EPFL's startups cautiously moving forward

Some start-up continued to work during the confinment with measures of protection© 2020 EPFL - The lockdown has been a real headache for most EPFL startups. All but a few were forced to halt their development. The pace of the economic recovery will play a decisive role, and experts are cautiously optimistic about fundraising opportunities going forward. Startups may be dynamic, flexible companies, but they're also vulnerable during times of crisis. There are many reasons why young companies struggle when the economy is flagging: research and development can take longer, revenues may be low or even nil for a couple of years, and significant outside investment may be needed. To stay afloat for the next few months, more than a quarter of the 208 companies in EPFL's Innovation Park (EIP) applied for a loan under the federal government's guarantee program. How well the economy picks up will, of course, play a key role in these companies' future development.