Swisscanto Private Equity

Swisscanto Private Equity operates as a specialized division within Swisscanto Invest, the asset management arm of Zürcher Kantonalbank (ZKB), one of Switzerland's largest cantonal banks. Established as a significant player in the private markets, Swisscanto Private Equity primarily focuses on late-stage venture and growth capital investments. Their strategic approach involves a dual mandate: acting as a fund-of-funds investor by committing capital to established private equity funds, and engaging in direct co-investments alongside these funds into promising growth companies. This blend allows them to diversify risk while gaining exposure to high-potential enterprises.

The firm's investment mandate is sharply focused on two key sectors: technology and healthtech. Within these domains, Swisscanto Private Equity seeks out companies poised for significant expansion, typically those that have moved beyond the early startup phase and are seeking capital for scaling operations, market penetration, or strategic acquisitions. Geographically, their investment activities span primarily across Europe and North America, reflecting a global outlook in identifying robust growth opportunities.

Zürcher Kantonalbank has a long-standing commitment to private equity, having initiated its investments in this asset class as early as 1998. Over the decades, ZKB has cultivated a substantial private equity portfolio, which has grown to exceed CHF 5 billion (approximately USD 5.5 billion). This extensive experience and capital base underpin Swisscanto Private Equity's operations, providing a stable foundation for its investment activities. Through its fund-of-funds strategy, Swisscanto Private Equity has built a diversified portfolio across more than 100 fund managers, which in turn provides exposure to over 1,000 underlying companies. While precise individual first cheque sizes for their direct co-investments are not publicly disclosed, their focus on late-stage growth capital implies substantial commitments aligned with the significant funding rounds typical for companies in these phases.