Switzerland has 18 cities in the top 1000 and has a vibrant startup scene that ranks 11th within the competitive global top 20.
Switzerland’s startup scene saw an increase in 2023 and jumped 1 spot from the previous year, outranking China.
Switzerland projects the image of a stable and well-organized country. Its banking policies and financial and political stability make it a reliable place for investment. Switzerland also presents a unique model of federal structure combined with direct democracy that meshes well with its startup ecosystem. Despite not being a member of the European Union, the country boasts bilateral trade agreements with all European countries. One of its key advantages is the relative openness of its regulators toward change and disruption. This was clearly evident when the nation became one of the world’s strongest Blockchain ecosystems, and is especially evident in Zug, where Ethereum is headquartered, and where companies enjoy the lowest corporate tax rates in Switzerland. Unsurprisingly, Zug is also the center of multiple crypto-related support initiatives. Concentrated in Zug, the Crypto Valley Association attracts leading cryptographic companies and organizations and creates partnerships with other leading global blockchain hubs. In addition to fintech, Switzerland enjoys a strong performance in the industry of life science and is home to several global pharmaceutical companies, including Novartis. Zurich has also established itself as a hub for innovation, offering the perfect climate for startups to become unicorns.
The highly skilled labor force is a valuable asset for Switzerland, despite the high employment cost for startups. The country has managed to position itself as a magnet for talent as indicated by its top position globally in the Global Talent Competitiveness Index by INSEAD. Fortunately, the country makes it easy for regional citizens to enter and work due to Swiss agreements with the European Union and its Entrepreneur Visa. Switzerland also has a great track record in attracting foreign investment and even offers a Golden Investor Visa. Swiss-based VC Venturelab reports it has assisted 90% of the country’s startups and has attracted over CHF 7 billion in investments for its alumni.
Switzerland’s public sector is focused on promoting entrepreneurial awareness and positive attitudes toward startups. The private sector is also involved through support organizations such as S-GE and digitalswitzerland. Additionally, the country has strong physical, commercial, and professional infrastructures for supporting entrepreneurship.
Understand our ranking methodology and get the latest insights on the startup ecosystems of 100 countries and 1000 cities around the world!
Switzerland is ranked within the top 20 startup ecosystems globally.
Switzerland’s startup scene is best represented in Health, Energy & Environment, and in Hardware & and IoT.
2023 National Rank & Change | City | Global Rank & Change | Total Score | Quantity Score | Quality Score | Business Score |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1st 0 | 61st + 7 | 10.901 | 00.00 | 00.00 | 00.00 | |
2nd + 1 | 109th 0 | 6.495 | 00.00 | 00.00 | 00.00 | |
3rd + 2 | 115th + 23 | 6.276 | 00.00 | 00.00 | 00.00 | |
4th 0 | 121st 0 | 5.817 | 00.00 | 00.00 | 00.00 | |
5th - 3 | 126th - 19 | 5.601 | 00.00 | 00.00 | 00.00 | |
6th + 1 | 312th - 9 | 1.262 | 00.00 | 00.00 | 00.00 | |
7th + 1 | 325th + 33 | 1.154 | 00.00 | 00.00 | 00.00 | |
8th - 2 | 331st - 138 | 1.144 | 00.00 | 00.00 | 00.00 | |
9th + 1 | 482nd - 1 | 0.528 | 00.00 | 00.00 | 00.00 | |
10th - 1 | 494th - 93 | 0.510 | 00.00 | 00.00 | 00.00 |
On our map, you can explore a total of 312 startups for Health.
In Western Europe, Switzerland's Energy & Environment is in top 7. Switzerland has a concentration of about 231 of the region's total Energy & Environment startups that are represented on our map.
Switzerland's Hardware & IoT is ranked 8th in the world. Our database contains 155 for this industry.
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