Swiss Venture Capital Report 2020 (Swiss Venture Capital Report (startupticker))

Summary

• In 2019, almost CHF 2.3 billion was invested in 266 Swiss start-ups, representing an 85.5% increase compared with the previous year.p.7
• The largest 20 financing rounds accounted for 69% of the total capital invested in Swiss start-ups in 2019.p.7
• Start-ups in the ICT sector, including fintech, attracted CHF 1.2 billion across 131 financing rounds in 2019.p.7
• The biotech sector achieved a record total investment of CHF 624.7 million across 45 financing rounds in 2019.p.7
• Canton Zurich registered CHF 1.169 billion in venture capital, with 87% of that capital invested in ICT and fintech start-ups.p.7
• Later stage financing volume reached CHF 1,676 million in 2019, compared with CHF 821 million in 2018.p.20

Key insights

1. Five mega-rounds of over CHF 100 million were completed in Switzerland in 2019.p.7
2. Venture capital investment in canton Vaud grew by 70.4% to reach CHF 455.7 million in 2019.p.7
3. GetYourGuide secured the largest single financing round of the year at CHF 488.9 million.p.9
4. The combined median capital invested per financing round remained unchanged at CHF 2 million in 2019.p.20
5. The median investment amount for early stage rounds rose by 28% to CHF 2.6 million in 2019.p.20
6. Start-ups in canton Zurich accounted for 84.8% of all venture capital invested in Swiss ICT and fintech start-ups in 2019.p.26