Swiss Venture Capital Report Update 2021 (Swiss Venture Capital Report (startupticker))

Summary

• Investment in Swiss start-ups reached CHF 1.7 billion across 124 financing rounds in the first half of 2021.p.2
• ICT start-ups including fintech accounted for 54% of all financing rounds in the first half of 2021.p.6
• Invested capital in the biotech sector increased from almost CHF 230 million to more than CHF 414 million.p.6
• All surveyed Swiss corporate venture capital units aim for minority ownership stakes of less than 25%.p.15

Key insights

1. An Italian pharmaceutical company acquired biotech start-up Arvelle Therapeutics for about CHF 850 million.p.7
2. Strategic goals such as access to new technology are very important for almost two thirds of surveyed corporate venture capital investors.p.13
3. In 2020, the CVC share of invested capital in Swiss start-ups stood at 35%, comparable to 36% in the US and 31% in Europe.p.18