Kickfund
Venture capitalZurich · Pre-Seed–Seed · 5 people tracked
Investment thesis
Kickfund co-invests up to CHF 850,000 in Switzerland's most promising deep tech startups that have been awarded by the Venture Kick accelerator program. Backed by the Ernst Göhner and Gebert Rüf Foundations, it applies a systematic, pragmatic investment strategy to build a broadly diversified portfolio of high-growth companies. For founders, Kickfund provides an accelerated growth path immediately after Venture Kick, supporting two subsequent financing rounds and connecting them to a community of peers, mentors, and international investors. For investors, it offers exposure to a diversified portfolio of leading Swiss deep tech ventures backed by an experienced, hands-on team.
Source: firm website, verified Aug 7, 2026.
Team · 5 people
from the firm's website & public directories
What they invest in
from 107 of 132 portfolio companiesBiotech ×35Deep Tech ×32Cleantech ×26Healthtech ×26AI & Machine Learning ×25Hardware ×25Medical Devices ×20New Materials ×13
HQs:Switzerland×61Germany×1United States×1
Investments · 132 tracked
founders shown can be your intro pathImmitra Bio develops an in-vivo stem cell therapy platform designed to treat rare genetic diseases, particularly severe inherited red blood cell disorders, by replacing complex transplants with single off-the-shelf treatments.
BiotechDeep TechMedical DevicesZürich, CH
Jan Nelis(CEO)in
Co-investorsOCCIDENTanother.vcBackbone VenturesVenture Kick
Procavea Biotech develops a protein-based molecular delivery platform (nonviral protein cages) to address delivery limitations in RNA therapeutics, with applications also in medical imaging.
BiotechDeep TechHealthtechZürich, CH
Tom Edwardson
8inks develops a multilayer curtain coating process for battery electrode manufacturing, enabling layered cell architectures in a single coating line to improve energy density, cycle life, and cost.
Advanced ManufacturingCleantechEnergy
Co-investorsTeampact.venturesÜbermorgen Ventures
Abologix is a biopharmaceutical company developing two monoclonal antibodies that target JAM-C and Olfactomedin-like protein 3 (Olfml3) for oncology indications.
BiotechHealthtechGeneva, CH
Ignacio Faus(Founder)Beat Imhof(Founder)Thomas Matthes(Founder)
Abrinca develops Arx, a self-hosted comparative genomics platform for analyzing and comparing microbial genomes without coding, offering tools for pathway mapping, gene alignment, BLAST searches, phylogenetic trees, and genome comparison.
BiotechDeep TechSaaS
Actival develops patented "active" dental devices — splints, aligners, and restorations with microchannel slow-release technology — designed to reduce harmful oral bacteria and support oral microbiome balance for continuous preventive care.
HardwareHealthtechMedical DevicesNeuchâtel, CH
Adiposs develops ImageBAT, a contrast agent for medical imaging of brown fat that can identify patients at increased cancer risk and with higher treatment failure risk.
BiotechDigital HealthMedical Devices
Co-investorsPrivilège Ventures
Aerospec builds the patented, automated Aerosol InfraRed (AIR) Monitor, an instrument that uses near-real-time infrared spectroscopy to identify, quantify, and analyze the chemical composition and source signatures of particulate matter and aerosol pollution.
CleantechDeep TechHardware
Akina offers physiotherapy programs delivered through an AI-powered movement analysis system and personalized guidance from licensed Swiss physiotherapists.
AI & Machine LearningDigital HealthHealthtechZürich, CH
Co-investorsFreigeist Capital
Alithea Genomics develops extraction-free, high-throughput RNA sequencing kits and workflows, including massively multiplexed bulk RNA-seq and plate-based single-cell RNA-seq, that skip RNA isolation and support up to 384 or 1536-well library preparation.
BiotechDeep TechHealthtechLausanne, CH
Co-investorsNovalis Biotech
Bern-based developer of augmented reality glasses for long-term wear and hands-free technical work.
Alpinasana develops foods for special medical purposes (medical nutrition products such as drink meals, ice cream, soups and baked goods) alongside an automated nutrition-tracking scanner that logs patients' food intake into hospital information systems.
Digital HealthFoodTechMedical DevicesZurich, CH
Daniel ZhangDr. Jotam BergfreundJoëlle WickartDr. Raban Iten
Basel biotech developing small-molecule drugs to protect and repair cell membranes in degenerative diseases.
Antefil develops hybrid fibres — glass reinforcement fibres individually coated with a meltable, recyclable plastic — used to produce lightweight composites for energy-efficient structures.
Advanced ManufacturingCleantechNew Materials
Co-investorsSerpentine Ventures
Zürich startup using satellite imagery and AI to predict environmental changes; UZH/ETH/EPFL spin-off.
Drug development company creating species-specific tubulin inhibitors (Parabulins) for parasitic diseases.
Co-investorsCompanion Fund
Zürich biotech developing targeted immunotherapy (ALY117) for stem cell transplantation and cancer.
Biel medtech developing Pace Locator, a noninvasive 3D cardiac electrical signal visualization device.
Aukera Therapeutics is a preclinical-stage biotech company, spun out of the University of Basel's Biozentrum, developing the first RAPTOR inhibitors to treat mTORC1-related diseases.
AI & Machine LearningBiotechDeep TechBasel, CH
Stefan Thomas Imseng(Managing Director)
Baxiva is a biotechnology startup developing glycoconjugate vaccines to prevent bacterial infections with high clinical burden and antimicrobial resistance.
BiotechHealthtech
Biosimo produces bio-based platform chemicals — with bio-acetic acid as its flagship, plus acetaldehyde, ethyl acetate, and bio-VAM — by converting bioethanol using a proprietary heterogeneous catalyst in a single continuous fixed-bed reactor step.
Circular EconomyCleantechNew MaterialsZurich, CH
Co-investorsÜbermorgen Ventures
Co-investorsSICTIC
Developed an AI-powered navigation harness with 3D cameras for blind and visually impaired individuals.
BLEEDnFIRE is a Switzerland-based biotechnology company developing RNA-based (siRNA) therapies for bleeding disorders such as von Willebrand disease, Glanzmann thrombasthenia, and hemophilia A.
BiotechMedical Devices
Borobotics develops an autonomous bore-robot called "Grabowski" for drilling, aimed at accelerating the energy transition.
CleantechEnergyRobotics
Hans-Jörg Dennig(Co-founder)Philipp GanzMoritz Pill
Co-investorsUnderground Ventures
Co-investorsZühlke Ventures
BTRY develops ultra-thin, solid-state thin-film batteries using a scalable production technology.
CleantechDeep TechHardware
Co-investorsBerliner Volksbank VenturesRedstoneTane Fund
Carewell is a marketplace that connects healthcare workers (nurses, ASSC, ASE, care assistants) seeking flexible work with institutions such as hospitals, clinics, nursing homes, and home-care providers looking for replacement staff.
Future of WorkHealthtechMarketplaces
Co-investorsStartAngels Network
CellX Biosolutions develops a biological method that uses bacteria to break down PFAS ("forever chemicals"), positioned as an alternative to conventional disposal methods.
BiotechCleantechClimate Tech
Co-investorsPositron Ventures
Zürich startup developing bacteria-based solutions to degrade industrial chemical pollutants.
Clee Medical develops a real-time intraoperative brain imaging platform called Neuro to support neurosurgical procedures.
Deep TechHealthtechMedical Devices
Co-investorsCreative Destruction Lab (CDL)
Condenzero develops cryogenics and ultra-high vacuum (UHV) systems for transmission electron microscopy (TEM), including liquid helium cooling technology for TEM instruments.
Deep TechHardwareNew Materials
Correntics provides data-driven climate risk analytics software that predicts extreme weather and climate hazards across value chains, helping global enterprises identify supply chain weak points, mitigate business interruption risks, and automate climate and sustainability reporting such as TCFD.
AI & Machine LearningClimate TechSaaS
Co-investorsSerpentine VenturesSICTIC
Cosaic develops food ingredients, including its Cosaic Neo product, designed to provide creaminess, natural whitening, emulsification, product stability, and clean-label additive replacement across applications such as protein shakes and coffee creamer.
BiotechFoodTechNew Materials
Co-investorsNavus Ventures
Develops phase-change-material thermal energy storage (COMPACT Cells) for heating and cooling systems.
Co-investorsStartAngels Network
Cowa develops compact thermal energy storage systems using phase change materials (PCM) based on salt hydrates, designed to connect with heat pumps and photovoltaic systems for home heating.
CleantechClimate TechEnergy
Co-investorsStartAngels Network
Cosaic develops a food ingredient called Cosaic Neo designed to improve creaminess, mask protein off-notes, provide natural whitening, and replace additives while extending product stability and emulsification.
BiotechFoodTech
Co-investorsBlue Horizon CorporationSustainable Food VenturesBig Idea Ventures
CustomSurg develops AI software that converts medical scans into surgical plans for orthopedic fracture and trauma surgery, serving orthopedic and trauma surgeons.
AI & Machine LearningDigital HealthMedical Devices
Zurich company developing AI-powered personalized surgical planning and patient-specific implants for orthopedics.
DAAV builds an AI-enabled autonomous robotic wheelchair (DAAV-air) that navigates crowded airport environments to transport passengers with reduced mobility.
AI & Machine LearningMobility & TransportationRobotics
Co-investorsSpicehaus Partners
Zurich precision psychiatry startup using EEG/ECG analysis to predict psychiatric treatment responses.
Patented multi-layer curtain coating platform for battery manufacturers and OEMs.
Embodied AI develops automation technology intended to handle repetitive physical work and augment the human workforce.
AI & Machine LearningDeep TechRobotics
Co-investorsYAR Ventures
Fainite offers a physics-based AI platform that accelerates and automates engineering simulation workflows, allowing engineering teams to run predictions in seconds and set up new simulations from limited Computer-Aided Engineering (CAE) datasets.
AI & Machine LearningDeep TechSaaS
FimmCyte is a Swiss biotech developing targeted immunotherapies for endometriosis and other chronic fibro-inflammatory diseases, using a platform that targets a protein overexpressed in fibrotic tissue to eliminate diseased cells while preserving healthy ones.
BiotechDigital HealthFemTechBasel, CH
Forgis builds AI-native orchestration software for industrial manufacturing, running causal AI agents on edge devices to connect machines, predict failures, configure production lines, and optimize output in real time.
Advanced ManufacturingAI & Machine LearningRoboticsZurich, CH
Co-investorsredalpine
GlioCART develops a dual-action CAR-T cell therapy for glioblastoma that targets tumor cells while reprogramming tumor-supporting myeloid cells into active immune effectors.
BiotechHealthtech
Grensol operates an advanced recycling process that separates automotive shredder residue and other mixed waste streams into recoverable metals, minerals, and polymers for reuse as manufacturing feedstock.
Circular EconomyCleantechNew MaterialsBiberist, CH
H2REMA works on reducing the cost of green hydrogen production to make it a financially viable, low-carbon alternative to fossil-fuel-based hydrogen for industrial decarbonization.
CleantechClimate TechEnergy
HeroSupport develops patient-specific 3D-printed immobilization devices for cancer radiotherapy, adapting imaging and treatment tables to each patient's body.
HardwareHealthtechMedical Devices
IMAI MedTech develops an automated 3D histology platform combining hardware for rapid tissue preparation and staining with software for 3D tissue analysis, aimed at histopathology, cancer diagnosis, and tissue research.
Digital HealthHealthtechMedical Devices
Inverto provides restoration and monitoring technology for coastal ecosystems, with a focus on mangroves, using drone planting with seed darts, remote sensing site planning, and lidar/multispectral and radar-based carbon and biodiversity monitoring.
CleantechClimate TechDeep Tech
IRMOS develops AI-powered monitoring and predictive maintenance software for bridges, using real-time sensor data and machine learning to track structural integrity and optimize maintenance across large portfolios.
AI & Machine LearningConstruction TechIoT
Co-investorsKickstart Innovation
Isochronic develops pick-and-place robotic systems using a proprietary simultaneous part transfer technology, offering laser automation and material handling solutions (the iSort product line) with intuitive HMIs and robot grip heads.
Advanced ManufacturingHardwareRobotics
Co-investorsSerpentine VenturesSICTICStartAngels Network
Isospec Analytics develops AI-enhanced cryogenic infrared ion spectroscopy (CIRIS) fingerprinting technology to rapidly identify molecules such as glycans and metabolites for biomolecular analysis.
AI & Machine LearningBiotechDeep Tech
Jaipur Robotics develops automation and digitization solutions for the waste-to-energy industry, converting non-recyclable waste into electricity, heat, and raw materials through controlled incineration processes.
AI & Machine LearningCleantechClimate TechRoboticsManno, CH
Co-investorsTechstarsTiVenture SA
Josepha offers a shopping app and browser tool that scans the internet to compare prices and find the cheapest offers for a given product, and flags fraudulent shops.
ConsumerE-commerceRetail Tech
Lighthouse Tech makes TAMI, smart glasses with obstacle detection that alert visually impaired and blind users to obstacles in the upper body area through haptic vibrations, complementing the white cane.
Deep TechHardwareHealthtech
LightSeeds builds a lightweight, glass-free vertical photovoltaic system that combines a solar module, a modular mounting structure and an infrastructure-grade anchoring system for deployment on vertical surfaces such as roads, railways and industrial facilities.
CleantechEnergyHardware
Matriq develops DynamicMold, a technology that marks and codes plastic parts directly during injection molding for traceability and anti-counterfeiting purposes.
Advanced ManufacturingNew Materials
Co-investorsF-TechnologiesSICTIC
Neology Hydrogen focuses on ammonia-based hydrogen and electricity generation for industrial applications, presenting ammonia as a carrier for clean, scalable energy.
CleantechClimate TechEnergy
Neurosoft Bio is a medtech company developing soft neural implant technology for neuromodulation and clinical neuroscience applications.
AI & Machine LearningBiotechDeep TechMedical Devices
Nicolas Vachicouras(CEO & Co-Founder)Ludovic Serex(CTO & Co-Founder)Florian Fallegger(Co-Founder & CSO Advisor)Stéphanie Lacour(Co-Founder, Full Professor & VP for Support to Strategic Initiatives (EPFL))
Co-investorsConnecticut InnovationsSmartGateVC
NexMR, an ETH Zurich spin-off, develops light-coupled NMR hardware, consumables, and automated analysis software to increase throughput and reduce resource use in NMR-based drug discovery pipelines.
BiotechDeep TechHardwareZurich, CH
Félix Torres(Co-founder & CEO)Matthias Bütikofer(Co-founder & CSO)
BoardRoland Riek(Scientific Advisor)Anil Sethi(Board Member)
Co-investorsQAI Ventures
NovoViz is a semiconductor company developing single-photon avalanche diode (SPAD) sensors with on-chip processing integrated directly with SPAD pixels.
Deep TechHardwareSemiconductors
Immunotherapies for T cell-mediated autoimmune conditions via modulation of coronin 1; spin-off from the University of Basel.
Co-investorsBioMedPartners
Oncobit is a Swiss precision oncology company that develops cancer-specific monitoring tests based on blood samples, using digital PCR to track circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) dynamics.
BiotechDigital HealthMedical Devices
OptimalPSI develops patient-specific spinal fusion implants (TLIF) designed with an optimization algorithm that accounts for each patient's bone structure and load distribution to reduce subsidence risk.
Deep TechHealthtechMedical Devices
Thijs Smit(Founder)
Optiverse is an AI meeting assistant that captures online, desktop, and in-person meetings in 75+ languages, turns them into searchable records, answers questions with linked sources, and returns approved actions to connected tools like CRMs.
AI & Machine LearningSaaSSales Tech
Orio Therapeutics develops protein-based therapeutics using a technology that modifies therapeutic proteins with a built-in delivery system to control their localization at the injection site, improving efficacy and reducing dosage in regenerative medicine.
BiotechHealthtechMedical DevicesMonthey, CH
Ziad Julier(Co-founder & CEO)Mikaël Martino(Co-founder & CSO)in
Palto Therapeutics develops formulations for biological drugs, focusing on oligonucleotide therapeutics such as siRNAs and antisense oligonucleotides that deliver directly into diseased cells and activate in the cytoplasm.
BiotechHealthtech
Perovskia Solar develops custom perovskite solar cells that capture both indoor and outdoor light to power low-consumption devices, extending battery life or removing batteries entirely, and markets to IoT sensor, industrial electronics, and automotive customers.
CleantechEnergyHardwareAubonne, CH
Co-investorsD&FG Elements
Planeto Energy offers AI-driven software for planning and designing 5th generation district heating and cooling (DHC) networks, letting energy engineers analyze building stock, model multiple renewable energy sources, and compare scenarios on ROI, CAPEX, OPEX, and CO2 emissions.
CleantechEnergySaaS
qCella develops a paper-thin, flexible radiation heating mat made from copper-functionalized cellulose fibers, aimed primarily at making electric vehicle cabin heating more energy-efficient and extending driving range.
CleantechMobility & TransportationNew Materials
Murielle Schreck(CEO & Co-founder)inFabian Schmid(CTO & Co-founder)inWeyde Lin(COO & Co-founder)in
Rhovica Neuroimaging AG develops neuroimaging solutions aimed at improving patient care.
Digital HealthHealthtechMedical Devices
RTDT develops Aerosense, a wireless, ultra-thin sensor patch that retrofits onto wind turbine blades to capture high-frequency aero-structural data, paired with analysis modules and dashboards.
CleantechEnergyIoTZürich, CH
Konstantinos Tatsis(CSO & Co-Founder)in
Co-investorsRockstartSwisscom Ventures
Sartiq provides an AI fashion photography platform that turns flat-lay or phone product photos into styled, on-model catalogue images and campaigns, with custom or virtual models, brand-book consistency, and human review at each stage.
AI & Machine LearningRetail TechSaaS
Co-investorsZest
SCALE Lasers develops miniaturized mid-infrared quantum cascade surface-emitting lasers based on a VCSEL-style architecture, aimed at making high-end spectroscopy available in compact components.
Deep TechHardwareSemiconductors
Scanvio Medical develops AI-assisted software that provides clinicians with real-time guidance during transvaginal ultrasound examinations to support earlier assessment of suspected endometriosis.
AI & Machine LearningFemTechHealthtechMedical DevicesZurich, CH
Joachim M. Buhmann(Co-Founder, Research Advisory)inJulian Metzler(Co-Founder, Medical Advisory)Stefan Tuchschmid(Chief Executive Officer)inFabian Laumer(Chief Technology Officer)inMichael Bajka(Chief Medical Officer)
Co-investorsStartAngels NetworkZiano Ventures
Seprify produces functional cellulose-based ingredients from renewable plant resources for industrial applications, offering biodegradable cellulose particles that serve as lower-carbon alternatives to conventional materials such as titanium dioxide.
Circular EconomyCleantechNew Materials
Co-investorsBig Idea Ventures
Splint Invest is a mobile app for fractional investing in alternative assets such as rare whisky, wine, and luxury goods, with a minimum investment of 50 CHF/EUR/GBP.
ConsumerFintechMarketplaces
TANDEM Therapeutics is an early-stage biopharmaceutical company developing precision therapies for fibrosis and fibrotic cancers using Matrix Targeting Peptides that address disease-associated extracellular matrix alterations.
Biotech
Mamta Chabria(Cofounder)Viola Vogel(Cofounder)Martin Behe(Cofounder)
Tethys Robotics builds a compact underwater drone for high-resolution subsea inspection, aimed at reducing risk for professional divers and improving inspection efficiency.
Deep TechHardwareRobotics
Transcality builds and operates digital twins of transportation systems to model traffic, evaluate current conditions, and support future planning.
GovTechMobility & TransportationSaaS
Vamoz offers a compliance software tool for HR teams to manage employees working remotely from abroad, including workations, business trips, and cross-border commuting.
Future of WorkHR TechSaaS
Daniel Dietrich(Co-Founder)
Venture Kick is a Swiss philanthropic startup funding program that provides up to CHF 150,000 in initial funding across three stages, with access to further equity and grant funding as well as business development support, mentoring, and an investor network.
Sector Agnostic
WattAnyWhere develops a 300kW mobile generator that converts renewable ethanol into clean electricity.
CleantechEnergyHardwareSwitzerland, CH
Co-investorsKickstart Innovation
Portfolio news
latest coverage across their companiesEmbodied AI · hellochinatech.com · Aug 18, 2026
Jaipur Robotics · thesaasnews.com · Jul 22, 2025
Frequently asked questions
- How many investments has Kickfund made?
- Kickfund has 112 tracked investments.
- What stage does Kickfund invest at?
- Kickfund invests at the Pre-Seed, Seed stages.
- What is Kickfund's typical check size?
- Kickfund typically writes checks of $950K.
- What sectors does Kickfund focus on?
- Kickfund focuses on AI & Machine Learning, Biotech, Cleantech, Deep Tech, Energy, Hardware, Healthtech, Medical Devices, Robotics.
- Where is Kickfund located?
- Kickfund is headquartered in Zurich, CH.
- Does Kickfund lead rounds?
- Kickfund typically participates in rounds rather than leading them.
- Who does Kickfund co-invest with?
- Kickfund most often shares deals with SICTIC, StartAngels Network, Serpentine Ventures, among 32 tracked co-investors.
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