Celebrating
10 years of
TOP 100 Swiss
Startups
Beat Schillig
TOP 100 Initiator
Jordi Montserrat
TOP 100 Initiator
Stefan Steiner
TOP 100 Director
While saying goodbye to our guests at the TOP 100 Swiss Startup Award 2020, we could sense how much the Swiss startup scene had accomplished since the first edition of the event 10 years ago.
It is said that it takes 10 years to become a good investor, so this is an excellent time to look back at what the TOP 100 has become after a decade. The original ambition―to promote the strengths and diversity of Swiss startups when they did not enjoy the visibil- ity and recognition they deserve―has grown into a unique platform that shines the spot- light on the top startups and displays the dynamics of the Swiss startup ecosystem.
Today, TOP 100 comprises a full range of activities to support the gems select- ed by the jury: The award night has been coined the “Swiss startup Oscar ceremony,” the Investor Summit attracts international investors, and the TOP 100 Scale-up Ranking focuses on startups that are older than five years. Regional investor pitch and satellite events are held throughout the year, and the TOP 100 Swiss Startup Magazines are available in four languages and are distrib- uted in Switzerland and abroad. The TOP 100
even is the trending topic on social media in Switzerland when the ranking is announced!
Most importantly, the TOP 100 Startups are role models that inspire a new generation of entrepreneurs. Generating thousands of jobs, raising CHF 1 billion in capital per year, and achieving unicorn status and success- ful exits: The startups listed in the ranking embody the breadth and depth of the Swiss startup ecosystem. All of it has been made possible thanks to the sponsors and part- ners, jury members, investors, entrepreneurs, and our entire team―we sincerely thank you and dedicate this 10-year publication to you.
Looking at what has been accomplished is also the perfect time to detail how the TOP 100 opens amazing opportunities for the next decade. If you think the past 10 years have been exciting, then make sure to join the TOP 100 and become a world shaper of tomorrow!
We are excited to be part of the TOP 100 Startups’ success stories, and we look for- ward to celebrating the next decade of achievements, milestones, and world-class innovations.
Beat, Jordi, Stefan and the TOP 100 team
Index
Imprint
This publication celebrates 10 years of
Swiss innovation and entrepreneurship
with the TOP 100 Swiss Startups.
Concept and implementation
Venturelab AG,
Wiesenstrasse 5, 8952 Schlieren
info@venturelab.ch
www.venturelab.ch
Editorial
Jordi Montserrat, Stefan Steiner
Production & Chief Editor: Isabelle Mitchell
Project Lead: Ann-Sophie Kowalewski
Design and illustration
Claudia Schmidt (volpus-design.com)
Carla Elias (www.carlaelias.com)
Carla Osma (www.carlaosma.es)
Pictures: Copyright TOP 100 Swiss Startups
Print & Publishing
tredition GmbH,
Halenreie 40-44, 22359 Hamburg, Germany
978-3-347-26324-6 (Paperback)
978-3-347-26325-3 (Hardcover)
978-3-347-26326-0 (e-Book)
The information in this book is based on the TOP 100
database and data provided by the startups by December 31,
2020. Note that changes in circumstances after the time of
publication may impact the accuracy of the information.
1
The TOP 100 Swiss
startup ecosystem
9
10 years of TOP 100:
facts & figures
19
World shapers of
tomorrow
Innovating gynecologic
care
Optimizing health care
Equipping the labs
of tomorrow
Advancing oncology
Modernizing medicine
21
22
23
25
27
Transforming the
energy industry
29
Protecting systems
and data
31
Evolving the
workspace
33
Turning innovation
inside out
35
Decentralizing financial
services
37
39
Voices of the ecosystem
47
Ideas that transform
our lives
Covagen
49
Doodle
53
GetYourGuide
57
Climeworks
61
Scandit
65
DeinDeal
69
Beekeeper
73
MindMaze
77
Bestmile
81
Piavita
85
89
TOP 100 partners
93
Outlook
The TOP 100
Swiss startup
ecosystem
1
THE TOP 100 SWISS STARTUP ECOSYSTEM
2
TOP 100 Jury
Award Night
TOP 100 Magazine
Satellite events
Investor Summit
Scale-up Ranking
What started as a one-evening award ceremony in 2011 has grown into a true benchmark in Switzerland, including a range of comprehensive activities that support the TOP 100 Startups. A strong and networked community has come together under the umbrella brand “TOP 100 Startups,” which provides deep insights into the latest proven concepts, strengthens networks, and establishes new business relationships for and with the 438 Swiss deeptech startups that have been featured in the ranking over the past decade. So far, these award-winning startups have created 11,100 jobs and raised CHF 6.1 billion—56 exits and three IPOs top off the achieve- ments of these innovators.
