Hot summer days are enjoyable, however, during the night, achieving high-quality sleep can be a challenge for many – the opposite is true during cold months. Dagsmejan, founded by Catarina Dahlin and Andreas Lenzhofer, specializes in functional sleep wear that enhances sleep quality and comfort through optimal temperature regulation and moisture management. The company uses sustainable materials such as ultrafine merino wool and Tencel (a fiber made from eucalyptus) to achieve this functionality. Since its founding in 2016, the company has continued to experience remarkable growth, with a revenue growth of 15 percent this summer compared to last year, and operations in over 100 countries. In addition to sleepwear, the startup has expanded its assortment to include thermoregulating bed linen, sleeping masks or bed socks.
On the verge of achieving the same level of progress are three medtech startups, Testmate Health (co-founded by Siew-Veena Sahi), Perivision (co-founded by Serife Kucur Ergunay), and Adiposs (with Nathalie Stransky as CTO), which received Innosuisse certificate, recognizing their potential to achieve sustainable growth.
For companies seeking to expand beyond Switzerland, getting the right contacts is vital in order to better navigate international markets. This is why the USAccelerator and Swissnex San Francisco have organized the first Swissnex Bridge Silicon Valley Immersion Program to enable startups to explore opportunities in the US market. Among the six participants are two female-led companies: Scan2Screen (led by Barbara Flueckiger), which is introducing a radically different approach to the digitization of historical color films and photographs and design startup Chrystel Orsatti Designer by Chrystel Orsatti (Founder & CEO). Local support programs also play a crucial role in connecting companies with industry experts worldwide, increasing their chances for global expansion and partnerships. Most recently, the DayOne accelerator, which connects startups with experts for feedback and potential collaborations, revealed the participants in the DayOne Health 4.0 program. Wemedoo, a Zug-based startup developing unified software solutions for clinical research and practice, is one of the participants who kicked off Phase 1 of the program.
Riverkin’s victory in the first European-Indian Space Startup Competition demonstrates the startup’s growing global popularity and its solution’s potential in the space industry. Founded by Jessica Droujko, the startup is developing a Water Data Ecosystem addressing critical water management challenges exacerbated by climate change and population growth. Its advanced sensor technology, combined with satellite images and models, enables users to increase operational efficiency and manage water risk while ensuring environmental compliance. Meanwhile, Amélie Béduer, Co-founder and CEO of Volumina Medical SA has been selected for the EY Entrepreneur of the Year award. The startup is developing Adipearl, an injectable biomaterial for the reconstruction of volumes of soft tissues. Also making strides in the realm of life sciences are Noema Pharma, which completed enrolment for Phase 2b study on NOE 101 for the management of pain associated with Trigeminal Neuralgia (TN) and AC Immune, which received Fast Track Designation for the Tau positron emission tomography (PET) diagnostic, [18F]PI-2620, from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in three neurodegenerative conditions: Alzheimer’s disease (AD), progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP), and corticobasal degeneration (CBD).
Updates from the investment space
Two financing rounds made waves in August in the startup community, especially due to the challenges they are addressing. Zurich-based startup, Apheros (co-founded by Julia Carpenter and Gaëlle Andreatta), is developing cooling solutions for data centers and the high-power computing industry. The closing of its $1.85 million pre-seed funding round will allow the company to further advance its high-performance metal foams designed to maximize heat dissipation, optimize fluid flow, and reduce energy consumption. Flowit is a human resources tech company specializing in employee feedback and development, especially for frontline workers, such as service technicians, nurses, catering workers and other non-desktop workers. The startup has secured CHF4 million in an oversubscribed seed round. With co-founder Yasemin Tahris on the team, the startup will use the funds to fuel its growth.
Financing also comes at the exit stage of a startup. Travelnews, which was Co-founded by Vanessa Bay, Travelnews was established in 2015 with a focus on travel and tourism news for over 300’000 readers and has been acquired by Nau Media. Details of the transaction remain undisclosed.
Lastly, the next edition of the TV show „Höhle der Löwen Schweiz“ (the Swiss version of Shark Tank) has introduced its panel of investors, comprising three female investors, potentially inspiring more women to engage in entrepreneurship and investment.
Meet like-minded people and role models
The upcoming events provide female entrepreneurs with a platform to connect, share, and learn from peers. Highlights include the Female Innovation Forum on September 19 in Dielsdorf, wetechtogether on September 27-28, and RiseUp Summit on October 4.
