inno-fuel overview of western switzerland's startup ecosystem (2017)
TRANSCRIPT
SWITZERLAND BASED
GLOBALLY MINDED
ACCELERATING INNOVATION
FOR STARTUPS & CORPORATES
Overview of Western Switzerland’s Startup Ecosystem
2017
Closing the innovation gap: agenda
▪ Global Perspective
▪ Education
▪ Transferring Technology
▪ Start-Up Scene
▪ National Support
▪ Western Switzerland
▪ Geneva/Vaud …
▪ Take-aways
2017 2
Global PerspectiveSwitzerland’s specificities
STABLE
• Democratic• Stable political
system• No unions• Low government
debt• Favorable corporate
tax system
QUALITY
• Leading research institutions
• Highly qualified workforce
• Effective technology transfer
• Many expatriates from many countries
• “Swiss Made” commands a significant premium
NEUTRAL
• Member of the EFTA but not the EU
• Member of Partnership for Peace (PfP) but not NATO
• Strong personal data protection: Swiss Federal Data Protection Act (DPA) and the related Data Protection Ordinance (DPO)
CONNECTED
• 100+ double tax treaties
• 77 commerce based treaties (Intellectual Property, International Trade…)
• Strong relations with European Union
• Multi-lingual environment
• Located at the heart of Europe
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EducationSwitzerland excels in education – the bedrock of its leadership in innovation:
2 national research universities: Lausanne (EPFL) and Zurich (ETH)
1 World renowned Art/Design College
6 technology colleges
A National Apprenticeship Model (~100,000 apprentices)
4 universities with a full range of degrees
IMDWorld Leading Business School
EHLGlobal Leader in Hospitality Management
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Transferring technology
▪ Each technology education institution (TEI) seeks to commercialize its research▪ TEIs use technology transfer offices (TTO) that are independent from the TEI▪ The TEI is motivated to work with companies by the government’s CTI/KTI scheme▪ This funds public (TEI) / private (company) partnerships to solve ‘problems’▪ The TEI receives the funds and hires the employees to work with the company▪ The Intellectual Property (IP) belongs to the initiator (TEI or company)▪ The TEI then licenses its IP through the TTO to the company▪ The company secures funding for applied research and access to IP and leading
academics▪ The TEI receives financing for the IP it develops
Sample TTOs:▪ CETT : HES-SO Engineering School : http://www.heig-vd.ch/rad/cett▪ Pactt : Lausanne University : http://www.pactt.ch/▪ Switt : Swiss Association : http://www.switt.ch/about_switt/
Switzerland commercializes its World Class science, taking its innovations to market:
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Startup scene - 1Switzerland is decentralized and the Startup ecosystem is a little fragmented …
Federal initiatives
Multi-Cantonal initiatives (Western Switzerland)
Cantonal initiatives
Communal / District initiatives
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Startup scene - 2A wide range of available support through early stages
Incubators
Office space and key support services
Seed financing
Grants, from CHF 10K to CHF 1M, for research and prototype construction.
Cantonal financing
Market research, IP filing … usually capped at CHF 200K
Legal
There are many IP attorneys and lawyers for Startups
Subsidized services
Subsidized coaches, trainers and courses
Infrastructure investment loans
Available up to CHF 5M
Bank debt security
With revenues, CHF 500K loans are available
Growth phase
Startups have to rely on private finance to cross the ‘Valley of Death’
Prizes
Local prizes for entrepreneurs around CHF 1K to 100K
Other support
Recruitment grants, free office space…
GR
OW
TH
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National support
For fundamental research in research centers http://www.snf.ch
National bank credithttp://www.cautionnements-pme.ch/Western Switzerland financial support http://www.cautionnementromand.ch/
Various support mechanisms:CTI – Entrepreneurship : http://www.cti-entrepreneurship.ch/en/Venture Lab : http://www.venturelab.ch/CTI- Invest : http://www.cti-invest.ch/Home.aspxVentureKick :http://www.venturekick.ch
Access to international marketshttp://www.s-ge.com
Local centers for start-ups and researchers in key locations
http://www.swissnex.org
European research programs, such as: Horizon 2020 https://www.euresearch2020Eureka : http://www.eurekanetwork.org/
Bank credits for green technologieshttp://www.fonds-de-technologie.ch/
Bank credit for female entrepreneurs http://www.saffa.ch/fr/
Bank credit for tourism http://www.sgh.ch/fr/
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Western Switzerland - 1
Attracts Foreign Direct Investment http://ggba-switzerland.ch/fr/
CDEP-SOPlatformsSupport sectors through events,assist start-ups to reach largerplayers and develop players alongthe value chain (research,education, companies, …)
