Innovation is a risky business.

In Switzerland, taking risks is generally frowned upon. Wealth management clients do not like it. The middle class spurns it. Anything that is new and perhaps a slight bit dangerous will be viewed with general suspicion.

But some people look beyond.

They have a different perspective - and a different mindset.

Business angels are a common breed in America. Not so much in Europe and Switzerland.

Here are 11 of the most adventurous - and successful - (angel) investors in Switzerland to keep an eye on in 2024.

Michael Sidler

One of two prominent names on this list from Redalpine, Michael Sidler forms the younger half of the dynamic duo that started one of Switzerland’s fastest-growing VCs. After receiving a PhD in Life Sciences from the University of Zurich, Sidler transitioned from molecular biology to venture capital. Along the way, he made a stop at Boston Consulting Group and as a business development manager at Prionics AG. Redalpine, as a firm, focuses on sectors such as Software, FinTech, Financial Services, Information Technology, and Health Care, with notable investments including N26, RosieReality, and TrekkSoft. Sidler's expertise extends beyond strict investment acumen, as he serves on several boards and advisory roles, including Araris Biotech AG and Maximon, and has been actively involved in SECA, the Swiss Private Equity and Corporate Finance Association.

Magdalena Tarasinska

Not all of the top angel investors in Switzerland started out in the country. Magdalena Tarasinka graduated with a Master’s in economics from the University of Maria Curie Sklodowska in Poland in 2004. In 2018, now already in Switzerland, she joined wealth management startup WealthArc as CFO/COO and then became involved in World Business Angels Investment Forum. Tarasinska also became a board member of the Swiss ICT Investor Club (SICTIC) in 2017 and continues as VP of Investments.

Thomas Dübendorfer

Thomas Dübendorfer, president of the Swiss ICT Investor Club (SICTIC) has made a name for himself as a charismatic startup promoter and a unique figure in the Swiss tech scenes.. As an angel investor, he has been instrumental in supporting numerous ventures, including notable successes such as Frontify, which has grown to employ around 130 people with international offices, and Contovista, a fintech startup he co-founded. Dübendorfer's portfolio also includes 9T Labs, another Swiss startup he co-founded, and Spontacts AG, an activity-based social network that achieved a successful exit when acquired by the Scout24 Group. He is a frequent speaker and contributer to START Summit in St. Gallen. His involvement through SICTIC spans over 250 Swiss startups that have collectively created more than 4000 jobs in Switzerland.

Shira Kaplan

Shira Kaplan has made her money securely - literally. As a well-known cybersecurity entrepreneur and investor in Zurich, Kaplan has carved out a niche for herself among Swiss angel investors. She is the founder and CEO of Cyverse AG, where she introduces cutting-edge Israeli cybersecurity solutions to European corporations. Kaplan's background includes service in the Israeli 8200 Elite Technology Unit and management roles at Teva Pharmaceuticals and Julius Baer. She has also established Cyverse Capital, an investor group of executives targeting early-stage cybersecurity startups. Kaplan has earned recognition as a World Economic Forum Young Global Leader and a Digital Shaper by BILANZ. Some of her most prominent investments include Fireblocks and APEX.

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Mathias Ruch

Mathias Ruch’s original claim to fame was his role in the hit Swiss TV show “Joya Rennt” and “Fashion Days Model Challenge” as well as the Bern-based Faro TV. After a successful run and a move to Ringier as head of Ringier TV in 2008. As a Swiss angel investor and co-founder of CVVC, specializing in early-stage investments in fintech, blockchain, and disruptive technologies, Ruch helped establish the global footprint of Zug's Crypto Valley as a blockchain hub. Ruch and his co-investors at CVVC has supported startups like CoreLedger, CasperLabs, AdHash and Liquity. He also plays an active role in supporting the entrepreneurial community through CV Labs and the CV Summit, fostering innovation in Switzerland’s growing blockchain ecosystem.

Tobias Reichmuth

Best known for founding SUSI Partners and co-founding Maximon, both of which focus on sustainable and longevity investments, Tobias Reichmuth is one of the more colorful figures in the Swiss startup and investment scene. With a Ph.D. from the University of St. Gallen, he has a strong background in business and finance. He primarily invests in health tech, fintech, and sustainability sectors, with a notable focus on longevity startups like Avea Life. Through his work at Maximon, he actively supports startups that leverage technology for health and well-being. Before getting into the longevity space, Reichmuth was a co-founder of Crypto Finance Group and the longest-running crypto event in Switzerland - Crypto Finance Conference in St. Moritz. He has been a frequent member of Höhle der Löwen (the Swiss equivalent of Shark Tank) where he shines with unique wit and sharp commentary.

Peter Niederhauser

If there is a “godfather of Swiss angel and venture investors” today, it is Peter Niederhauser. As a Founding Partner at Redalpine Venture Partners AG since January 2007 he has played a major role in building up the Swiss VC community. His entrepreneurial journey began while he was still a student, founding an enterprise software company that quickly became a market leader, grew to several hundred employees, and successfully went public in 1999. His investment portfolio includes successful companies such as N26, JUNIQE, bexio, Carvolution, and Kenjo, with N26 being one of his most notable investments, having raised a total of $820 million across multiple funding rounds. Niederhauser's expertise spans various sectors, including fintech, e-commerce, SaaS, and mobility.

Florian Schweitzer

Co-founder of b2venture (formerly btov), Florian Schweitzer holds a degree in international business administration from the University of St. Gallen, where he was also involved in establishing START Global, a student-run organization fostering entrepreneurship and technological innovation. Schweitzer has been involved in SECA (Swiss Private Equity & Corporate Finance Association) which awards the annual Business Angel of the Year award. Although his personal checks are often aligned with those of b2venture, some of the investments with his involvement include: SumUp, Raisin and Ledgy.

Anat Bar-Gera

Few angel investors in Switzerland have hit as many “home runs” as Anat Bar-Gera. A native of Israel and a veteran of UBS investment banking and , she founded Winmax Telecom (acquired by AT&T), RSLCom Austria (acquired by RSLCom) and Airpage (acquired by Telenor). After success as an entrepreneur herself, she continued her winning streak with investments in Revolut, Fireblocks, Tomorrow.io and CyberX (acquired by Microsoft). Besides here investment activities, Bar-Gera is a member of the Steering Committee of Digital Switzerland, and a member of the World Economic Forum's European Digital Leaders network. She holds an MBA from INSEAD and an LL.B. from the Hebrew University in Tel Aviv.

Alex Stöckl

Alex Stöckl is a Founding Partner at Founderful (formerly Wingman Ventures) in Zurich where helped in raising $85 million for Founderful’s Fund II. Stöckl's portfolio boasts successful exits like Insightness (acquired by Sony) and Bring! Labs (acquired by Swiss Post), with notable investments in companies such as Anthropos, DePoly, and Oxyle. Beyond Founderful, Stöckl serves on the jury of Venture Kick and has been instrumental in shaping the Swiss startup landscape, also at Croth Ventures where he invested before joining Wingman/Founderful.

David Studer

Another seasoned angel investor with connections to , David Studer has been broadly active in startups and VC investments for several years. In 2009, he helped found Xovis which he led as CEO until 2019. As an angel investor, he has written checks to nearly 30 different startups and was voted SECA’s Business Angel of the Year in 2023. Studer has invested in, among others, startups such as TieTalent, Oxygen at Work and Yonder. He has also contributed Studer received his degree from the University of St. Gallen.

11 Top (Angel) Investors in Switzerland in 2024