Switzerland is known for its innovation and economic stability which has grown through a very active startup ecosystem. In the year 2021, Swiss startups earned €3.1 billion while closing 350 deals. That made a 44% increase from the previous year. There are numerous VC firms operating in the country for backing several innovative European companies. To assist entrepreneurs, we've compiled a comprehensive list of venture capital investors and selected the top 10 firms in Switzerland. You can find more details about investment opportunities here.
Here's a table that summarizes the overall VC data for a quick overview:
| VC Firm | Ticket Size | Stages | Founding Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Redalpine | $500K to $5M | Seed, Early Stage, Series A | 2006 |
| NGP Capital | $8M to $12M | Late Stage, Growth | 2005 |
| HBM Partners | $5M to $50M | Late Stage, Growth | 2001 |
| Lakestar | €100K to €70M | Seed, Growth, Early Stage | 2012 |
| Roche Venture Fund | CHF 3M to CHF 10M | Series A | 2002 |
| Swisscom Ventures | $1M to $20M | Early Stage, Late Stage | 2007 |
| Emerald Ventures | $10M to $20M | Early Stage, Late Stage, Series A | 2000 |
| BackBone Ventures | $5M to $10M | Early Stage | 2018 |
| Verve Ventures | €500K to €5M | Seed, Series A, Series B | 2010 |
| VI Partners | $10M to $50M | Series A, Series B, Series C | 2001 |
1. Redalpine Venture Partners
Redalpine is a Swiss VC firm empowering GameChangers to disrupt industries while shaping a better future. Sector-agnostic, Redalpine combines financial investment, operational expertise, and an international network to support ambitious founders in making their dream a reality. Redalpine is currently managing over €1 billion in assets. Operating from Zurich and Berlin for Europe, their mission is to unlock the potential of innovation for global impact.
- Website: redalpine.com
- Founding Year: 2006
- Investment Range: $500,000 to $5,000,000
- Stage: Seed, Early Stage, Series A
- Sector: Life Sciences, Fintech
- Geography: Switzerland, Luxembourg
- Notable Investments: Whaly, Umiami, natif.ai
2. NGP Capital
This firm supports early-stage B2B companies from Series A onwards across Europe, the US, and Israel. Its portfolio includes innovators such as ANYbotics and SecurityScorecard, with its focus on Enterprise Software, Industrial Technology, Cybersecurity, and Edge & Data Infrastructure. Deliveroo and Moovit are some notable exits of the company, which underscore its pledge to partner with founders in order to drive growth and transform industries.
- Website: ngpcap.com
- Founding Year: 2005
- Investment Range: $8,000,000 to $12,000,000
- Stage: Late Stage, Growth
- Sector: Cybersecurity, Cloud, AI & ML, Robotics, Supply Chain & Logistics, Manufacturing, SaaS
- Geography: USA, China, India, Finland, Switzerland
- Notable Investments: Synergies Intelligent Systems, Spacefill, Boostup.Ai
3. HBM Partners
HBM Partners is a healthcare-dedicated investment firm focused on biopharma, medical devices, and diagnostics. The firm has built a reputation as one of the most effective creators of value in its segment. They also have executed more than 100 investments and in excess of 60 successful trade sales and IPOs. Regulated by FINMA, HBM Partners advises listed SIX HBM Healthcare Investments, among other specialized equity investment products, by using in-depth industry expertise to foster innovation and growth within the healthcare industry.
- Website: hbmhealthcare.com
- Founding Year: 2001
- Investment Range: $5,000,000 to $50,000,000
- Stage: Late Stage, Growth
- Sector: Healthcare
- Geography: Switzerland
- Notable Investments: Liostream Bio, Valo, Acrivon Therapeutics
4. Lakestar
Lakestar is one of the leading pan-European VC investors in technology-driven businesses with exceptional entrepreneurs. With the current managed funds exceeding €2bn, Lakestar supports companies from early stages to growth, with Marketing, Recruitment, Technology, and Regulatory Insight support. Our portfolio includes innovators such as Revolut, GetYourGuide, and Neko Health. Headquartered in London, Berlin, and Zurich, Lakestar has a strong commitment to Europe's digital sovereignty and its role in global innovation.
- Website: lakestar.com
- Founding Year: 2012
- Investment Range: €100,000 to €70,000,000
- Stage: Seed, Growth, Early Stage
- Sector: Fintech, Healthcare, Infrastructure, Industrial, Deep Tech & Hard Science, Gaming, Media, Climate & Sustainability
- Geography: Switzerland
- Notable Investments: Opendoor, Oscar, GetYourGuide
5. Roche Venture Fund
Roche Ventures is the corporate venture fund of Roche, a global leader in medicines and in vitro diagnostics. They invest in life science companies to foster innovation, build successful businesses, and deliver financial returns to Roche. Beyond funding, Roche Ventures offers deep expertise and a long-term vision, partnering with founders to drive shared success and create meaningful impact in healthcare.
