Start-ups raise more venture capital

(CONNECT) The CHF 1.47 billion in venture capital raised by Swiss start-ups in the first half of 2025 represents the third-best figure of its kind ever. Compared to the first half of 2024, an increase of 36% was achieved, according to a press release from startupticker.ch on the half-year update of the Swiss Venture Capital Report, which is published jointly by Lucerne-based startupticker.ch and the startup.ch platform operated by Venturelab.

According to the press release, however, the number of financing rounds fell from 138 to 124. This also indicates that "the realization of venture capital financing remains challenging" for the majority of start-ups. The good overall figures can be attributed to individual large financing rounds.

Young companies from the biotech sector benefited from this, raising 705 million francs. The previous record was CHF 436 million from the first half of 2021. ICT start-ups grew by 86% compared to the same period last year, fintech start-ups by as much as 93%.

Three biotech start-ups raised the most funding. Windward Bio in Basel received a total of CHF 183.1 million, followed by CeQur in Horw LU with CHF 109.3 million and GlycoEra in Wädenswil ZH with CHF 107.5 million.

Based on a survey of Swiss venture capital investors, the publishers of the Swiss Venture Capital Report only have a "cautious outlook" for the coming twelve months. ce/jh