Sixteen fast-growing high-tech Swiss companies from various industries have been selected to participate in the 3rd round of the LeadiNNg to Scale Up program, which kicked off on 23 January 2024 at IMD.IMD and Innovaud have been supporting startups for many years through initiatives such as the IMD Startup Competition and Scale Up Vaud programs. In 2022, the longtime partner institutions decided to launch the LeadiNNg to Scale Up program to fill a gap in Switzerland’s innovation support ecosystem.The 3rd cohort of LeadiNNG to Scale-up was launched on 23 January 2024. 16 companies represented by their CEOs and co-founders gathered for the first session on the IMD campus. AICA – Baptiste Busch: An adaptable software solution that simplifies industrial robot programming and manufacturing. (Robotics - Vaud). Artifact - Montassar BenMrad: Broad set of expertise in the field of data science and Al services, across several industries. (Al/Data Sciences - Vaud)

Lendity Growth is a new offer in the tech financing scene, providing loans to growing tech startups. More than CHF 60 million in loans have been granted across Lendity’s strategies since 2018, with Smeetz, the provider of an AI-powered pricing system for the attraction industry, being the most recent recipient of a Lendity Growth loan.The dynamics of the venture capital markets are leading to the rise of a new form of fundraising among startups: debt financing has become particularly attractive for growth-stage companies. Lendity, active in the SME lending space since 2018, recently launched Lendity Growth to provide growth-stage companies access to long-term non-dilutive debt funding as a bridge to their next (potentially larger) financing round or to reach profitability. Similar to a venture capital firm, Lendity Growth is backed by limited partners and offers initial debt funding of up to CHF 3 million per company, although the amounts can increase as the companies grow. “From a funding perspective, 2024 will be the reality-check year for Swiss startups since many will need to raise again or go out of business. Unicorn-potential Swiss scaleups with exponential growth will likely accept the adjusted valuations and dilution that come with equity since they need to burn large amounts that other funding sources won’t provide

Thirteen high-tech companies have joined the Scale Up Vaud program this year. A total of 50 Vaud-based firms are now part of the program, and together they raised more than CHF 525 million in capital in 2022. Since they were founded, they’ve created nearly 3,500 jobs in Switzerland and some adittional 4,900 jobs abroad.Since the Scale Up Vaud program was introduced by Innovaud in 2016, it has helped scores of promising young businesses grow rapidly and create jobs (over 8,400 highly skilled positions in Switzerland and around the world). The program now counts 50 scale-ups, including 13 additions this year. The newly added comapies are:Aequivalent (ICT, HR): Switzerland’s leading digital platform for job-applicant screening (background checks)Bloom Biorenewables (cleantech): Technology for turning residue biomass into sustainable alternatives to petroleum for a range of industriesClearSpace (spacetech): Autonomous systems for treating and removing space debrisCREAL (ICT): Unique light-field technology that projects virtual images with genuine depth, allowing virtual and real-world objects to overlay seamlesslyCYSEC (ICT, cybersecurity): Data security software enabling secure communications from space to earthDaphne Technology (cleantech): Climate technology for measuring and reducing greenhouse gas emissions from industrial sourcesInpher (ICT, cybersecurity): Encryption in-use technology that unlocks the value of data in a secure, private and compliant mannerInsolight (cleantech): Creators of Insolagrin - a dynamic agrivoltaic solution to produce both agriculture and electricity on the same landSamanTree Medical (life science, medtech): Novel imaging methods and data analytics software for improving cancer treatmentSwibeco (ICT, HR): Enterprise software for Swiss companies that centralizes the management of employee benefitsTalent.com (ITC, HR): International job aggregator that leverages innovation to deliver a seamless job search and recruitment experienceSensile Technologies (ICT, IoT): Remote tank-monitoring systems for the oil, gas and chemicals industriesSmeetz (ICT, AI): AI-powered pricing system for the attraction industry that captures data points along the customer journey to drive revenue growth and optimize operationsScale-up Vaud forms a community of over 150 members who meet regularly at events initially designed for CEOs but which have since expanded to include specific gatherings for HR managers, CFOs and CTOs. These events provide a unique opportunity for entrepreneurs to discuss common challenges they face in this critical phase of their business development.Jean-Pierre Pennacino, the Vice President of Finance at MedAlliance (which was acquired in 2022 for more than $1 billion), says: “The Scale Up Vaud program structured by Innovaud has been a great opportunity for me personally to network with peer CEOs and CFOs on our common challenges and opportunities