Switzerland
We’re joining forces with FinTech and investment centres around the world.
In Brief
Swiss FinTech is booming. This rapid growth is no surprise, given Switzerland’s strengths in finance, technology and innovation.
The country is home to leading banks and insurance companies, as well as world-class research institutes and universities. And it has a long tradition of being at the forefront of technological change, from the invention of the world’s first computer to the development of blockchain.
As a result, Swiss FinTech companies are well placed to capitalise on the latest trends in financial technology. And they are already having a major impact, with Swiss start-ups exporting their products and services around the world.
The digitalisation of financial markets has brought about exciting and fast-paced developments, and in this Switzerland is a leader in many ways, tracking these trends and establishing itself as a catalyst for financial innovation on a global level.
10% of all global European FinTech enterprises are located in Switzerland, with 46% of them located in Zurich – one of the new FinTech metropolis in Europe. 30% of all Swiss FinTech firms offer financial orientated services. The Startups Crowdhouse, an investment platform for real estate in Switzerland, and Qumran, which offers products to examine and track digital interactions, both won FinTech Awards in 2022, highlighting the practical and scalable nature of Swiss innovation in this field.
Since 2019, the number of FinTech Startups in Switzerland, currently 170, increased sixfold, with 14 incubators in the FinTech ecosystem. In 2018, CHF 27 million were invested in Fintech firms, CHF 15.3 million in the digital insurance broker Knip.
In global terms, every tenth FinTech Startup was founded in Switzerland. Currently, investments on the global financial market in Swiss FinTech enterprises amount to CHF 10-14 billion.
Zopa:
Zopa offers peer-to-peer lending, which uses the internet to cut out the banks entirely. Keep on top of your loan or investment, know your credit score, and more.
eCollect:
A new generation of debt collection agency, focussed on providing technology companies with a web & API-based debt collection solution.
Advanon:
Advanon is an online platform where SMEs can find funds for their short-term financing needs by selling invoices to financial investors.
Muume:
Muume help small business to create & manage their online presence by giving them an all-in-one device that integrates seamlessly.
Monetas:
The Monetas system is a universal platform for global commerce. It is a transaction system that uses advanced cryptofinance technologies to effectively address the pain points of legacy systems.
Market Summary
Economy
The economy of Switzerland is one of the world’s most advanced and a highly-developed mixed economy.
The service sector, Political stability and Economic stability have come to play a significant economic role, particularly the Swiss banking industry and tourism.
The economy of Switzerland has ranked first in the world since 2015 on the Global Innovation Index and third in the 2020 Global Competitiveness Report.
According to United Nations data for 2016, Switzerland is the third richest landlocked country in the world after Liechtenstein and Luxembourg. Together with the latter and Norway, they are the only three countries in the world with a GDP per capita above US$90,000.
Insights
Banking has played a dominant role in the Swiss economy for two centuries. According to the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), total banking assets amount to 467% of total gross domestic product.
Swiss banks managed $2.4 trillion of assets belonging to wealthy foreigners in 2022, more than any other country and before Hong Kong ($2.2T) or Singapore ($1.5T) who are ranked 2nd and 3rd respectively.
Specialist Tech Areas
Artificial intelligence
As a neutral country, Switzerland can draw on strong ethical values and a long tradition of serving other nations well. We focus on the best that AI has to offer, without neglecting business. Cognitive intelligence meets Swiss ethics in key industries such as healthcare, financial services and mobility.
Robotics
Switzerland is considered the “Silicon Valley of Robotics” for a good reason: we develop robots of the highest quality and precision — swissmade. Our liberal regulation also allows drones to be tested without complications, making us pioneers of a digitalized aviation system.
Blockchain
Decentralization is not only the core component of blockchain, it is also part of our political system’s DNA.
This and the openness of our authorities make us the logical choice for the further development of blockchain and DLT in a tokenized economy.
Advanced manufacturing
We are world champions in efficiency. Our country is like a smart mini-factory in the heart of Europe, with a globally networked supply chain. The ideal technology location for high-quality production facilities to reach millions of customers.
Fast facts
Population: 8.703 million
Language: Swiss German, French, Italian, English
Currency: Swiss Franc (CHF)
Political System: Democratic Federal Republic
Legal System: Civil law
IA Partner
A neutral, inclusive, and non-profit association, SFTA represents a diverse group of individuals, startups, investors, corporates, and other stakeholders.
Enhancing the positioning of Switzerland a leading international FinTech hub by organising high-quality events, connecting the various stakeholders, conducting research and creating publications, leveraging the knowledge base of members to offer mentoring and workshops, advocating for improved regulations and policies which balance the interests of all stakeholders, and promoting members, and the ecosystem both at home and internationally.
