2026 Investor Outlook: Growth, Funding, and Risk in Swiss Startups

From AI-enabled industrial systems and deep tech commercialization to capital efficiency, team quality, and go-to-market execution, the perspectives collected here offer a grounded outlook on what will matter most in 2026 for startups preparing to enter the funding landscape and engage with investors. 

The following profiles introduce the people behind the perspectives shared in this outlook.

What trends or technologies will drive startup investing in 2026? 

Investors expect 2026 to be shaped by the convergence of advanced intelligence, physical infrastructure, and strategic relevance in a more complex geopolitical environment. 

Diego Braguglia, Managing Partner, VI Partners: 

“Companies that combine biotech with AI—AI-driven drug development, diagnostics, precision medicine—will redefine the sector.” 

Dorian Loosli, Investment Manager, Innovationfund Schwyzer Kantonalbank: 

“Switzerland’s strong academic ecosystem and skilled talent support deep-tech innovation, but startups must focus on practical applications and capital-efficient growth to stay competitive.” 

Georgette Schmid, Investment Manager, Helvetica Capital: 

“Switzerland is already a well-established global innovation leader benefitting from its attractive environment with leading research institutions and universities, a stable political and financial environment and a strong legal framework. 

As such, Switzerland was able to establish itself as a particularly strong player in the healthcare, engineering and deep-tech sector, which I expect to continuously grow, and which will be shaped by a strong and growing underlying AI-component. Hence, we see AI ‘everywhere’ but being verticalized and embedded in various Swiss-leading industries and thus a mainstream investment thesis. 

Specifically, I see an increase in digital therapeutics, where insurers begin pilots reimbursing digital therapeutics for chronic conditions and where hospitals are looking for solutions, which are directly integrating with their existing medical workflow. Another trend in 2026 might be an increase of regulated AI-ventures, which are specifically built for enterprises to pass particular audits, such as required for pharma, banking and insurance. This innovation supports trust in AI usage and increases its application for red-flag detection for regulated industries.” 

“Companies that combine biotech with AI—AI-driven drug development, diagnostics, precision medicine—will redefine the sector.” Diego Braguglia, VI Partners 

Which factors will matter most in investment decisions in 2026? 

As capital becomes more selective, investors emphasize fundamentals, execution, and early commercial proof alongside technological differentiation. 

Georges Khneysser, Founder, QBIT Capital: 

“Technological depth, capital efficiency, and a clear path to real-world deployment. Investors will prioritise teams that combine scientific credibility with the ability to build products that customers can adopt relatively quickly. In deep tech specifically, the quality of the underlying research and the strategic relevance of the problem will carry more weight than ever. For us, the key signal is this: does the startup have a breakthrough that can actually scale into a durable business, not just a promising lab result?” 

Georgette Schmid, Investment Manager, Helvetica Capital: 

“This is strongly linked to where investors place their main focus in 2026. I assume that capital efficiency and cost-discipline will be very strongly analyzed and evaluated when investing in 2026. 

Investors want to see low burn rates and a clear path to profitability without spending significant amounts for growth. 

Another factor, which has always been important but has a stronger focus now, will be a measurable customer value—does the company support its customers in saving money ultimately, and can they create a quantifiable return on their investment? 

Of course, the above-mentioned scalability will be deeply analysed, as well as the company’s IP portfolio. 

Personally, I find the evaluation of the team extremely important and something I enjoy doing. As an investor, we put our bet in the hands of the team.” 

Wanja Humanes, CEO and Managing Partner, Kickfund: 

“Scientific depth and defensibility, early commercial traction, and sound capital efficiency will be the primary drivers of investment decisions in 2026. AI-readiness is now a baseline expectation - founders simply need to use these tools to operate more effectively. While resilience, clarity, and adaptability remain essential traits, early traction still carries the most weight with investors. Swiss founding teams today are exceptionally strong - often beyond the traditionally humble, low-key Swiss stereotype - yet the quality of what they build remains extremely high, fuelled by an academic pipeline that continues to deliver globally leading-edge technologies.” 

“Does the startup have a breakthrough that can actually scale into a durable business, not just a promising lab result?” Georges Khneysser, QBIT Capital 

Where will investors place their main focus in 2026: efficiency, scaling, or innovation? 

Rather than a single priority, investors describe a stage-dependent balance shaped by execution maturity and market context. 

Dorian Loosli, Investment Manager, Innovationfund Schwyzer Kantonalbank: 

“In 2026, I expect investors to focus primarily on efficiency. After several years of rapid experimentation—especially in AI—the priority is shifting toward solutions that deliver clear, measurable operational improvements. Scaling will matter only for products that have already demonstrated solid fundamentals, while innovation will be valued mainly when it translates into practical usability. 

Unfortunately, I also believe that overall investment levels will remain stable low and will not increase, with capital being allocated more selectively toward technologies that show immediate and tangible impact.” 

