Switzerland attracts global investors at TOP 100 Investor Summit 2024

The eighth edition of the TOP 100 Investor Summit became a meeting ground for both entrepreneurs and investors. Handpicked TOP 100 startups that are raising a financing round pitched their innovations to global startup investors. The invitation-only event fostered inspiring presentations, dynamic discussions, and in-person networking. The TOP 100 Investor Summit 2024 at Unlimitrust Campus in Lausanne was organized by Venturelab and supported by Kellerhals Carrard, Canton of Vaud, and Zürcher Kantonalbank.

"The TOP 100 Swiss Startup Awards is a standout event where you can meet investors face to face, creating a level of engagement that's hard to achieve through email. It offers a unique chance to connect personally, allowing investors to get to know you beyond just your pitch. As a founder, I’m looking for investors who not only believe in innovative technology but also in the vision and team driving it. September is the perfect time to make these vital connections as investors return to their activities with renewed focus," said Alexander Kvasov, Co-Founder and CTO of CREAL at the eighth TOP 100 Investor Summit 2024.

CREAL, which already ranked among the TOP 100 Swiss Startups from 2018 to 2022, has joined numerous other founders of TOP 100 startups at Unlimitrust Campus in Lausanne, all to establish networks and intensify existing contacts with professional investors.

More than 100 international angels, venture capital investors, corporate VCs, and family office representatives from Europe, America, and Asia took part in the event, which was open only to accredited investors. In total, they brought CHF 22 billion in investment capital to the table. The event brought them together with hand-picked TOP 100 startups – at both the seed stage and the growth stage.

Empowering investment decisions with AI
Venture capital investors provide the means for ambitious entrepreneurs to unlock extraordinary potential through technology, yet the VC industry itself is one of the least digitized in the world. Traditionally, venture capitalists have relied heavily on intuition and personal networks to identify investment opportunities. While these methods have led to notable successes, they are inherently limited by human biases and the inability to effectively process vast amounts of information. Jordi Montserrat, Managing Partner of Venturelab, moderated the investor panel with Michelle Tschumi, Leif Danielsen, Ara Yeromian, and Simone Lavizzari and discussed how AI-powered tools can assist in the screening and due diligence process, allowing venture capitalists to evaluate startups more efficiently and accurately.

"At ZKB, we've been investing in early-stage companies for 20 years, supporting 290 startups along the way. For us, venture capital is deeply rooted in human connections. We focus on understanding the team dynamics and trusting our instincts. While we do analyze data and leverage machine learning for portfolio insights, our approach remains profoundly personal and relationship-driven," highlights Michelle Tschumi, Head of Startup Finance at Zürcher Kantonalbank (ZKB).

“Building a venture fund and developing a strong track record enable you to collect valuable data over time. For new funds, it’s crucial to plan for data collection and use AI to identify trends and enhance efficiency,” continues Leif Danielsen, General Partner at Acequia Capital.

A Mentimeter survey revealed that 17% of respondents use AI for investment decisions, while 58% still rely on traditional human judgment.


Michelle Tschumi, Leif Danielsen, Ara Yeromian, Simone Lavizzari, and Jordi Montserrat

The next Swiss unicorns
Switzerland is regularly at the top of global innovation rankings. One reason for this is innovative companies, which in turn benefit from excellent research at Swiss universities. However, the crucial ingredient, the yeast in the dough so to speak, is the entrepreneurial spirit, as embodied by the founders of Swiss unicorns Climeworks, GetYourGuide, MindMaze, Scandit, and Sophia Genetics. All these companies had been in the TOP 100 Swiss Startups rankings. The 100-strong jury of experts had recognised their potential very early on.

When the most promising Swiss startup entrepreneurs meet the best international investors at the TOP 100 Investor Summit to discuss business models and investment strategies, the list of Swiss unicorns always gets a little longer.
 

"We’ve received incredible support from Venturelab, starting with the Venture Leaders Fintech program in 2023, where we had the opportunity to connect with numerous investors. Now, with our inclusion in the TOP 100, we’re seeing even more attention from both investors and potential clients thanks to the valuable networking opportunities provided." As Stefan Klauser, CEO & Co-Founder of Aisot, shared, "I’m optimistic that Aisot will attract new investors and that our ranking will advance our negotiations."

The TOP 100 Investor Summit 2024 was organized by Venturelab and supported by Kellerhals Carrard, Canton of Vaud, and Zürcher Kantonalbank. Read the Swiss Venture Insights Report or subscribe to the Startup Funding newsletter to stay ahead on fundraising news.