CHF 2.4 billion for Swiss start-ups

Investment in knowledge-based start-ups fell again in 2024, by 8.5% compared with the previous year. The number of financing rounds also fell for the first time. These are the findings of Swiss Venture Capital Report, published by the online news portal startupticker.ch and the industry association SECA in cooperation with startup.ch.

Start-up founders had a hard time raising equity capital last year. Total investment fell to CHF 2.4 billion and the number of financing rounds fell from just under 400 in 2023 to 357. As very large financing rounds in the three-digit million range were absent, with one exception, investments were distributed more evenly across the individual rounds: in half of all financing rounds, investors injected CH 3 million or more, an increase of 40.7% compared with 2023.

The breakdown by sector shows that investments in the ICT and fintech sectors in particular once again fell sharply compared with the record year of 2022. The micro and nanotech sector held its ground, while the healthcare IT sector was able to correct the decline from the previous year and recorded strong growth. The biotech sector is definitely back on the road to recovery: it attracted CHF 739.2 million in 2024, 50% more than in the previous year.

Zurich defends top spot

Despite significant losses, the cantonal ranking sees Zurich at the top, followed by Vaud, Geneva and Basel-Landschaft. Several cantons made slight gains in 2024, and canton Bern even recorded a record year with 24 financing rounds totalling CHF 117.85 million. 

The number of exits remained stable in 2024: some 30 start-ups were sold abroad by their founders and investors, while 11 found domestic buyers. The takeover of Swiss-Greek company BETA CAE Systems International was worth more than USD 1.2 billion to Californian software group Cadence.

Investors focus on growth

An annual survey of venture capital investors domiciled in Switzerland is conducted each year. An evaluation of the report’s investor survey for 2024 revealed that at the beginning of 2025 active fundraising was underway for 46 funds. The market outlook is viewed positively by the majority of investors: two thirds of those surveyed intend to invest more in Swiss start-ups in the current year than in 2024.

The Venture Capital Report can be downloaded in the asset section. 

The full press release can be downloaded below.