ETH Zurich as a Startup Engine: A Record Year with 46 New Ventures

Switzerland’s innovation strength is closely tied to its universities. ETH Zurich plays a central role in that ecosystem. In 2025, the university reached a new milestone: 46 new ventures emerged from the ETH environment, the highest number ever recorded in a single year.

This record is more than a statistic. It reflects how the entrepreneurial ecosystem around ETH Zurich is evolving and how the university is increasingly becoming a key driver of startup activity in Switzerland.

New Categories Bring Transparency

2025 was the first year ETH Zurich introduced two official categories to classify new ventures:

  • ETH Spin-offs: Companies directly based on research conducted at ETH Zurich
  • ETH Start-ups: Companies founded by students or alumni, built on knowledge, experience, or projects developed during their studies

Of the 46 ventures, 24 were classified as spin-offs and 22 as ETH start-ups.

This distinction provides a clearer picture of the entrepreneurial landscape at the university. While research-based companies have long been a hallmark of ETH innovation, the new category highlights how entrepreneurial initiatives are increasingly emerging directly from the student community.

Innovation, in other words, is not only happening in laboratories but also in student projects, networks, and interdisciplinary collaborations.

Growing Investment in ETH Ventures

Alongside the rise in new companies, the amount of capital raised by ETH-related ventures also increased significantly.

In 2025, ETH ventures raised more than CHF 540 million, representing an increase of around 27% compared to the previous year.

The largest funding rounds were concentrated in sectors such as:

  • Artificial Intelligence
  • Software and digital technologies
  • Robotics
  • Biotechnology

These sectors indicate that many ETH-founded companies are built around technologies with strong global scaling potential and attract significant interest from international investors.

The growth therefore reflects not only an increase in the number of startups but also a growing level of market relevance.

A Maturing Entrepreneurship Ecosystem

Several developments suggest that the ETH startup ecosystem is becoming increasingly mature and structured.

1. A broader base of founders
Entrepreneurship is no longer limited to research teams. Students, alumni, and interdisciplinary groups are playing an increasingly important role in founding new ventures.

2. Expanding support for entrepreneurs
Accelerators, startup initiatives, and entrepreneurship programs make it easier for founders to move from an idea to a company.

3. Increasing technological diversity
From AI to biotech, the range of industries represented by ETH ventures demonstrates a growing depth within the ecosystem.

The ecosystem is also gradually becoming more inclusive, with a rising number of female founders – although there is still room for further progress.

The record of 46 new ventures raises a broader question: Can ETH Zurich become the central innovation engine of the Swiss startup ecosystem?

The foundations are clearly in place, but several conditions will determine whether this potential can fully materialize.

1. Scaling Beyond the Early Stage

Many ventures successfully emerge in the early phase. The bigger challenge lies in helping them grow into globally relevant companies.

This requires access to:

  • Growth capital
  • International talent
  • Global networks
  • International market expansion

While early-stage programs are already well established, the next step is strengthening support for companies entering later growth stages.

2. Stronger Integration with the Broader Ecosystem

Universities cannot build global startups alone. Close collaboration with the wider ecosystem is essential, including:

  • Venture capital investors
  • Established corporates
  • International technology partners
  • European innovation networks

Stronger integration increases the likelihood that ETH-born startups will evolve into global success stories.

3. International Visibility

When ventures connected to ETH Zurich raise more than CHF 540 million in a single year, this is not just a local milestone.

Such achievements send a strong signal to:

  • International investors
  • Global talent
  • Strategic partners in technology and industry

Communicating these successes more prominently on the international stage could help position Zurich even more strongly as a European deep-tech hub.

In a nutshell

The record of 46 new ventures highlights the growing momentum of entrepreneurship around ETH Zurich.

New venture classifications, rising investment levels, and an increasingly diverse range of technologies all point toward a more structured and mature innovation ecosystem.

If this momentum is combined with stronger access to scale-up capital, global partnerships, and international visibility, ETH Zurich could evolve beyond being one of Europe’s leading universities.

It could become one of the most important startup engines in Europe’s deep-tech landscape.

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