SuisseFund: matchmaking platform for investors and startups

The three entrepreneurs Thierry Kneissler, Pawel Kowalski and Benjamin Berger have all founded and led their own startups, and thus understand the hurdles startups undergo to find the right investors for their businesses. Investors, too, have difficulty finding credible startups to invest in, especially when they are new in the startup scene or when they are looking for companies from specific business areas. Moreover, the investment landscape with its frameworks and ticket size restrictions excludes potential investors.

SuisseFund seeks to close this gap to complement existing business angel networks and venture capital platforms with a matchmaking platform, where startups and investors can meet. Upon signing up, startups from all sectors looking for investors provide a description of their solution, financial needs, valuation and pitch deck. This information is subject to verification by SuisseFund before publishing. Registered investors on the other hand get access to the start-ups’ information to find suitable matches. A notification from the platform informs startups when an investor seeks to initiate a dialogue to kick off negotiations. Proceeding steps in the process remain a responsibility of the startup and investor as SuisseFund focusses on the matchmaking only.

On March 3, 2022, the platform went live. As part of the pilot phase, SuisseFund aims to find out whether connections between startups and investors can emerge through a matchmaking platform and whether there is market demand. The first results are positive:  60 investors and 40 startups have already signed up. Registration for startups and investors to participate in the pilot project is open.

While the platform focuses on matchmaking, upon success, the team plans to expand the solution to include additional offers. “Our long-term goal is to provide the infrastructure for the whole lifetime of the startup-investor relationship”, says co-founder Thierry Kneissler.

(RAN)