Founderful

# Founderful: Switzerland's Pre-Seed Venture Capital Leader

High-Level Overview

Founderful is a Zurich-based venture capital firm that specializes in pre-seed stage investments, positioning itself as the lead investor in founders' first financing rounds[1][2]. The firm's mission centers on democratizing early-stage funding by offering founder-friendly terms and comprehensive support to Swiss technology startups with global ambitions[1]. Rather than perpetuating what it views as outdated practices—unfavorable terms, excessive early dilution, and conservative risk profiles imposed by traditional business angels and family offices—Founderful has built a standardized, repeatable investment model optimized specifically for the pre-seed stage[1].

The firm's investment philosophy reflects its founders' own entrepreneurial backgrounds. By backing startups at their most vulnerable moment—when securing capital is notoriously difficult—Founderful positions itself as a strategic partner rather than a transactional investor[2][4]. Its portfolio spans diverse sectors including biotech, cleantech, deep tech, healthcare IT, and impact-driven ventures[3]. Since inception, Founderful has backed over 50 startups encompassing more than 120 founders, collectively creating thousands of jobs and attracting over $350 million in subsequent funding[1][2].

Origin Story

Founderful was launched in 2019 by Pascal Mathis, co-founder of GetYourGuide (which achieved unicorn status in 2023), and Lukas Weder, co-founder of Eat.ch[1]. This founding team brought direct experience scaling technology companies to the venture capital space, informing their conviction that early-stage founders needed dedicated, specialized support rather than generalist investors.

The firm's evolution reflects a deliberate market opportunity. When Founderful closed its first $90 million fund in 2020, it became Switzerland's first dedicated independent venture capital firm investing exclusively at the pre-seed stage[1]. This specialization was intentional—the founders recognized that pre-seed investing required different expertise, processes, and support infrastructure than later-stage venture capital. By 2024, the firm rebranded from Wingman Ventures to Founderful and raised $85 million for Fund II, targeting a total of $120 million[1]. This growth trajectory demonstrates both market validation and the firm's expanding influence within the Swiss startup ecosystem.

Core Differentiators

Specialized Stage Focus

Founderful's singular focus on pre-seed investing distinguishes it from generalist venture firms. This specialization allows the firm to optimize every aspect of its operations—from due diligence processes to founder support—specifically for companies at their earliest stage[1]. Fund II's typical check sizes of $1 million for pre-seed startups and up to $2 million for seed-stage companies reflect this calibrated approach[1].

Founder-First Operating Model

The firm's team comprises experienced entrepreneurs and operators across finance, legal, people and culture, marketing, and branding[2]. This composition ensures that support extends beyond capital deployment. Founderful provides what it describes as "Swiss clockwork" standardization—consistent, repeatable value-add across its portfolio by leveraging Switzerland's unified accounting standards, service provider networks, and talent pools[1].

Ecosystem Connectivity

Founderful functions as a bridge between Swiss founders and the international venture capital community[1]. Its investor network includes founders of category-defining companies like Duolingo, Climeworks, Scandit, Delivery Hero, and Proton[2]. This network effect creates tangible advantages for portfolio companies seeking Series A and subsequent funding rounds.

Proven Track Record

Fund I invested $60 million into 40 startups, generating 109 founders who collectively created 1,093 jobs[1]. Portfolio companies include Wingtra, DePoly, Ethon AI, Archlet, Corintis, and Oxyle[2]. The fact that Fund I portfolio companies raised over $350 million in additional funding within three years demonstrates both the quality of initial selection and the effectiveness of post-investment support[1].

University-Level Pipeline Development

Through Founderful Campus, a non-profit initiative, the firm actively cultivates the next generation of Swiss founders by providing CHF 25,000 in funding and structured mentorship to university-based startups[5]. This upstream investment in founder talent ensures a sustainable pipeline of high-potential entrepreneurs.

Role in the Broader Tech Landscape

Founderful operates at an inflection point in European venture capital. The pre-seed stage has historically been underserved by institutional capital, forcing founders to cobble together funding from angels, accelerators, and family offices—often on unfavorable terms[1]. By institutionalizing pre-seed investing, Founderful addresses a genuine market gap while simultaneously elevating Switzerland's profile as a technology hub.

The firm's success reflects broader trends: the rise of founder-friendly venture models, the increasing specialization of VC firms around specific stages, and the growing recognition that Switzerland possesses world-class technical talent and entrepreneurial ambition despite its small population. Founderful's ability to attract $85+ million for Fund II signals that limited partners increasingly value focused, repeatable investment theses over generalist approaches.

Moreover, Founderful's emphasis on standardized processes and ecosystem connectivity challenges the traditional venture capital model where success depends heavily on individual partner relationships. By systematizing founder support and creating transparent pathways to follow-on funding, the firm democratizes access to institutional venture capital—a significant shift in how early-stage funding operates.

Quick Take & Future Outlook

Founderful has established itself as the institutional anchor for Swiss pre-seed investing, and its trajectory suggests continued influence. The firm's rebranding and Fund II raise indicate ambitions to scale beyond Switzerland's borders while maintaining its specialized focus. As European venture capital increasingly fragments into stage-specific and thesis-driven funds, Founderful's model—deep expertise in one stage, standardized processes, and founder-centric support—positions it well for sustained relevance.

The key question ahead is whether Founderful can maintain its founder-friendly positioning while managing the pressures of deploying larger funds and meeting return expectations. The firm's investment in Founderful Campus suggests a long-term commitment to ecosystem building rather than short-term capital deployment optimization—a signal that it views its role as structural to Switzerland's tech future, not merely transactional.

As Swiss startups increasingly compete on a global stage, having a dedicated institutional investor who understands local context while maintaining international connectivity becomes increasingly valuable. Founderful's influence will likely extend beyond capital deployment into shaping how early-stage venture capital operates across Europe.