Swiss Startup Association

Another strong signal from the Swiss space ecosystem 🇨🇭 Lausanne-based PAVE Space SA has raised $40M in seed funding to rethink how satellites move in orbit 🌏 As the number of satellites grows rapidly, one major bottleneck remains: getting them to their final orbit efficiently. Today, this process can take months. PAVE Space is building orbital transfer vehicles that can do it in less than 24 hours ⏳ This shift could unlock faster deployment, lower costs, and earlier revenue for satellite operators, a key step as the space economy scales 📈 Founded by EPFL engineers, the team is moving quickly from development to testing, with its first in-space demonstration planned for October 🗓️ Investors including Visionaries Club and Creandum are backing this vision, highlighting the growing importance of space logistics infrastructure in Europe 🔗 Read the full article by Startupticker.ch 👉🏼 https://hubs.li/Q049DZMh0 #SwissStartupAssociation #StartupEcosystem #SpaceTech #SwissStartups #DeepTech

Big news from the Swiss deep tech ecosystem 🇨🇭 Lausanne-based Kandou AI has closed a $225M Series A round to tackle one of AI’s biggest challenges: data movement and memory bottlenecks. As AI systems scale, performance is no longer limited by compute alone, but by how efficiently data can move. Kandou AI is building the next generation of connectivity solutions to unlock faster, more scalable AI infrastructure. The round was led by Maverick Silicon, with participation from SoftBank Group Corp., Synopsys Inc, Cadence, and Alchip Technologies, a strong signal of confidence in their technology and vision. Read the full article by 👉🏼 https://hubs.li/Q049Dwbk0 #SwissStartupAssociation #StartupEcosystem #DeepTech #AI #StartupNews

Join us in Zurich for the next Founders Impact Breakfast, where we dive into what it really takes to be M&A ready ☕ 📆 On 06 May 2026, we’ll explore the legal and tax factors that can shape the outcome of a transaction. From common pitfalls to early-stage decisions that impact valuation, this session is designed for founders building with a future exit or investment in mind. 🎤 Expect practical insights from: Nicolai Nuber, Partner, Startup, VC & M&A Lawyer at Kellerhals Carrard Luana Stämpfli, Partner, VC, M&A and PE Lawyer at Kellerhals Carrard 📍 Location: Kellerhals Carrard, Rämistrasse 5, 8024 Zürich 🕒 Time: 08:30–10:00, followed by apéro and networking Connect with fellow founders over coffee and croissants, exchange experiences, and grow your network in a relaxed setting 🤝🏼 Register here: https://hubs.li/Q049xZB10 #SwissStartupAssociation #StartupEcosystem #Switzerland #Founders #Networking

Happy Good Friday, and throwback to last year’s interactive deep dives with our speakers 🎤 💬 These sessions brought real conversations, practical insights, and honest perspectives from founders and experts across the ecosystem. We’re looking forward to continuing this at Founders Day 2026 with a new lineup of speakers and fresh discussions 👀 🎟️ Tickets are sold out, but you can still join the waitlist to be part of it, sign up to our waitlist: https://hubs.li/Q049y9q50 #SwissStartupAssociation #StartupEcosystem #Switzerland #FoundersDay

✍🏻 Startup Founder Fundamentals: Launching Your Startup 2026 Want to start a startup but don’t know where to begin? This event is designed for aspiring founders who have the motivation and ambition, but need clear, practical guidance to move from idea to action 💡 During this afternoon session, you’ll gain actionable insights into the key building blocks of launching and growing a startup. From legal basics and funding options to team building, marketing, and early growth strategies, we’ll help you build your foundation with confidence. 📅 Date: 05.05.2026 🕐 Time: 13:00–18:15, followed by aperitif & networking 📍 Location: Wenger Vieli AG, Dufourstrasse 56, 8008 Zürich 🎙️ Speakers: Michael Baier Startup/VC/M&A Lawyer at Wenger Vieli Dario Schönbächler, Startup/VC/M&A Lawyer at Wenger Vieli Adrian Wethli, VP HR at Optotune Bernhard Baumgartner, CRO at Peakora Arijana Walcott, Founding Partner & GP at DART Ventures Tobias Klein, Ex CFO of SkyCell AG Roman Schweizer, CEO of Xelon AG 👉🏼 Apply here: https://hubs.li/Q049xYdV0 #SwissStartupAssociation #StartupFounders #Entrepreneurship #SwissStartups #StartupEcosystem #LaunchYourStartup