Georges Khneysser, Founder, QBIT Capital: 

“I believe investors will shift their focus toward innovation and efficiency rather than pure scaling. The market has realised that scaling without strong fundamentals is expensive and unsustainable. What will matter most are solid architectures, new algorithms, and solutions that deliver tangible performance gains—not just bigger models. Scaling will still happen, but as a consequence of strong innovation, not a substitute for it. For us at QBIT, this plays to our strengths: backing founders who rethink how things should be built, from compute and photonics to AI methods and advanced materials.” 

Georgette Schmid, Investment Manager, Helvetica Capital: 

“Overall, it definitely needs a good share of all of them. However, considering that fundraising continued to be quite challenging in 2025, I believe efficiency will likely have a larger focus, followed by scaling and leaving innovation in third place. 

For investors, it is crucial to see that their portfolio companies can work capital-efficiently and cut costs quickly if required. 

Scaling is another key focus as investors want start-ups to showcase measurable traction and relatively fast internationalization. 

Innovation is still important and drives the companies underlyingly, yet innovation is no longer sufficient on its own to invest into a company.” 

“Overall, it definitely needs a good share of all of them. However, considering that fundraising continued to be quite challenging in 2025, I believe efficiency will likely have a larger focus.” Georgette Schmid, Helvetica Capital 

What are the key opportunities and threats for the Swiss startup ecosystem? 

Switzerland is widely seen as a strong platform for deep tech innovation, while access to large growth rounds remains a structural challenge. 

Diego Braguglia, Managing Partner, VI Partners: 

“Macro uncertainty, geopolitical tensions, wars, and tight capital flows are real challenges, but for the Swiss startup ecosystem, that turbulence also presents real opportunities.” 

Dorian Loosli, Investment Manager, Innovationfund Schwyzer Kantonalbank: 

“In this turbulent environment, Switzerland’s key opportunities lie in its strong academic ecosystem, highly skilled talent, and stable regulatory framework, which continue to support deep tech innovation in areas such as AI, biotech, and advanced engineering. 

The main threats, however, stem from declining global investment levels, high operating costs, and increasing geopolitical uncertainty, all of which make it harder for early-stage startups to secure capital and scale internationally. Remaining competitive will require a strong focus on practical applications and capital-efficient growth.” 

Wanja Humanes, CEO and Managing Partner, Kickfund: 

“Switzerland enters 2026 with major opportunities: deep-tech leadership anchored in ETH and EPFL, globally competitive science that produces defensible IP, and an ecosystem that has reached a new level of maturity. At the same time, risks remain - from an overheated AI landscape to macroeconomic uncertainty and the possibility of promising companies moving abroad for funding. Venture Kick and Kickfund help mitigate these pressures by strengthening the local ecosystem, taking a long-term view beyond hype cycles, and serving as a gateway for international investors into Swiss deep tech. Overall, Switzerland has passed the tipping point as a global tech hub, uniquely supported by world-class universities and a stable political and regulatory environment.” 

“Switzerland’s key opportunities lie in its strong academic ecosystem, highly skilled talent, and stable regulatory framework.” Dorian Loosli, Innovationfund Schwyzer Kantonalbank 

What is your key advice for founders entering 2026? 

Across interviews, investors converge on a clear message for founders entering 2026: focus, execution, and commercial clarity are decisive. 

Dorian Loosli, Investment Manager, Innovationfund Schwyzer Kantonalbank: 

My key advice for founders entering 2026 remains consistent with previous years: focus on solving real problems and delivering long-term value to your customers. Instead of trying to raise as much capital as possible, founders should prioritize building sustainable businesses with strong fundamentals.  

It’s important to stay grounded, understand your customers deeply, and develop solutions that genuinely improve their operations or lives. Sustainable growth and profitability will be far more valuable than rapid expansion fueled by large funding rounds. Ultimately, success comes from creating lasting value rather than chasing hype. 

Georgette Schmid, Investment Manager, Helvetica Capital: 

“As elaborated earlier, the funding environment continues to be quite challenging. Investors require more information and time before they make a decision. This also means that founders must ensure they deliver high-quality documents and information during the due diligence process. Funding takes much longer, which requires founders to plan well ahead and be prepared to cut costs fast and effectively.” 

Wanja Humanes, CEO and Managing Partner, Kickfund: 

“Approach 2026 with humility and ambition — an exceptionally powerful combination.” Wanja Humanes, Kickfund 

Conclusion: What this means going into 2026 

As founders and investors prepare for 2026, a clear set of expectations emerges from these conversations. Investors are backing startups that combine strong technological foundations with early commercial validation, disciplined execution, and a clear path toward scalable growth. For early-stage founders, this means building credibility early, translating innovation into tangible progress, and making deliberate choices around focus, capital use, and market entry. 

Venture Kick supports founders at this critical starting point by providing early funding. In an increasingly selective capital environment, this early emphasis on capital discipline and execution will be essential as Swiss startups take their first steps toward building resilient, globally competitive businesses in 2026 and beyond.