The Swiss startup ecosystem is thriving and consists of many exceptional entrepreneurs. The country has 7 unicorns and the startups in Switzerland secured $3.1B in 2021, showing huge support from angel investors and VC firms.

However, many of these VC firms are quite hard to find and select. Especially when it comes to finding a VC firm with identical business interests.

But, to help you find some VC firms, we have filtered and prepared the following list of the top 8 venture capital firms in Switzerland along with additional details on how to pitch to them.

Top 8 Angel Investors in Switzerland

Following is a list of some of the top-ranked venture capital firms in Switzerland. However, before reaching out, it is advised to do detailed research on each of these firms to minimize the chances of error. 

Verve Ventures 

Being a leading European venture capital investor, Verve Ventures is one of the biggest VC firms in Switzerland. The network was founded in 2010 and is based in Zug having an active portfolio of 147 investments.

Discussing the startup investments, Verve Ventures has a strong commitment to deep tech and focuses on areas like climate and energy, the future of computing, industrial tech, health, and bio. The investors usually make their investments through pitching competitions and invest in startups that can generate at least 4-5x ROI.

Aside from investment activities, Verve Ventures also arranges many startup events and is known for having an experienced mentorship panel. 

The investment range of Verve Ventures ranges between EUR 1-4 Million. 

Novartis Venture Fund

The Novartis Venture Fund (NVF) is also a well-known venture capital firm and a fund that manages over 750 million USD. The network was founded in 1996. NVF focuses on the development of novel therapeutics and platforms. They balance the therapeutic focus with investments in medical devices, diagnostics, or drug delivery systems.

When making investments, the investors at NVF look for:

1. Unmet needs and clinical impact

2. Novel proprietary science

3. Understanding of mechanism

4. Strong management teams.

Once a startup has secured funding from NVF, the mentorship panel ensures that the business can maximize profits and startup growth. The investment range of Novartis Venture Fund can range up to several million dollars as they usually invest in the growth/expansion stages.

Mountain Partners

Mountain Partners is a global company builder and early-stage investor headquartered in Zurich, Switzerland. The VC Firm specializes in growth capital, buyouts, bridge financings, and PIPEs. They invest in various stages, including early stage, late venture, middle market, turnaround, and mid-venture. Their investments take the form of both equity and mezzanine capital.

Similarly, Mountain Partners makes investments through pitching competitions and startup fundraisers. The network of investors supports startups from the early incubation phase, internationalizing proven business models, and providing active local management. 

Mountain Partners also arranges many startup events including startup accelerators, networking events, and mentorship programs. The investment range of Mountain Partners is around EUR 2M.

HBM Healthcare Investments

HBM Healthcare Investments is a Swiss investment and venture capital firm. Their primary focus is on emerging technologies within the global healthcare sector. They usually make series B and series C investments and have a network of around 20 startup investors.

Discussing their investment activities, HBM Healthcare Investments prefers startups that are giving value to the world and are solving real-time problems. International scalling is also a huge plus for the investors and startup leaders who are planning to reach out must have an experience of 5-6 years in the relevant sectors.

HBM Healthcare makes global investments across Europe, Asia and North America. Their investment range can go up to several million euros.

PolyTech Ventures

Funding startups for 8 years, PolyTech Ventures is a famous venture capital firm based in Ecublens, Switzerland. The network consists of 4 investors and has had more than 40 exits and 33 portfolio companies.

Similarly, when making investments, Polytech Ventures focuses on businesses that can generate a decent ROI and successfully exit within 4-5 years. The investors strictly focus on startups that are producing innovative software and are helping people solve problems in the fintech and healthcare sectors.

Polytech Ventures also has a mentorship panel and they also guide their portfolio companies as most VC firms do. However, the firm hasn't started any public workshops or networking events. The investment range often depends on the startup but their usual check size is around 2.5M EUR.

Lakestar

Founded by Klaus Hommels in 2010, Lakestar is one of the most active VC firms in Zurich, having a network of over 500 co-investors and more than 200 investments. The firm consists of more than 25 experienced startup investors who make 20-35 investments every year in a wide range of sectors.

Similarly, when funding startups, the investors take a very focused approach and invest in companies that can generate decent potential returns. Each year, Lakestar arranges several pitching competitions but that isn't their only way to fund startups. The firm participates in many funding rounds led by other firms, they also participate in startup accelerators and are fully active when it comes to investing in businesses.

The investment range of Lakestar is around 300,000 EUR. 

Roche Venture Fund

Roche Venture Fund is also a well-known VC firm in the venture community of Switzerland. The network was founded in the early 2000s and is the corporate venture capital arm of Roche Holding based in Basel, Switzerland. The network consists of 4 investors and makes several investments throughout the year.

Like most other VC firms, Roche Venture Fund prioritizes startups that can generate returns and have the lowest competition. They do not compromise on the experience of the startup leader and want to invest in ventures that are led by the most talented and experienced individuals.

Discussing their events, Roche Venture Fund organizes and participates in many startup accelerators to find and support businesses that need recognition. Their investment range varies between 200,000 to 1M EUR.

Founderful

Founderful (previously Wingman Ventures) is a venture capital firm based in Switzerland. It was founded in 2019 by a team of experienced entrepreneurs and investors. Founderful focuses on pre-seed investments, backing early-stage founder teams with high growth potential.

Similarly, the VC firm has actively invested in nearly 50 startups over the last four years. In 2023 alone, they made eight Swiss investments and invested $60 million into 40 startups from a single fund. The team of investors invests in courageous founder teams who dream of building globally leading technology companies. They also have a focus on Swiss tech startups with the potential to become market leaders.

Their investment approach is hands-on and founder-focused, providing support beyond just capital. Once a startup has been funded, the mentorship teams provide some of the best guiding services, helping a startup throughout different stages and challenges.

The investment range of Founderful ranges between 300,000 to 2M EUR.

Wrap-Up:

In a nutshell, always remember that angel investors always seek to invest in businesses that have the lowest competition and are bound to succeed. They prefer startups with a solid pitch deck, strong growth strategy, and founders who are determined as well experienced with their related sector.

Good Luck!

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