International Women's Day 2024: Celebrating females in Swiss startups

08.03.2024 09:00, Rita Longobardi

March 8th marks a significant moment in our ongoing journey towards gender equality and empowerment. It's a day to reflect on the progress made, celebrate the achievements of women, and recognize the work that still lies ahead. In Swiss entrepreneurship, women continue to break barriers, innovate, and lead with outstanding resilience and determination.

Imagine a gender-equal world. A world free of bias, stereotypes, and discrimination. A world that's diverse, equitable, inclusive and where difference is valued. This year, we turn the spotlight on seven inspiring women co-founders within the Swiss startup ecosystem who share with us the challenges and opportunities they've encountered on their entrepreneurial journeys, offering precious lessons for aspiring female founders.



Breaking through barriers: Access to Venture Capital
The conversation addresses the often-cited hurdle of securing venture capital (VC) funding. All seven acknowledge the challenges associated, highlighting unconscious bias and the need for increased diversity among investors.

"I have faced some challenges in accessing venture capital as a woman co-founder, such as unconscious bias, lack of representation, and stereotypes. I have overcome them by showcasing my expertise and credibility, and by seeking out investors who value diversity and inclusion. Also, I tried to get warm intros whenever possible."
— Melanie Aregger, Avelo


"I think there is still a conception that male founders have more power or dare more in a venture. I have been called «emotional» in a call because I was trying to make an argument point. On the other hand, there are now more and more VCs focusing on female founders, which is good but that's again maybe a bit unfair to male founders. I can only recommend a mixed founder team - then you get everything from everyone!"
— Anna Beltzung, Dimpora

Facing challenges, embracing opportunities
From tackling the ins and outs of industry complexities to building a supportive team environment, their experiences show the diverse aspects of the entrepreneurial path.

"Like in other industries, it’s tough to start a cybersecurity company in the early days. It needs perseverance to handle rejection since not many want to work with a security product that has been freshly launched and not many reference customers. That's especially true for Switzerland because people are comparatively risk-averse and tend to be sceptical about new technologies. We overcame it by winning the trust of the first customers and pushing through."
— Sandra Tobler, Futurae
 

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"Participating in Venture Kick has given us numerous opportunities to grow, connect with extraordinary individuals, and feel the drive to accelerate our entry into the market. We are fortunate in Switzerland to have a particularly supportive startup ecosystem, notably with organizations like Venturelab and Innosuisse, especially beneficial for me."
— Giovanna Dipasquale, HeroSupport
 

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Key takeaways and lessons learned
As seasoned co-founders, these women share their gold nuggets of wisdom for aspiring female (and not only) entrepreneurs. A recurring theme is the importance of perseverance, coupled with a strong belief in one's vision.

"What I learned I wish I knew before starting: Stay as lean as possible; try new things but keep a balance: 80-90% value-added, 10-20% explore opportunities; founders have to do everything in a business and not all require the exclusive founder’s knowledge; celebrate everything: The rollercoaster is real... don't aim to be agreeable, aim BIG!"
— Sotiria Mostrou, Biosimo Chemicals

 

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Empowering the next generation
International Women's Day serves as a powerful reminder of the incredible contributions of women to the Swiss startup ecosystem. By celebrating their achievements, sharing their stories, and championing gender equality, we can create a more inclusive and equitable future for all entrepreneurs.