Why Swiss Startups Still Sell Too Early: Laurent Decrue & Sophie Lamparter (EP #555)

This episode was co-produced with ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Swiss Startup Days⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, the leading Swiss deep-tech catalyst event for startups, investors, enablers, and corporates.Checkout Newcomers - the ultimate pitching format for pre-seed and seed startups in Switzerland. Applications open in December 2025.

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Episode Summary:

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In this Swisspreneur Briefing, ⁠Sophie Lamparter⁠ (Partner at ⁠VitaminºC⁠) and ⁠Laurent Decrue ⁠(Co-founder & Co-CEO at ⁠Holycode⁠) join us to break down the latest signals shaping the Swiss startup ecosystem. From a fresh $20M climate fund launch to major deep tech exits and IPO ambitions, we look at what’s really happening beneath the headlines - and whether Switzerland is finally entering a new phase of growth.

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We dive into three key themes. First, the tension between early exits and long-term ambition - and why Swiss startups still tend to sell before reaching global scale. Second, the growing gap between Europe and the US when it comes to capital markets, with companies choosing Nasdaq over local exchanges. And third, the rise of concentrated capital in venture, where a handful of funds are increasingly “making kings” and determining which startups get to win.

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Beyond the headlines, the conversation gets more nuanced. What does it mean for Switzerland if its best deep tech companies are acquired early? Is Europe structurally disadvantaged when it comes to scaling - or does it still have an edge in areas like robotics and physical AI? And how do cultural factors, risk appetite, and investor mindset shape the kinds of companies that get built here? This episode is a candid look at where the Swiss ecosystem stands today - and what still needs to change.

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The cover portrait was edited by ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.smartportrait.io⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

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