Ecosystem Actors

Verve Ventures was founded in 2010 and is one of the most active deep tech investors in Europe with around 150 portfolio companies. The most important investment themes are “Future of Computing”, “Health & Bio” and “Climate & Energy”. Verve invests from the seed stage with tickets ranging from half a million to several million.

We are a holistic enabler, incubator & accelerator for early-stage startups & innovative Corporates, which we, together with our ecosystem, bring to success.

Tailor-made, hands-on, fast.

For Startups

We, a professional and trusted network of 40+ Experts and service providers, excite, enable and empower Founders & Innovators with a wide range of expertise to get straightforward and efficient solutions.

For Investors

Receive handpicked, pre-vetted startups that align perfectly with your preferences instead of sifting through countless random pitch decks. We connect innovative startups with strategic investors.

OOMNIUM makes financing rounds faster and investments easier.

Our platform allows companies to raise funds in a lean and cost-efficient way, while offering investors the opportunity to invest in exciting and promising start-ups and SMEs – with just a few clicks, completely digitally and already with a small budget.

Lendity is an award-winning Swiss company specializing in tech-enabled Private Debt. Our business focus is providing innovative capital solutions to the Swiss market, leveraging the latest technologies. We are active in several verticals under our belief of using the right capital, for the right use, at the right time.

Lendity was born out of Tenity, a global innovation ecosystem and early-stage investor powering the future of finance backed by industry leaders such as SIX, PwC and Julius Baer.

Transforming food systems with specialty crops.

We support practice-oriented research and development projects mainly in Switzerland, but also in emerging and developing countries.

Our activity is non-profit and does not pursue any profit-making purposes.

So that everyone does well – research for food, landscape, environment!

WCG:ROB actively manages risk

How WCG:ROB works and what it promises

• Rule-based management concept based on two simple and transparent rules
• Daily monitoring and quarterly rebalancing
• Consistent implementation
• Enables greater exposure to equities with similar risk characteristics

Simple. Rule-based. Risk-focused.

CV VC – Investing today in tomorrow’s future

CV VC is a private blockchain venture capital firm providing seed funding and an acceleration program to transformative technology teams worldwide. Qualified investors can gain exposure to blockchain technology and digital assets with CV VC’s investment product suite, which includes venture capital portfolios and portfolios of liquid hedge funds. CV VC’s expertise also extends to offering blockchain industry consulting and advisory services to corporates and governments.

CV Labs – The heartbeat of Crypto Valley

CV Labs is the ecosystem business pillar of CV VC, operating its accelerator and hubs across Switzerland, Liechtenstein, South Africa, Germany, and Portugal. As the heartbeat of Crypto Valley, the world’s most mature blockchain hub, CV Labs helps global startups, corporates, and investors leverage blockchain technology through acceleration programs, various industry events, domicile & co-working spaces, and research reports.

Marc Lussy connects the dots in-between banking business and IT, in-between banks and startups and in-between business cultures across the globe.

Marc has been working in the Financial industry for more than 30 years. He has been active in the Swiss Fintech sector since day one and for the past 7 years has been coaching and mentoring 150+ startups (10+ startups one to one coaching/mentoring)

He has a strong connection with Brazil and China and a deep understanding of the BR and CN business culture as well as of the financial sector (banking & fintech) in these two countries

MEDKAP is a Swiss non-profit investor club with the aim of financing healthtech innovation. The focus is on medical technology, diagnostics and digital health. Business angels can already invest with small amounts, which are bundled. What is also special is the possibility of operational support from KAPSLY Ventures to bring the startups to market faster and minimize operational risk.

Axelra accelerates Tech Ventures with Strategic Investments and Hands-On Expertise, built on a Track Record of Venture Building.

Our Mission

At Axelra, we believe in the power of execution and rapid innovation (less blah blah – more balla balla). Our mission is to empower entrepreneurs who are ready to explore and adapt rather than overthink. By combining strategic investments with deep hands-on expertise, we strive to create a thriving ecosystem where innovative ideas flourish and drive sustainable growth. We are committed to creating and connecting the Swiss tech ecosystem with international markets, fostering collaboration and knowledge-sharing to enhance innovation and growth across borders.

Axelra

Founded in 2019 and headquartered in Zurich, Axelra started as a Tech Venture Builder and has evolved in 2024, shifting the focus to its strategic investments. With a proven track record of accelerating over 45 tech ventures, co-creating 20 successful startups and developing 8 portfolio companies, we are dedicated to unlocking the potential of innovative ideas and transforming them into successful businesses. Leveraging our extensive experience and proven investment model, we strategically invest in and guide promising startups. Our distinctive strategy combines:

Strategic Investments: We focus on the strategic development of our co-created portfolio ventures.

Hands-on Expertise: Our seasoned venture builders provide in-depth expertise in management, growth, and product, ensuring startups achieve accelerated success.

New Harbor Venture Partners is a trans-Atlantic placement agent / fundraiser specializing in fundraising for startups, growth and PE companies in the healthcare sector.

In return for a retainer and success fee, we assist in the placement of financing of CHF 10-40 million/USD in the USA, Europe, Israel and parts of Asia. Our main focus is on medical technology and digital health, but we also support pharma/biotech startups in approaching institutional healthcare-focused investors.

