Tokyo (SCCIJ) – The young biotech company Haya Therapeutics has taken the crown in the “TOP 100 Swiss Startup Ranking 2023”, followed by the meat substitute developer Planted. The third place in the annual competition went to the financial platform Yokoy.
Haya Therapeutics, Planted, and Yokoy were chosen as the best three Swiss start-ups of 2023 (© TOP 100 Swiss Startup Award).
Innovation and entrepreneurship
Held at the Startup Space in Schlieren and orchestrated by Venturelab in collaboration with partners Credit Suisse and Swiss Venture Club, the 13th edition of the TOP 100 Swiss Startup Award with 41 new nominees showcased Switzerland’s relentless drive to foster innovation and entrepreneurship. Start-ups contribute to the present and future prosperity by creating almost 18,000 jobs in the past 13 years.
The winner of 2023, Haya Therapeutics, is developing a precision drug to treat cardiac fibrosis caused by cardiovascular diseases, which is currently incurable. In fibrosis, the fibrotic tissue, which is responsible for wound healing, multiplies rapidly. In cardiac fibrosis, the heart wall thickens, and its performance decreases, which can lead to heart failure. Apart from heart transplantation, there are currently hardly any effective treatment alternatives.
The Lausanne-based biotech is one of the first companies in the world to get things moving: in 2017, the team led by molecular biologist Samir Ounzain identified the trigger for cardiac fibrosis at the University Hospital of Lausanne. It is a long, non-coding RNA molecule called Wisper. Based on these findings, they developed a tailor-made drug, which is currently in the preclinical testing phase.
Plant-based meat
The second place in this year’s start-up ranking went to Planted Foods. The ETH spin-off produces plant-based meat that is being used by more and more retailers, canteens, restaurants, and takeaways. Planted combines proprietary structuring and fermentation technologies to produce meat from plant proteins, focusing on meaty and juicy texture.
Committed to using only natural and clean ingredients and no additives in all its products, Planted is setting a completely new standard in the plant-based meat category, making it a healthy and sustainable choice for all. Planted’s principal meat production is in a glass-house production facility in Kemptthal (Zurich).
Automated accounting
Third place went to the platform Yokoy, which facilitates many accounting processes for companies. The Swiss fintech company, formerly named Expense Robot, founded in 2019 uses artificial intelligence to automate the entire corporate spend and corporate credit card process.
Yokoy already has over 500 customers, including companies such as Stadler Rail, On Running, Bobst, Zühlke, and BDO. In June 2021, Yokoy expanded its software offering, making the step from an expense tool to comprehensive automation of the entire spend management, and expanded further with an office in Munich.
The full ranking can be found here.
