SWISSto12 Raises CHF 18.1 Million to 3D-Print Space-Ready Components for Satellite Communications
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SWISSto12, a provider of telecommunications components for the satellite and aerospace industries, raised CHF 18.1 million to accelerate the company’s industrialization and the commercial deployment of antenna products for communication satellites. The Series B funding round was led by Swisscanto Invest by Zürcher Kantonalbank and Swisscom Ventures, and returning investor Constantia New Business.
The company will also direct the funding toward the introduction of new advanced communication payloads for the SmallSat market as well as continue the expansion of its recently opened offices in the U.S. and Israel. In addition, SWISSto12 will explore first opportunities in terrestrial communications such as 5G, the Renens-based startup said in a media statement.
SWISSto12 won CHF 30,000, training and support from Venture Kick in 2011, and roadshowed in Boston with the Venture Leaders the following year. The startup ranked at the TOP 100 Swiss Startup Award every year it was eligible, from 2012-2016.
"Venture Kick helped us to 'come out of the lab' thanks to pre-seed capital of CHF 130,000. Moreover, the structure of the process in three steps allowed us to think our project through and to become the feedback of confirmed experts. In 2012, we had the great opportunity to be part of the Swiss national startup team in Boston thanks to the acceleration program for world-class startups, Venturelab. This enabled us to enlarge our network in Switzerland and abroad, and to improve our skills for the acquisition of clients and investors. In 2012, we entered the TOP100 Swiss Startups ranking which enabled us to reinforce our credibility. All this contributed to our impulse, together with amazing internal competences," said CEO and co-founder Emile de Rijk in 2015.