Corporate venturing by Helsana, investments in startups and funds

Spicehaus Partners is an independent Swiss venture capital investor focusing on B2B software companies in Switzerland with international growth potential.

We are based in Zurich, investing in founders with momentous innovation creating a virtuous cycle for the planet and human well being.

Founded in 2019 and headquartered in Zurich, Axelra started as a Tech Venture Builder and has evolved in 2024, shifting the focus to its strategic investments. With a proven track record of accelerating over 45 tech ventures, co-creating 20 successful startups and developing 8 portfolio companies, we are dedicated to unlocking the potential of innovative ideas and transforming them into successful businesses. Leveraging our extensive experience and proven investment model, we strategically invest in and guide promising startups. Our distinctive strategy combines:

Strategic Investments: We focus on the strategic development of our co-created portfolio ventures.

Hands-on Expertise: Our seasoned venture builders provide in-depth expertise in management, growth, and product, ensuring startups achieve accelerated success.

The StartAngels Network (SAN) is a non-profit organisation that facilitates contact between Swiss startups and experienced investors. SAN identifies, mentors and supports startups in need of funding. SAN investors work with selected startups with outstanding business ideas and above-average market potential.
With its diversified and broad experience, SAN provides capital, expertise, board members and helpful contacts. Interested members are trained to become lead investors.

Kick your startup idea to success

Venture Kick is a philanthropic three stage funding model initiated to support Swiss startups with enough funding to kick-start their entrepreneurial success. Startups can qualify to receive up to CHF 150,000 in start capital, and an opportunity for an additional CH 850,000 in equity funding from the Kick Fund. After each stage, promising entrepreneurs are also offered professional guidance in developing their business through the 2-day kickers camps and connection to an incredible network.

CHF 1,000,000+

MONEY FOR YOUR STARTUP

For a business idea with high potential and an entrepreneurial and driven team, get your lauching kick up to CHF 1,000,000+ through Venture Kick, Innobooster and the Kick Fund.

Get funded in 3 stages

KICKERS CAMPS

PUSH TO GET TRACTION

Learn from proven entrepreneurs how to structure your pitch and to develop your business. You will be guided to successfully approach customers and to close deals with investors.

Access our resources

POWER NETWORK

EXPOSURE TO INVESTORS

Get exposed to the greatest network of investors and industry innovation experts in Switzerland. You’ll get substantial media coverage on top to attract even more investors.

Meet the jury

Privilège Ventures SA is a Swiss based venture capital firm duly authorized by FINMA. The company was founded by Jacqueline Ruedin Rüsch and Lucian Wagner who are acting as the general partner of the firm. Since mid-2016 and over three funds we have invested in 40 companies and have successfully exited 4 of them. We pride ourselves to be always at the side of our founders to support them when most needed.

Our team is deeply rooted in the Swiss ecosystem since 2005 and we have created strong relationships with universities, research centers, accelerators, incubators, founders and other investors. While generalist we don’t invest in biotech and we do have a strong expertise in DeepTech and MedTech. We target to invest as early as pre-seed up to Series A.

Independent advice center

Ahead is the new founder and innovation center in Zurich, which includes the “Startzentrum”, GO! Microcredits, gruenden.ch and “SMEs and Innovation” combined. Ahead is supported by the City of Zurich, the Canton of Zurich and Zürcher Kantonalbank. As a non-profit organization with a charitable purpose, we provide you with independent and trustworthy advice.

The aim of our cooperative is to support founders and SMEs in the Zurich economic area on their entrepreneurial journey in order to make them more successful in the long term. In this way, we contribute to a sustainable and attractive business and living location. We help you with problems along the entrepreneurial life cycle and enable you to set up a company and manage it successfully. Whether you are still at the very beginning of your journey or already run an established SME: We accompany you professionally and at eye level.

Cooperative members

In addition to the three sponsors – the City of Zurich, the Canton of Zurich and Zürcher Kantonalbank – we count around 20 other organizations and companies among our cooperative members. Together, they are committed to supporting start-ups and SMEs.

SICTIC connects Swiss technology startups with smart money investors.

Zürcher Kantonalbank is successfully positioning itself as a universal bank with regional roots and national and international networks. We are the most important cantonal bank in Switzerland and one of the largest Swiss banks. With a market penetration of around 50 percent, we hold the leading position in the canton of Zurich in both private and corporate customer business. We are also the third largest fund provider in the country. Zürcher Kantonalbank is an independent institution under public law of the Canton of Zurich and has a state guarantee. Our performance mandate is to provide the population and businesses with financial services, to contribute to the solution of economic and social tasks, and to deal responsibly with the environment and society. We live our values responsibly, impulsively, passionately. We are the nearby bank and are part of life in the canton of Zurich.

Start-up financing
Zürcher Kantonalbank finances innovative start-ups with venture capital. As one of the largest and most active investors in Switzerland, we have already supported over 280 start-ups with more than CHF 230 million in venture capital.

#Talents
The heart of our IT beats in the middle of Zurich’s lively Kreis 5 district. Here, more than 1,000 colleagues work on new solutions using agile methods, thus ensuring the bank’s success consistently according to DevOps and Scrum principles. Cloud, cyber security and data-based business models are just some of the topics that excite us. We manage, maintain and operate over 650 applications, including eBanking, Mobile Banking, ZKB Twint and frankly. That’s why we are so proud of our #ITmadeinChreis5.