- Website: roche.com/venturefund
- Founding Year: 2002
- Investment Range: CHF3,000,000 to CHF10,000,000
- Stage: Series A
- Sector: Life Sciences, Healthcare
- Geography: Switzerland, USA
- Notable Investments: NMD Pharma, Centessa, Enthera
6. Swisscom Ventures
Swisscom Ventures is the venture capital arm of Swisscom AG, Switzerland’s leading telecom and ICT provider. With offices in Zurich, Bern, Lausanne, and Silicon Valley, they have invested in over 80 technology companies since 2007. As a strategic investor, Swisscom Ventures offers entrepreneurs access to financial support, technical infrastructure, market channels, and key expertise, helping startups scale effectively and succeed in competitive markets.
- Website: ventures.swisscom.com
- Founding Year: 2007
- Investment Range: $1,000,000 to $20,000,000
- Stage: Early Stage, Late Stage
- Sector: Cloud, Deep Tech & Hard Science, Cybersecurity, Fintech, Big Data & Analytics, AI & ML
- Geography: Switzerland, USA
- Notable Investments: Flyability, Neo, Scandit
7. Emerald Technology Ventures
Emerald is a venture capital fund focused on sustainable industrial transformation. They have more than €1 billion assets under management, Emerald collaborates with leading corporates and start-ups in the climate change and sustainability space. Focused on energy, water, food, mobility, and materials, they invest in early and expansion-stage companies worldwide. Operating from Zurich, Toronto, and Singapore, Emerald brings together 20+ years of experience and daring thinking to create a greener, more sustainable future.
- Website: emerald.vc
- Founding Year: 2000
- Investment Range: $10,000,000 to $20,000,000
- Stage: Early Stage, Late Stage, Seed, Series A, Series B
- Sector: Industrial, Agriculture, Energy
- Geography: Switzerland, Canada, Singapore
- Notable Investments: Spear Power Systems, Powerhouse Dynamics, Securitymatters
8. BackBone Ventures
Backbone Ventures is an early-stage VC firm based in Zurich and Frankfurt am Main. Since 2018, they have supported 26 teams across Switzerland, Germany, the US, and Israel. Now investing through their EUR 20m Backbone Ventures 5502 Fund, they focus on pre-seed opportunities in Germany and Switzerland. Backbone Ventures aims to be a trusted partner for visionary founders starting their entrepreneurial journeys.
- Website: backbone.vc
- Founding Year: 2018
- Investment Range: $5,000,000 to $10,000,000
- Stage: Early Stage
- Sector: Technology
- Geography: Switzerland, Germany
- Notable Investments: Not specified
9. Verve Ventures
Verve Ventures is the venture firm in Europe with profound focus areas, such as climate and energy, industrial tech, computing of the future, health and bio. With a wide base of more than 150 science-driven companies within their portfolio, including start-ups from any imaginable niche, Verve helps find key talent and provide quality client introductions. At their core, network-driven services introduce private and institutional investors to top opportunities throughout the European continent.
- Website: verve.vc
- Founding Year: 2010
- Investment Range: €500,000 to €5,000,000
- Stage: Seed, Series A, Series B
- Sector: Big Data & Analytics, SaaS, E-Commerce, Human Resources
- Geography: Switzerland, Germany, France
- Notable Investments: GotCourts, TestingTime, Bring!
10. VI Partners
Vi Partners is Switzerland’s longest-established venture capital firm, specializing in healthcare and technology investments since 2001. With over CHF 330m invested in 66 startups, they partner with visionary entrepreneurs to tackle critical challenges and build game-changing companies. Backed by leading institutions like ETH Zurich, Nestlé, and ABB, Vi Partners combines a people-centric approach with decades of experience, empowering innovation and fostering growth across Switzerland and Europe.
- Website: vipartners.ch
- Founding Year: 2001
- Investment Range: $10,000,000 to $50,000,000
- Stage: Series A, Series B, Series C
- Sector: Health Tech, Biotech, Deep Tech
- Geography: Switzerland
- Notable Investments: Tubulis, ImmunOs Therapeutics, Precirix
FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions)
- Is VC high risk? Venture capital is a type of investment that can be risky but has the potential for high returns. However, there is no guarantee of success. Investing in startups is always uncertain, and you might lose your money. Even though VC firms try to minimize risks, investing in startups is always uncertain, and you might lose your money.
- What is the best country in Europe to set up a VC fund? Luxembourg is ideal for setting up a VC fund in Europe due to its investor-friendly regulations, diverse investment vehicles, and a strong financial sector that supports local and foreign investors. The country's tax efficiency and stability further make it a preferred choice.
- Which European cities have the most VC investments? The top cities for VC investments in Europe are London, Paris, Berlin, Amsterdam, and Stockholm. London leads with $22.67B in 2023, followed by Paris and Berlin. These cities are known for strong startup ecosystems and significant funding opportunities.
- What is the minimum amount for a VC fund? Venture capital funds usually ask for a minimum investment of $250,000 to $500,000, and sometimes even more. Investing a small amount of money can still cost a lot. These funds are usually only open to wealthy people and big organizations that have a lot of money.
- How do I choose a VC fund? To choose a VC fund, check how much experience and success the venture capital firm has had before. Look at the companies they’ve invested in before to see if they match what your business does. This can help you figure out if they’re a good match for you.
- Best of luck with your amazing ventures. Please note that this list is filtered by various metrics, and all the data are collected through various third-party websites, mostly the VC website. Since data such as ticket size or industry may change, you are requested to visit the official website given in the blog for the latest and updated information.