Searchbox, a Switzerland-based semantic search engine for professionals, has closed its series B round from a consortium including local drugs company Debiopharm Group as a new investor.
Other investors included Michael Schmitt, former engineering director at search engine provider Google.
Thierry Mauvernay, delegate of Debiopharm’s board, said: “The start-up spirit is greatly valued by Debiopharm. Today, thanks to the Internet, we have access to more and more information.
“It’s not the quantity but the accuracy of that information that counts. We are convinced of the added value provided by the Searchbox team and their semantic research engine, which help professionals make their searches more relevant.”
Debiopharm said it had committed to programmes that foster entrepreneurship in Switzerland, including Venture Kick, Genilem, Eclosion, the Foundation for Technological Innovation (La Fit) and the Start competition organised by the University of Lausanne and the Federal Institute of Technology, Lausanne.