As one of the largest and most active investors in Switzerland, we have already supported over 250 start-ups with more than CHF 180 million in risk capital.
Advantages of start-up and scale-up financing
- Specialist expertise: So far, we have participated in over 250 start-ups and have many years of experience in financing start-ups.
- First-class banking services: You benefit from modern payment solutions and receive the ZKB Inclusive Gold banking package free of charge as well as advice from our specialists.
- Different financing options: Depending on your financial needs, we support you with equity capital or convertible loans.
- Possibility of follow-up investments: Neben unserem Erstinvestment in einer frühen Phase sind bei guter Unternehmensentwicklung auch Folgeinvestments, wie zum Beispiel in der Scale-up Phase, möglich.
Zürcher Kantonalbank as an investor
We have many years of experience in financing start-ups and maintain a close network of experts, potential investors and technology centres. We specialise in getting involved with start-ups at an early stage.
Criteria for start-up or scale-up financing
Young companies that meet the following criteria are eligible for start-up or scale-up financing:
- The company is in a start-up or scale-up phase.
- The company is based in Switzerland.
- The company is working on an innovative product or service. It therefore offers a product, a service or a sales model that does not yet exist on the market in this form.
- Young entrepreneurs can present a prototype or proof of concept and a fully developed business plan. The first sales may already be generated in the scale-up phase, depending on the sector.
Different financing options
According to our analysis of your company, financing is possible in the start-up phase with a volume of between CHF 200'000.– and CHF 1'000'000.– and in the scale-up phase between CHF 800'000.– and CHF 1'500'000.–. We typically invest together with co-investors. Zürcher Kantonalbank supports start-ups with equity capital or convertible loans.
- Equity: Zürcher Kantonalbank has the possibility to participate in the start-up's equity in promising projects. Here, we do not aim to hold any board of directors mandates and do not actively participate in operational management. We leave the majority of shares and the entrepreneurial capacity to act with management or our co-investors. We see ourselves as a long-term investor with a time horizon of five to eight years.
- Convertible loans: A convertible loan is debt that can be converted into equity by the investor at a later date. The conversion is usually linked to milestones such as the next financing round. The loan debt is subject to annual interest and, if it is not converted, is repaid at the end of the term. Interest is usually capitalised.