Hello, Kickstart Family!
It’s been an exhilarating fortnight for Kickstart! Leading the charge, our CEO & Co-Founder, Katka Letzing, took to Geneva with our 2023 scaleup Pelt8, and partners PostFinance & Impact Hub Geneva. There, she played a pivotal role in the Building Bridges initiative – a remarkable endeavor championing sustainable finance, not only in our home turf of Switzerland but also on a global scale.
Now, speaking of global endeavors, our corridors buzzed with energy as we welcomed not one but two dynamic innovation delegations — from the vibrant city-state of Singapore and the esteemed Embassy of Spain in Switzerland. It's collaborations like these that truly amplify our global connection and reinforce our commitment to international ties.
On another front, we made our mark at the Trust Valley Day 2023. It was a phenomenal experience aligning with some of the brightest minds in cybersecurity and digital trust within Switzerland. Additionally, we had the privilege of hosting a delegation from TotalEnergies at Kraftwerk, synchronizing with the beginning of their Learning Expedition (LEX) here in our thriving Swiss ecosystem.
Finally, a nod to our Health & Wellbeing team: they recently curated an illuminating session led by Bernhard Bichsel and Annalisa Macagno, diving deep into Swiss MedTech Regulation and QMS Frameworks. If there's ever a team to demystify the complexities of MedTech, it's them!
Thank you for being part of our journey. Here's to more shared milestones and stories in our next update. Your Kickstart team!
Vertical News
FINANCE AND INSURANCE
Kickstart alumni Calvin Risk announced their collaboration with UK insurer Aviva, to explore ways to make Artificial Intelligence safe, transparent, and trustworthy.
Kickstart alumni Monkee has announced two new partners - Shaping New Tomorrow and Secret Escapes offering a host of collaborations.
Kickstart alumni Riskwolf was selected as one of the 10 pioneering InsurTech by Boston Consulting Group (BCG) and to drive towards insurance for all in India.
FOOD AND RETAIL
Kern Tec, Kickstart alumni, has secured €12 million in Series A funding. The funding will be used to upscale the production and commercialization of sustainable ingredients derived from upcycled stone fruit pits.
HEALTH AND WELLBEING
PIPRA, aimed at preventing delirium with their AI technology, won the CSS award at the Digital Health Day.
Sanitas released its 2023 Health Forecast, offering 400+ pages of invaluable content related to health and wellbeing.
QuantActions was awarded a Future of Health grant of CHF10’000 to develop their app to detect subtle cognitive changes, allowing for earlier care.
NEW WORK AND LEARNING
On Oct. 19, Kickstart hosted a conference on the not-so-typical Future(s) of Work designed for HR professionals, leaders and entrepreneurs who are looking for practical solutions to today's workplace challenges.
In a knowledge-sharing session, we had the opportunity to host a delegation from Institute for Adult Learning of Singapore to exchange the best practices for adult learning. Startups from our current batch had the opportunity to show how innovation and new technologies can support and enhance this process.
SMART CITIES
Our Swiss climate tech startup Viboo has secured €1.6 million in seed funding to advance its Predictive Control as a Service platform (PCaaS). The funds will be used to scale Viboo's technology, targeting light commercial buildings in urban areas.
Enerdrape (from Sion) entered the Top 100 Swiss Startups ranking #83, and Urbio (from Lausanne) was listed #53 for the third consecutive year.
Granular Energy has secured €7.5 million in funding led by Norrsken VC to further develop its software, helping utilities manage energy certificates and promoting cleaner energy choices.
Ecosystem News
Hong Kong FinTech Week
For 7 years, Hong Kong FinTech Week (HKFTW) has been a pivotal industry event. This year, with 30,000 attendees, 500+ speakers, and 700+ exhibitors, it's the go-to for finance-tech insights. Theme: "FinTech Redefined", emphasizing policy, web2 to web3 transition, AI, and tech for inclusion & green finance. As an official supporter, we offer a 15% discount with code KSI-DISCOUNT. Get tickets and join us!
Kraftwerk Christmas Dinner
This year, our partner Kraftwerk has special Christmas celebrations for you. Enjoy a festive Apéro or 3-course Fondue Dinner in their iconic setting. For exclusive events, contact Kraftwerk's booking team. Offerings are available on select dates in November and December. Check the website for details. Book early to secure your spot for the holiday season!
Upcoming Events
New Roots VIP Tour - October 22 @ Oberdiessbach - Invitation only
Global Tech Summit - November 14 - Register here
Kickstart Executive Dinner Geneva - November 21 - Invitation only
Kickstart Investor Summit - November 23 @ Kraftwerk - Invitation only
Kickstart Closing Ceremony - November 23 @ Kraftwerk - Invitation only
Kickstart Closing Party - November 23 @ Kraftwerk - Register here
