% compared with 2017.p.7
• Canton Zurich led regional investments with CHF 515.2 million invested across 99 start-ups in 2018.p.7
• The top 20 financing rounds contributed 56% of total investment volume in 2018, down from 82% five years prior.p.7
• Biotech investment in Switzerland fell 43% to CHF 252.6 million in 2018 after years of growth.p.7

Key insights

1. SEBA Crypto collected the largest single financing round in Switzerland during 2018, raising CHF 100 million.p.9
2. Seed stage financing volume in Switzerland increased more than fourfold from just under CHF 20 million to CHF 80 million in 2018.p.22
3. Later stage financing medians rose by 29% to CHF 11 million in 2018.p.22
4. Medtech sector investment volume increased by 41.9% from CHF 86.6 million to CHF 122.9 million in 2018.p.7
5. Swiss institutional investors participated in six of the top 11 financing rounds in 2018.p.12
6. Biotech start-ups recorded the highest median capital per round in 2018 at CHF 6.6 million.p.18