Swiss VC Report 2026: Basel Area hits record 

Taken together, the signals in the newly released Swiss Venture Capital Report 2026 point to something bigger than a single strong year: the compounding power of capital, company creation, exits, talent and convening strength concentrated in one place.

 The report also indicates to renewed momentum across Switzerland’s startup ecosystem. For the Basel Area Life Sciences Supercluster, it confirms what sets the region distinctive: turning world-class science into well-funded companies that scale fast and deliver real-world impact. 

After two cautious years, the Swiss Venture Capital 2026 report signals a rebound in activity. In 2025, investors put CHF 2.95 billion into Swiss startups with up 23.9% year over year, marking a decisive shift from slowdown to renewed confidence. In just three years, investment figures in the Basel Area (encompassing the cantons of Basel-Stadt and Basel-Landschaft) have nearly quadrupled, exceeding pre-pandemic levels and marking a decade-long surge in growth. 

The rebound is particularly evident in life sciences and ICT. Biotech reached its highest level of invested capital in a decade (CHF 946.3 million), underscoring that risk appetite is returning, even as the broader fundraising environment remains selective and quality-focused. Together, these signals suggest a strengthening foundation for Switzerland’s innovation economy. 

The Basel Area continues to cement its position as a global life sciences hub. In 2025, startups located in Basel attracted a record CHF 572.3 million in investment, with CHF 546.2 million directed to biotech, representing nearly 58% of all Swiss biotech venture capital. 

Investment in the region has almost quadrupled within three years, reaching levels well above pre-pandemic figures. Over the last decade, Basel has experienced a sustained growth trajectory in venture capital, underscoring its enduring strength as a powerhouse for life sciences innovation and investment. 

Highlighting the region’s dynamism in early-stage biotech and platform-driven innovation, six Basel Area-based companies featured among Switzerland’s largest 20 financing rounds of the year:  

• Windward Bio – CHF 183.14m; founded by serial entrepreneur Luca Santarelli, the biotech develops therapies for immunological diseases. Its lead drug candidate targets severe asthma. Further clinical trials are planned for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). 

• Nuclidium – CHF 79.0m; this biotech company is developing a radiopharmaceutical platform for the diagnosis and treatment of cancer. Series B financing will advance clinical development and global production infrastructure. 

• RhyGaze – CHF 78.5m; this spin-off from the Institute of Molecular and Clinical Ophthalmology Basel (IOB) focuses on the development of gene therapies for retinal diseases. The Series A round will advance the development of the lead drug candidate. 

• Mosanna Therapeutics – CHF 65.82m; In Switzerland alone, about 150,000 people suffer from sleep apnea. This company is pioneering the development of its nasal spray therapy through phase 2 clinical trials. 

• Granite Bio – CHF 57.97m; this company focuses on antibody therapies for autoimmune, inflammatory and fibrotic diseases. Following a Series B financing round of CHF 57.97m, the company now has total capital of USD 100m. 

• FoRx Therapeutics – CHF 39.72m; this biotech start-up develops drugs targeting DNA damage response in advanced solid tumors. Phase I trial is expected by mid-2026. 

These pioneering companies illustrate the strength of the Basel Area Life Sciences Supercluster, showcasing how the region continues to bring science to life and turn world-class research into real-world impact for patients and investors alike. 

Beyond investment totals, the report highlights a broader set of signals happening across the Basel Area Life Sciences Supercluster: 

• Basel-based SixPeaks Bio was acquired by AstraZeneca for up to USD 300 million, marking a major life sciences exit tied to the region’s talent and research infrastructure (Oct. 2025). 
• Another Basel Area biotech achievement was the acquisition of TargImmune Therapeutics by the US-based iOncologi.

• SPARK Western Switzerland is an initiative kicked off in 2025 at the University of Basel, aiming to support life sciences and health researchers from early discovery through to viable solutions. 

• Basel will host the inaugural health.tech | global summit (3-5 March 2026), bringing together 200 exhibitors and an expected 5,000+ delegates. 

What the Swiss Venture Capital Report 2026 makes clear is that the Basel Area’s performance is driven by a pipeline that continues to deliver. From early-stage company creation to exits, the region continues to strengthen the conditions that help life sciences innovations move faster from discovery to impact.