The TOP Swiss Security Startups 2021

In our digital world, data is a precious resource—and a popular target of attacks and abuse. Security measures, high-end technology, and training ensure that our digital data is not only protected but can also be authenticated and processed securely and accurately. Our last vertical overview looks at the nine TOP 100 startups that impressed the TOP 100 Jury and the public with their innovative security solutions that keep our data and networks safe.

The TOP 100 Swiss Startup Award showcases the most promising Swiss startups. The annual ranking has become a benchmark in Switzerland’s startup ecosystem—and beyond. Every year, a panel of 100 leading investors and startup experts chooses the 100 most innovative and promising Swiss startups. Each jury member nominates 10 Swiss startups that are less than five years old and show the greatest commercial potential. The first-placed company gets 10 points, the second nine points, and so on. The individual rankings are compiled to generate the final TOP 100 Swiss Startup Award ranking. In parallel, the TOP 100 Public Voting allows everyone with a LinkedIn account can cast one vote and choose the most promising startup per vertical.

Discover the nine security startups that impressed the TOP 100 Jury and the public the most and were among the TOP 100 Swiss Startups 2021:



10. Exeon Analytics
Exeon Analytics is an ETH spin-off that protects enterprise IT landscapes through AI-driven security analytics. The alarm system of the Zurich-based startup is designed as a software-as-a-service (SaaS) solution, and no sensor or hardware installation is required to begin operation in a network: ExeonTrace leverages the existing infrastructure to quickly detect and eliminate cyber threats and add to corporate cyber resilience through the most advanced Network Detection and Response technology.

21. Futurae Technologies 
Banks, insurance companies, government agencies, and health organizations manage the authentication and transactions of millions of customers via Futurae Technologies’ platform. It enables valuable user data to be backed up with fraud detection in real time. At the start of 2021, Futurae announced the completion of a financing round of CHF 5 million.

24. Skribble 
Zurich-based company Skribble, founded in 2018, enables documents to be signed digitally in a legally compliant manner. Its customers include large companies such as Canon, Helvetia, and easyJet, and since spring 2021, an authority has also been on board for the first time: The town of Zug relies on Skribble’s technology for digital signatures. A financing round carried out in summer 2020 is intended to drive expansion in Germany.

33. Decentriq
More and more business models are based on data collection and analysis. Zurich-based company Decentriq has recognized this and operates a Software-as-a-Service platform on which companies can jointly evaluate fully encrypted data. In autumn 2020, just over a year after it was founded, the startup had already raised USD 3.8 million in venture capital from Europe and the US.

42. PXL Vision
The AI-based mobile phone software from the Zurich startup allows identity verification without a physical presence—solely on the basis of a selfie, an ID, or a passport. PXL Vision’s customers include ZKB and Sunrise. In November 2020, the two founders Michael Born and Karim Nemr won the EY Entrepreneur of the Year Award in the “Emerging Entrepreneur” category.

58. Threatray
Targeted digital attacks on critical infrastructure and large companies have become a real threat to the economy and society. Threatray, a spin-off from Bern University of Applied Sciences (BFH), markets a search and analysis machine for cyberspace threats. In the event of an attack, the tool allows conclusions to be drawn about the originator and provides information on possible countermeasures.

73. CYSEC
The pandemic-induced trend toward remote work has put data security at the top of the list of priorities for many companies, benefiting firms such as CYSEC. It markets a high-security server for sensitive data and applications and was able to double its sales last year. Customers from financial services, IoT, astronautics, and telecommunications are likely to generate triple-digit growth again in 2021.

75. Anapaya
The internet has a massive security problem. Thousands of companies worldwide are concerned with ensuring the availability and integrity of data and services. At ETH Zurich, the problem has been approached more fundamentally: A team led by Professor Adrian Perrig has developed a completely new internet architecture called SCION. The technology has been commercialized by Anapaya Systems, and the ETH spin-off now operates data centers throughout Europe and several Asian countries.

Public Voting: Prodaft 
Prodaft protects citizens, businesses, and governments from major security threats by providing timely and accurate information: The startup monitors thousands of incidents every day and creates digital fingerprints of cybercriminals. Yverdon-les-bains-based Prodaft supports customers with a range of services that include cyberattack drills, penetration testing, advanced code review, and digital forensics.