How Swiss Startups are Making Their Mark on Agentic AI

Agentic AI may be new, but the market is already crowded and those who want to succeed must have something special to offer. Swiss AI startups have such specialist services thanks to their entrepreneurial experience and scientific background.

Agentic AI refers to AI systems that are able to pursue goals without requiring human intervention. The hope is that these digital co-workers will be able to perform routine tasks independently. Although the technology is young, the market is already competitive. Those who want to compete for customers and investors require AI agents that are particularly innovative, easily integrated into existing systems, or particularly well adapted to specific task areas.

This is clearly the case with Zurich-based startup Unique. It is at the forefront of agentic AI innovation for asset management, wealth management and retail and private banking. Unique AI is deployed by blue-chip companies with more than USD 2.3 trillion in assets under management, including Pictet Group, UBP, LGT Private Banking, SIX and other top players in the financial services space. One of Unique’s most prominent clients, Pictet Group, offers the platform to 6,000 employees and reports efficiency gains of about two hours per week per person. With this track record, investor interest is keen. At the end of February, Unique closed a series A round of USD 30 million.

Unique is backed by an experienced team: founders Manuel Grenacher and Andreas Hauri are serial entrepreneurs and sold their last company to SAP. Swiss agentic AI startups are also able to draw on experience from big tech; for example, the two founders of Hyperion AI worked for many years in Google’s Zurich office. Hyperion AI was recently selected for the IMD Startup Challenge, one of the competitions on our Channels to Watch list.

In Sonar’s case, the experience differs: the Geneva-based unicorn, a leading provider of code quality and code security solutions, acquired AutoCodeRover, an autonomous agentic AI platform for software development, in February.

At LogicStar, entrepreneurial experience meets academia. The startup, which raised USD 3 million in a pre-seed round, has built an agentic AI for fully autonomous application maintenance to make self-healing software a reality. Three of LogicStar’s co-founders previously built DeepCode.ai, a technology trusted by millions of developers (acquired by Snyk and now called Snyk Code), and scaled it to more than USD 100 million annual recurring revenue (ARR). Co-founder Martin Vechev is a professor at ETH Zurich and heads the university’s Secure, Reliable, and Intelligent Systems (SRI) lab. According to the current Times Higher Education World University Rankings, ETH is one of the five best universities worldwide in computer science, so it is not surprising that other spin-offs in the field of agentic AI have emerged.

In mid-March, ETH spin-off DeepJudge launched a suite of AI agents and applications for law firms allowing instant, accurate access to all a firm’s internal data, and thus enabling customers to build AI-powered workflows tailored to their specific needs. The product, AI Workflows, was developed in close collaboration with customers: Lenz & Staehelin, one of Switzerland’s leading law firms, played a pivotal role in shaping it and other customers are now using AI Workflows.

The founders of nunu.ai also met at ETH Zurich. They develop AI agents for an application outside the mainstream, so they face less competition. Their digital co-workers test video games and since the launch several gaming studios, both large and small, have used the AI ​​agents to QA test their games, running hundreds of automated tests monthly. In March, nunu.ai secured USD 6 million in a seed funding round; investors included a16z Speedrun.

Find out more on why Switzerland is producing so many promising AI startups on our Innovative AI focus sector page.

FAQ on Agentic AI and the Swiss Startup Ecosystem

1. What is Agentic AI?

Agentic AI refers to artificial intelligence systems capable of making decisions and pursuing goals independently, with minimal human intervention. These “digital co-workers” can handle routine tasks, freeing up human teams to focus on higher-level strategic activities.

2. Why is Switzerland emerging as a hub for Agentic AI innovation?

Switzerland’s robust academic institutions, entrepreneurial culture, and strong tech infrastructure provide fertile ground for cutting-edge AI research and development. The presence of experienced talent from major global tech companies (e.g., Google) and support from progressive regulations further bolster the Swiss AI ecosystem.

3. How are Swiss startups differentiating themselves in this competitive market?

Swiss startups often leverage deep scientific and entrepreneurial know-how to tailor specialized AI solutions. Some focus on finance (like asset and wealth management), while others tackle software development or code quality. By offering domain-specific expertise and seamless system integration, these startups carve out a unique competitive edge.

4. What types of problems can Agentic AI solve today?

Agentic AI shows promise in tasks that are repetitive or data-intensive, such as customer service workflows, financial modeling, software testing, and even autonomous driving. By handling these routine processes, AI agents enhance efficiency and free human talent for creative and strategic roles.

5. Can you give examples of Swiss startups leading in Agentic AI?

  • Unique: Focuses on AI-driven solutions for asset and wealth management, retail, and private banking.
  • Hyperion AI: Founded by former Google Zurich employees, it brings enterprise-level experience to build advanced AI tools.
  • Sonar: A Geneva-based unicorn specializing in code quality and security, acquiring an agentic AI platform to strengthen its offerings in autonomous software development.

6. What advantages do Swiss Agentic AI startups offer investors and customers?

  • Proven track records: Many have big-name clients (e.g., top financial institutions) already reporting efficiency gains.
  • Expert teams: Founders often have successful exits (e.g., selling previous ventures to global tech giants) or years of experience in multinational tech companies.
  • Regulatory support: Switzerland’s progressive stance on emerging tech, including supportive legislation for autonomous systems, makes scaling and innovation smoother.

7. What challenges do Agentic AI startups face in Switzerland and globally?

  • Despite the supportive environment, challenges include:
  • Competition: As the market grows, startups must continuously innovate to stand out.
  • Regulatory uncertainties: As governments adapt laws for autonomous systems, startups may need to adjust their offerings or processes.
  • Talent acquisition: Hiring AI specialists is highly competitive worldwide.

8. How do regulations shape the development of Agentic AI in Switzerland?

Switzerland’s government has introduced forward-looking regulations, including those around autonomous driving, which encourage testing and deployment of agentic systems. This approach not only fosters innovation but also reassures investors and customers that AI solutions will align with ethical and legal standards.

9. Where is Agentic AI heading next?

As more industries recognize the value of autonomous AI agents, we can expect:

  • Deeper integration into verticals like healthcare, manufacturing, and logistics.
  • Greater emphasis on explainable AI, ensuring systems’ decisions are transparent.
  • Ongoing strategic partnerships between universities, corporates, and startups, pushing the boundaries of agentic AI capabilities.