Mapping the Swiss Fintech Startup & Investor ecosystem
Startup landscape maps remain, in my opinion, one of the best ways to quickly scan an industry vertical and understand how it breaks down into sub sectors. In the financial industry, technology startups have multiple applications, from Mobile Banking Services (Peer-to-peer payments, Personal financial management) to Compliance (Anti-fraud, Risk mitigation solutions) and more. Here is my personal selection of Swiss Fintechs.
It is no wonder why a third of this study is focused on digital asset services, cryptocurrencies and blockchain applications for the financial industry. In recent years, Switzerland has become one of the world’s leading locations for blockchain companies.
Digital Asset Services
Companies in this category offer trading, prime brokerage, custody, lending and fundraising through digital assets. Notable examples:
- Bitcoin Suisse, Taurus: Platform to trade, invest, and protect your digital assets.
- Sygnum: Manage securities and raise capital more effectively by tokenising existing and new assets.
- Tokenstate: Tokenise assets for Real Estate transactions.
Cryptocurrencies
From Zürich to Zug, Switzerland's Crypto Valley is the most active region for digital asset and blockchain companies. Some of the most popular coins are based in this area. Notable examples:
- Ethereum: Platform and a programming language that helps developers to build and publish next-generation distributed applications.
- Cardano: Proof-of-stake blockchain platform.
Now let’s take a look at more traditional, VC-backed Fintech startups.
Fundraising & Loans
A lot of companies are popping up each year, creating platforms and allowing SMEs & enterprises to access/manage funds through debt or equity. Notable examples:
- LEND, Loanboox: Peer-to-peer lending platforms that connect investors with borrowers.
- Ledgy: Get your cap table and employee participation plans right.
Wealth & Asset Management
Swiss banks have been for a long time the main actors of Wealth Management, providing advisory services and structured portfolios for clients. Fintechs are now creating new democratised, user friendly, ESG-friendly solutions for clients to manage their our equity portfolios. Notable examples:
- Additiv: Multi-channel advisory and wealth management suite based on a single platform.
- Yova: Investment platform that enables users to achieve their financial goals by investing their savings 100% consistent with their values and lifestyle.
Other Fintechs in this space provide B2B solutions for Hedge Funds.
- AlgoTrader: Institutional-grade quantitative trading and trade execution solution for both traditional finance and crypto finance.
- Aaaccell: Optimises and manages portfolios with artificial intelligence and machine learning.
Mobile Banking Services
Fintech companies in this category cover all banking services, from payments to personal expense management and more. Notable examples:
- Alpian, eWise, Numbrs: Offers personal financial management and account aggregation solutions.
- Bluecode: Mobile payment solution that combines contactless payment via smartphone with digital value-added services.
- Neon: Neo bank that provides banking services with cheaper fees.
Compliance
Technology applied to finance also includes providing financial institutions and banks with solutions to reduce their risk of financial misconduct. Notable examples:
- NetGuardians: Anti-fraud and risk mitigation solutions.
- Polixis: AML, sanctions and KYC automation software, designed for both Front Office and Compliance teams.
Insurtech
Companies in this category are attempting to digitalise the insurance industry. Notable examples:
- Vlot: Financial life risk analysis, life insurance coverage and dynamic life planning solutions.
- Knip: Innovative digital insurance manager for an easy-to-understand overview of existing insurance policies, tariffs and services.
TLDR? :)
Check out the full list here : Swiss Fintech Startups List (source : crunchbase)
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