The invitation-only Award Night connects the CEOs of the most promising Swiss start- ups with Swiss and international investors, executives, and journalists and celebrates the TOP 100 Swiss Startups.
In collaboration with our partners, regional pitch and satellite events are organized throughout the year to bring startups, investors, and corporates together.
The TOP 100 Jury consists of a panel of 100 leading investors and startup experts. Each of them chooses 10 startups and allocates 10 points for first place down to one point for 10th place, resulting into the annual TOP 100.
The TOP 100 Swiss Startup Magazine covers all TOP 100 events and news with editorial content available in four languages: German, French, English, and Chinese—both in print and digitally.
The Scale-up Ranking features startups that have grown beyond five years since their incorporation and are selected by a jury of growth investors. They represent the future Swiss unicorns.
At the TOP 100 Investor Summit, hand- picked TOP 100 Startups that are looking for funding pitch to over 100 selected Swiss and international investors.
3
THE TOP 100 SWISS STARTUP ECOSYSTEM
The TOP 100 Jury
Being among the TOP 100 Swiss Startups and Scale-ups has become a seal of approval for entrepreneurs, and the ranking provides them with the recogni- tion they deserve. But who selects the companies that get celebrated? Each year, we ask well-known connoisseurs of the startup ecosystem and the public to select the startups of the different rankings.
TOP 100 Swiss
Startup Ranking
.........
One hundred investors and startup experts select the TOP 100 Startups. Each jury member chooses 10 startups that were incorporated in the last five years and show the greatest commercial potential. All jurors then rate their selection from one to 10: Ten points for first place and one point for 10th place. The 100 startups with the most points make it into the startup ranking, where they are listed according to their total number of points.
TOP 100 Scale-up
Ranking
.........
The ranking of startups that have grown beyond five years but are not older than 10 years are judged by a jury of 25 growth investors and experts. The jury process is
similar to the TOP 100 Startup Ranking, and the 25 scale-ups with the most points make it into the Scale-up Ranking: The most promising have their shot at being the future Swiss unicorns.
TOP 100 Public
Voting
.........
The TOP 100 Public Voting runs parallel to the expert jury ranking and highlights an out- standing Swiss startup per sector. Everyone with a LinkedIn profile has one vote and can choose their favorite among all Swiss start- ups that are listed on startup.ch and were incorporated in the last five years. The start- up with the most votes in its sector is the winner of the TOP 100 Public Voting.
Discover the TOP 100 Jury
Members:
www.top100startups.swiss/
top100jury
4
THE TOP 100 JURY
“The TOP 100 Jury consists of the 100 most active and successful early-
stage investors in Switzerland. These experts deal with startups on a
daily basis and detect promising newcomers. The ranking truly
represents the best—chosen by the best.”
Beat Schillig
Founder and president of Venturelab
“The TOP 100 Swiss Startup Award is an outstanding format: Every year,
a jury of the top 100 experts selects the top 100 startups. The TOP
100 list is showcasing the current and future potential of Switzerland
as a deeptech nation. The ranking generates great national and inter-
national attention for the Swiss startup and innovation scene.”
Dr. Pascale Vonmont
CEO of Gebert Rüf Stiftung
“We need startups for our future economy and society, both in Switzerland
and in Europe. And we need institutions like the TOP 100 Swiss Startup