Life Sciences:http://www.bioalps.org/
Micro/Nano-technologies:
http://www.micronarc.ch/
Information Technologies & Telecommunication:
http://www.alpict.com/en/
Green Technologies:
http://www.cleantech-alps.com/en/
Coordinates economic dev.in Western Switzerland : funds these institutions .... http://www.cdep-so.ch/en
Offers Coaching and Mentoring Support http://www.platinn.ch/
An industrial liaison program : develops synergies and R&D projectshttp://www.alliance-tt.ch/en/accueil
Matches Innovation Finance with M&A https://matchinvest.ch/
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Western Switzerland - 2
Promotes Innovation in Life Scienceshttp://inartis.ch/
Supporting Life Sciences in Valaishttp://espacec.ch/
Prototyping Workshopshttps://univercite.ch/
US Accelerator Programhttp://masschallenge.org/programs/switzerland
Advancing Biotechnology in Genevahttp://www.campusbiotech.ch/en/
Presentation Skills Workshopshttp://www.startinnov.ch
Incubator and Science Park http://epfl-
innovationpark.ch/
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Vaud GenevaTech chamber of commerce
http://www.opi.ch/
Coaches and mentors
http://www.genilem.ch/
Advice: does not fundhttp://www.innovaud.ch/en/
Provides information and Tax advice http://www.codev.ch/
Techno park with incubator and tax benefitshttps://www.y-parc.ch/en/
Lends to chosen start-upshttp://www.fondation-fit.ch/
Separately, EPFL Innogrant : http://vpiv.epfl.ch/innogrant
InnoTeck (UNIL / CHUV) http:/innotrek/
Techno Park targeting Aerospace/Aviation http://www.aeropole.ch/en/
Support for Life Science Industry http://www.biopole.ch/
Funds mature companies http://www.fae-ge.ch/site/fr/
Lends to startupshttp://www.fae-ge.ch/site/fr/
Life Science Incubatorhttp://www.eclosion.com/
Tech Incubatorhttp://www.fongit.ch/
Seed Financehttp://wpfsi.fongitseedinvest.com/
Develops the economyhttps://ge.ch/ecoguichetpmepmi/
Fintech acceleratorPossible finance via Polytech Ventureshttps://fintechfusion.ch/
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Take-aways▪ Local banks take fewer risks and there are not many venture investors so later stage funding is
harder to findHowever … early stage seed financing is readily available
▪ There is a small market However … a huge network of multinational companies that undertake pilot projects
▪ Proto-typing companies are not so commonHowever ... CTI grants can open doors to Application Research Labs
▪ Share options are currently taxed, private finances must be separate from company financials and you need to tread carefully re treatment of ‘sweat equity’ and the valuation of equityHowever ... tax treatment can be favorable with no tax on capital gains from shares and generous treatment of expenses
Do not mix actions taken as a Shareholder, as a Board Director and as a Manager and beware Swiss rules on over-indebtedness (Code of Obligations’ article 725)
Build a strong main board and advisory board :there are many very good candidates available locally
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Inno-Fuel : the sparkWe're a small and growing network of experts:
Are you an entrepreneur, investor or interested in open innovation and technology?Do you have a strong market or technology expertise?
What are you waiting for, let's meet !
Alexandre is a hands-on, result-oriented person with a strong sense of entrepreneurialism and calculated risk taking anda background in designing and executing innovation strategies.
He has a strong track record of value creation using co-creation and open innovation to build innovation processes,people networks and value models.
Driving external innovation with start-up companies requires a specific skill set, a highly specialized network of expertsand a hybrid business model: Alexandre founded Inno-Fuel to achieve this.
Alexandre GrutmanCo-Founder and CEO
2017 13
Inno-Fuel : advisory boardAn entrepreneurial team fluent in English, French, Dutch, Spanish and Italian
Jérôme VasamilletFintech –Wealth Management focus
Raymond PalmenB2B – business leader in blue-chip corporations
Dominique TombeurB2B – business leader in blue-chip corporations and distribution business
Kevin TholkeFintech – Payments focus
Dave BrownEarly Stage Investing
Eric MaireTech and International Expansion
Colin TurnerCorporate Venture Capital and Angel Funding
2017 14
Early stage sourcing, investing and coaching leadership
• External innovation focus• Start-up/early stage investing DNA and ecosystem (30+)• Value creation & initiative taking• Hybrid entrepreneurial business model • Extensive expertise in various industry value chains
‘We fuel the innovation ecosystem’
Closing the innovation gap
Rue des Marchandises 13 - 1260 Nyon - SwitzerlandT: +41 (0) 22 361 23 44 W: www.inno-fuel.com
@Inno_fuelhttps://www.linkedin.com/company/inno-fuel
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