In recent years, the share of female founders securing investment in Switzerland has been steadily increasing. According to the EY Startup Barometer, only 2% of funded startups had an exclusively female founding team in 2023, but this figure rose to 7% in 2024. This shift reflects a growing recognition of the value of female leadership in entrepreneurship. Notably, the health tech sector has seen a particularly remarkable rise, with 21% of startups in this space having female founders. These results highlight the increasing diversity in the Swiss startup ecosystem, showcasing that gender diversity is key to fostering innovation and success.
This month again saw several female-led startups make great accomplishments. vVARDIS, a Swiss dental company making waves with its innovative products under the Curodont brand, had a breakthrough year in 2024 - the company expanded its sales globally, especially in the U.S., vVARDIS treated over 300,000 teeth. The newly secured investment of CHF 35 million will support its further global expansion, reinforcing its position as a leader in the dental care industry. Another large round announcement came from Largo AI, where Celine Udriot serves as COO. The company has attracted Hollywood heavyweight Sylvester Stallone as an investor and strategic partner in its CHF 7 million financing round. With this high-profile partnership, Largo AI is set to scale its AI-driven solutions for the film and TV industry. The company is currently working with over 600 companies including several Hollywood studios and large agencies.
RaiseNow, a fintech company revolutionizing digital fundraising technology, has raised CHF 12 million to further enhance its platform. Led by Patricia Grossmann and Tania Thiebach, RaiseNow will use the funds to refine its technology and expand the company’s reach.
In the cleantech segment, two startups have received funding to boost their growth. With the winning of the third stage of the Venture Kick award, EPFL spin-off Verretex received CHF 150,000 to accelerate the adoption of regenerated glass fiber textiles. Meanwhile, Jessica Farda’s startup Noriware, which is focused on creating bio-based packaging solutions, has been awarded an EU project grant to support the development of environmentally friendly packaging alternatives, which could significantly reduce the environmental footprint of traditional plastic.
Recognising female innovators
Switzerland’s startup ecosystem continues to celebrate the achievements of female entrepreneurs, with several women recently honored for their contributions to innovation. New Roots, a sustainable food company co-founded by Alice Fauconnet, has won the Green Business Award, recognizing its commitment to producing plant-based products with a minimal environmental impact. Nina Schaller, co-CEO co-founder of Luya Food, was recognised with the PETA Vegan Award for her plant-based food; Riverkin, the startup delivering real-time water intelligence to help companies mitigate risks and build resilience, is one of the winners of the IMD Startup Competition. And Apheros, which provides metal foam cooling solutions with Julia Carpenter as CEO and co-founder, has been nominated for the ZKB Pionierpreis 2025.
In the healthcare sector, the Future of Health grant has selected six startups, including two female-led companies, that will benefit from the program. VAir, founded by Ekaterina Kukhtenko is developing a non-invasive, automated breath analysis platform detecting multiple respiratory viruses in under 3 minutes while and Digehealth, founded by Nour Ghalia Abbasi is 24/7 monitoring solution for bowel diseases, focusing on post-operative recovery and prevention through real-time health insights. The startups will each receive up to CHF 90,000 in non-dilutive funding, along with personalized coaching and access to a network of industry experts. Eva-Maria Balet, Co-founder and CEO of Regenosca, won the Swiss Foundation for Innovation and Education in Surgery (SFITS) award.
Leadership changes to bolster startups
BrainScape Medical, a newly incorporated company advancing neuromonitoring and neurostimulation technologies, has appointed Laura Johnson as its new CEO to scale its impact and bring its solutions to market. This leadership change comes on the heels of promising results from the company's first human trials using its Epios technology. Under Johnson's leadership, BrainScape Medical is well-positioned for success in the rapidly evolving neuroscience field.
Similarly, Wonderfil has strengthened its leadership team by appointing Florencia Kühne as COO. Kühne will play a key role in accelerating the growth of Wonderfil’s beverage stations, designed to enable consumers to enjoy personalized drinks while refilling reusable bottles and glasses—promoting both convenience and sustainability.
Are you looking for a space to grow your business and get inspired? Sign up for the Ladies Drive Founders Academy, running from May 19 to November 2025. Registration closes on March 30.
Happy Women’s Day!
