Sino-Swiss Pitchinar: Selected Swiss biotech startups pitch to Chinese investors and enterprises

30.09.2021 07:30, Isabelle Mitchell

For the third time, the China-Switzerland Innovation and Entrepreneurship Pitchinar showcased the two countries’ innovation potential and fostered the exchange between Swiss and Chinese startups. The Swiss startup delegation comprised selected Swiss biotech startups—including the Venture Leaders Biotech 2021. The pitchinar also provided online matchmaking opportunities to strengthen relationships and facilitate collaborations. The program was hosted by the China Science and Technology Exchange Center (CSTEC), the Science and Technology Commission of Shanghai Municipality, and Venturelab.

The pitchinar began with welcoming speeches by renowned experts and leaders: Gao Xiang (Director General, China Science and Technology Exchange Center), Olivier Zehnder (Consul General, Consulate General of Switzerland in Shanghai), Zhuang Jia (Deputy Director General, China Science and Technology Exchange Center), Xie Wenlan (Vice Chairman, Science and Technology Commission of Shanghai Municipality), Didier Vuarnoz (Director of Science, Technology and Education Division, Embassy of Switzerland in China), and Stefan Steiner (Co-Managing Director, Venturelab).



The goal of the pitchinar—boosting the bilateral connections—was illustrated with a presentation of selected cooperation cases between China and Switzerland. These relationships demonstrated the countries’ innovative ambitions and potential to grow through collaboration and knowledge exchange. 



“The collaboration between China and Switzerland continues to grow stronger every year. The Sino-Swiss Pitchinar provides entrepreneurs with exposure and allows them to connect with Chinese and Swiss partners and investors,” said Stefan Steiner, co-managing director at Venturelab and one of the hosts of the pitchinar. “For the Venture Leaders Biotech, this is a great opportunity to advance their global ambitions and strengthen their networks.”

Ten Chinese and ten Swiss startups pitched their innovations and answered questions for an international audience that included entrepreneurs, investors, and industry experts. “We thank Venturelab for the opportunity to participate in the China-Switzerland Pitchinar 2021. This event turned out to be extremely useful to reach out and interact with potential Chinese investors. The pitchinar also revealed the breadth and depth of the extraordinary biotech research in China, an imminent hotbed for innovation in the coming decade,” said Rajesh Jayachandran, co-founder and CSO of NextImmune. Fellow Venture Leader Biotech Awa Diagne, the co-founder and CEO of Nemosia added: “The pitchinar has been a unique platform for us not only to present our venture but also to start the discussion with one of the world-leading PET/CET research centers working on neurodegeneration. We foresee great collaboration opportunities in clinical development activities.”



To stay up to date on the Venture Leaders Biotech, follow the hashtag #VLeadersBiotech on social media.   

CSTEC supports Swiss startups in China beyond the pitchinar: For the second time, CSTEC produced and distributed the Chinese version of the TOP 100 Swiss Startup Magazine.


Learn more about the ten Swiss startups that participated in the pitchinar: