
Founderful
Description
Founderful is a prominent venture capital firm based in Zürich, Switzerland, recognized as a leading pre-seed fund in the country. The firm is dedicated to supporting exceptional founders at the earliest stages of their entrepreneurial journey, primarily focusing on Swiss-based startups. Founderful distinguishes itself by providing not just capital but also hands-on support, leveraging its extensive network and deep expertise to help nascent companies scale.
Founderful's investment thesis centers on high-potential startups across various innovative sectors. Their primary focus areas include deep tech, B2B SaaS, fintech, health tech, and frontier tech, reflecting a strategic interest in disruptive technologies and business models. The firm's initial investment range for pre-seed rounds typically spans from CHF 100,000 to CHF 500,000. This early-stage commitment is complemented by the potential for significant follow-on investments, which can extend up to CHF 2 million as portfolio companies achieve key milestones and demonstrate growth.
Since its inception, Founderful has rapidly established a significant footprint in the Swiss startup ecosystem. The firm successfully raised its first fund, Founderful I, which closed at CHF 50 million, underscoring investor confidence in their strategy and team. This capital has enabled Founderful to build a robust portfolio, having invested in over 30 companies to date. Their commitment extends beyond financial backing, as they actively engage with founders, offering strategic guidance, operational support, and access to a valuable network of mentors, advisors, and potential partners, thereby fostering a conducive environment for innovation and growth.
Investor Profile
Founderful has backed more than 76 startups, with 9 new investments in the last 12 months alone. The firm has led 39 rounds, about 51% of its total and boasts 3 exits across its portfolio.
Investment Focus Highlights
- Concentrates on Pre Seed, Seed, Series A rounds (top funding stages).
- Majority of deals are located in Switzerland, Germany, United Kingdom.
- Strong thematic focus on Software, Artificial Intelligence (AI), SaaS.
- Led 4 rounds in the past year.
- Typical check size: $112K – $560K.
Stage Focus
- Pre Seed (47%)
- Seed (41%)
- Series A (9%)
- Series B (1%)
- Series Unknown (1%)
Country Focus
- Switzerland (93%)
- Germany (3%)
- United Kingdom (1%)
- Canada (1%)
- United States (1%)
Industry Focus
- Software
- Artificial Intelligence (Ai)
- Saas
- Health Care
- Information Technology
- Chemical
- Robotics
- Manufacturing
- Mechanical Engineering
- Biotechnology
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