Startups in Vaud Canton raised CHF 548.6 million across 67 funding rounds in 2022, placing the canton second only to Zurich – and just ahead of Geneva – in terms of startup funding in Switzerland, according to figures published today in the Swiss Venture Capital Report 2022, prepared by Startupticker.ch in conjunction with the Swiss Private Equity & Corporate Finance Association (SECA) and startup.ch.
Investment in Swiss startups as a whole remained remarkably buoyant in 2022, with young firms raising CHF 4 billion – versus CHF 3 billion in 2021 – despite challenging conditions linked to inflation, the energy crisis, the conflict in Ukraine and global supply-chain issues.
“Total investment in startups in Vaud fell slightly in 2022 from 2021 levels” – see table below – “largely because the number of startup and scaleup exits in the canton hit a new high,” says Patrick Barbey, the director of Innovaud. “Without the takeovers, these firms would likely have attracted investment, adding to last year’s fundraising figures.” In 2022, some 13 startups and scaleups based in Vaud were acquired by private companies, either Swiss or foreign (see list below). This figure underscores Switzerland’s – and Vaud’s – reputation and attractiveness when it comes to technological innovation, economic strength, and academic research. “These exits demonstrate the proven appeal of our region to both entrepreneurs and investors,” says Barbey.