Celebrating our partnership with ABACONS Treuhand GmbH 🤝🏼 With offices in Zurich and Zug, Abacons Treuhand supports entrepreneurs with tailored fiduciary services designed to keep businesses compliant and on track. From local startups to international ventures, their approach is grounded in clarity, expertise, and reliable execution. A strong partner for founders who value personal guidance and long-term thinking 💼 Check them out: https://hubs.li/Q049xj9k0 #SwissStartupAssociation #StartupEcosystem #Switzerland #Entrepreneurship

💼 Webinar: Startup Exits & M&A – Avoiding Pitfalls and Unlocking Value An exit is one of the most important milestones in a startup’s journey — yet many founders only start preparing when a buyer is already at the table. This session explores how to prepare early for a sale or strategic transaction, what buyers really focus on during due diligence, and how to avoid common pitfalls that can impact valuation and deal success. 💡 📅 Date: 19.05.2026 🕛 Time: 12:00–13:00 💻 Location: Online – Zoom 🎙 Speaker: Marco Brunner, Managing Partner, BV4 💡 Key Takeaways: ✔ Why early exit readiness is critical for valuation and deal certainty ✔ How thinking like a buyer helps you identify risks early ✔ How process design and negotiation strategy influence outcomes 👉🏼 Join the webinar and learn how to maximise the value of your company: https://hubs.li/Q049rvm70 #SwissStartupAssociation #StartupExits #MergersAndAcquisitions #StartupGrowth #SwissStartups

Curious about exploring the Swiss DeepTech ecosystem in just one day? Join us at Swiss startup days on 21 May 2026: Innovators, entrepreneurs, and ecosystem enthusiasts will gather in Bern at the dynamic networking platform for the Swiss startup ecosystem. Enjoy networking opportunities and a rich program featuring: 🔌 Unplugged Stage: Real-life entrepreneurial conversations 🤖 AI Stage: Unlock your AI know-how 🤓 40+ sessions: Elevate your expertise and learn from 125+ speakers 🎤 Newcomers: Discover promising DeepTech startups in the pre-seed and seed phase 🫱🏻1:1 meetings: Enhance your networking 🗯️ 30+ exhibitors: Explore key enablers of the Swiss startup ecosystem Sign up here: https://hubs.li/Q049pX0Z0 #SUD26 #deeptech #networking #innovation

📊 Webinar: What Investors Want to See – KPIs & Metrics for Startups Which numbers really matter to investors? And how can you use KPIs not just for reporting, but to lead and scale your startup effectively? KPIs are more than metrics for investors. They are a core leadership tool to steer growth, make informed decisions, and build trust. In this session, you’ll learn how to align your metrics with your business model and communicate them clearly and credibly. 💡 📅 Date: 16.04.2026 🕛 Time: 12:00–13:00 💻 Location: Online – Zoom 🎙 Speaker: Patrick Griss, Co-Founder & CEO, Zühlke Ventures 💡 Key Takeaways: ✔ Which KPIs matter at each stage of your startup ✔ How metrics support leadership and decision-making ✔ Why KPIs are critical for fundraising and investor communication ✔ What investors expect from revenue-driven startups ✔ Common mistakes in KPI selection and reporting 👉🏼 Join the session and learn how to use KPIs to lead your startup with confidence: https://hubs.li/Q049pPC10 #SwissStartupAssociation #StartupMetrics #KPIs #StartupGrowth #SwissStartups Zühlke Group

Switzerland’s capital markets need to support scaleups. 🚀🇨🇭 🏦 The trend towards longer exit periods ties up capital and diminishes the attractiveness of startup investments in Switzerland. While options like the private market and the SIX/BX exist, the Swiss capital market law is primarily designed for large companies. For scaleups, access to the Swiss capital market is currently not realistic. ⚠️ The newly created SIX Sparks segment in 2021 was intended to ease access for small companies but still faces the same strict requirements as the main market. Meanwhile, the EU offers SME Growth Markets, with simplified access and a more flexible growth prospectus. In the Startup-Agenda Schweiz, we call for a legal framework similar to the EU Growth Regime to support growth markets for Swiss startups. 🔧 Our proposed measures include: → Reviewing and amending legal frameworks to ease access to secondaries and capital markets → Actively working with SIX to create a growth market and adapt the Sparks regime → Mobilizing banks to provide institutional and retail investors access to a Swiss growth market → Simplifying prospectus and publicity requirements to lower barriers for Swiss startups If Switzerland wants to keep its most promising companies, it needs to make it easier for them to stay on the Swiss market. 🇨🇭✨ 👉 Read more here: https://hubs.li/Q049nnXj0 #SwissStartupAssociation #StartupAgendaSchweiz #Capital