The EY Startup Barometer Switzerland 2025 reveals that for the second consecutive yr, Swiss startup investments have declined.
In 2024, a complete of 513 funding rounds had been recorded, marking a 6.7% lower in comparison with the 550 rounds in 2023.
The entire funding quantity additionally fell by 15% to 2.3 billion Swiss Francs, down from 2.71 billion Swiss Francs within the earlier yr.
Regardless of this decline, the Swiss startup ecosystem stays resilient.
“The Swiss startup scene has needed to endure a decline in funding rounds and quantity for the second consecutive yr. Nevertheless, this lower is flattening considerably and isn’t as extreme as in 2023,”
stated Alexander Schatt, Head of Startups and Scale-ups at EY in Switzerland.
The 513 funding rounds recorded in 2024 nonetheless symbolize the fourth-highest quantity prior to now decade.
AI Investments Double, Well being Sector Leads in Funding Quantity
AI is rising as a key driver within the startup panorama. In 2023, AI-focused startups accounted for one in ten funding rounds, however this determine has doubled in 2024, with 22% of all funding rounds now directed at AI ventures.
“Regardless of the general decline in startup investments, we’re seeing a powerful enhance in investor curiosity in AI-related startups. This displays rising confidence in Switzerland as a main vacation spot for AI investments,”
added Schatt.
By sector, Software program & Analytics led within the variety of offers with 153 rounds, whereas the Well being sector recorded 134 rounds. Different key sectors included {Hardware} (40 rounds), Power (39), Fintech/Insurtech (38), and Cleantech (28).
By way of funding quantity, the Well being sector remained dominant, securing 1.039 billion Swiss Francs—45% of whole startup investments.
Inside this sector, biotech startups attracted 703 million Swiss Francs, adopted by medtech (275 million), care (26 million), and life sciences (25 million).
Software program & Analytics startups secured the second-highest funding quantity at 397 million Swiss Francs, adopted by Fintech/Insurtech (193 million), {Hardware} (165 million), and Power (152 million).
Prime Ten Funded Swiss Startups in 2024
The Well being sector attracted the biggest investments, with biotech startups taking the highest 4 spots within the rankings:
Alentis Therapeutics – 158 million CHF
Asceneuron – 87 million CHF
Brilliant Peak Therapeutics – 80 million CHF
iOnctura – 77 million CHF
H55 (Mobility sector) – 65 million CHF
Neustark (Cleantech) – 61 million CHF
terralayr (Power) – 60 million CHF
Neo Medical (Medtech) – 58 million CHF
Neurosterix (Biotech) – 56 million CHF
SkyCell ({Hardware}) – 53 million CHF
For the primary time, the EY Startup Barometer Switzerland additionally ranked the Prime 5 AI-focused startups:
Lakera – 17 million CHF
EthonAI – 15 million CHF
Jua – 14 million CHF
Prem Labs – 12 million CHF
DeepJudge – 10 million CHF
Girls in Startups: All-Feminine Founding Groups on the Rise
Among the many 431 startups recorded with identified founding crew compositions, 30 (7%) had been based by all-female groups, whereas 76 (18%) had at the very least one feminine founder.
The bulk – 325 startups (75%) – had been based completely by males.
Though nonetheless a minority, the share of all-female founding groups elevated from 2% in 2023 to 7% in 2024.
The proportion of mixed-gender groups declined barely from 22% to 18%, whereas all-male founding groups remained secure.
Total, girls accounted for 14% of all startup founders (130 out of 919 people).
Geographical Developments and Worldwide Comparability
The canton of Zurich led within the variety of funding rounds (194), adopted by Romandie (151), Central Switzerland (71), and Mittelland (36).
Nevertheless, by way of funding quantity, Romandie topped the checklist with 751 million CHF, adopted by Zurich (712 million CHF) and Northwestern Switzerland (315 million CHF).
In a comparability with neighbouring international locations, Switzerland noticed the smallest decline in funding rounds (-6.7%), outperforming Germany (-12.3%) and Austria (-19%).
By way of whole funding quantity, Germany recorded a 17% enhance, whereas Switzerland (-15%) and Austria (-17%) noticed declines.
“Switzerland’s decline in financing rounds was extra reasonable in comparison with Germany and Austria, in keeping with anticipated market tendencies. Nevertheless, there are promising indicators forward, significantly in biotech and AI-related startups,”
stated Schatt.
Featured picture credit score: edited from freepik
