Explore the Top Startups Revolutionizing Zurich in 2024

Summary:

CHF 872 million invested in Zurich startups in 2023.
Nanoflex Robotics enables remote surgeries with innovative technology.
BTRY's thin-film cells can withstand extreme conditions.
Yokoy automates expense management, raising $80 million in funding.
BreezeLabs tracks breathing patterns for runners, securing CHF 500,000 in funding.

Home to fine cheese, breathtaking scenery, and footballing politics (FIFA HQ overlooks Lake Zurich), Switzerland’s largest city is also a financial juggernaut. The central square of Paradeplatz is its beating heart, where the Swiss banking system pumps venture capital funding into a thriving tech ecosystem; around CHF 872 million (more than $1 billion) was poured into Zurich startups alone in 2023.

Zurich: A Hub of Innovation

Fintech is a natural major player, but if the banking industry is the ecosystem’s engine, innovation is its fuel. Many of the city’s most exciting startups began life as student projects at its world-leading universities, which provide a steady flow of great thinkers.

“Zurich is a city of ideas, people, and capital,” says Frank Floessel, head of entrepreneurship at ETH Zurich.

Spotlight on Leading Startups

Nanoflex Robotics

Nanoflex Robotics aims to transform emergency treatments like thrombectomy, crucial for ischemic strokes. Their compact robotic platform allows remote surgeries, enabling neurosurgeons to operate from distant locations. In 2023, they raised a total of $19.8 million.

BTRY

BTRY is innovating in battery technology with their thin-film cells that withstand extreme conditions and offer rapid charging. They secured CHF 1.8 million in funding and are focusing on IoT applications.

Yokoy

Founded by five accountants, Yokoy automates expense management using AI, significantly reducing costs for clients. They raised $80 million in Series B funding in 2023.

BreezeLabs

BreezeLabs has developed an app for runners that monitors breathing patterns using headphones, providing deeper cardiovascular insights. The startup has raised CHF 500,000 from the University of Basel.

Univerbal

Univerbal, an AI language tutor, has gained over 250,000 downloads since its launch. The founders raised $2 million in seed funding.

Oxyle

Oxyle’s mission is to tackle water contamination using modular reactors that break down toxic PFAS. They've raised $12 million and are partnering with major water technology companies.

DeepJudge

DeepJudge offers an AI-powered legal search tool that saves users significant time by scanning vast amounts of documents. They raised $10.7 million in seed funding.

Decentriq

Decentriq provides a data clean-room platform for secure data sharing without compromising privacy. They have raised over $21 million in funding.

Riskwolf

Riskwolf offers parametric insurance solutions using AI, benefiting farmers with quick payouts based on weather conditions. They raised CHF 3 million in funding.