VI Partners
VI Partners is the longest-established Swiss venture capital firm (founded 2001), investing Seed and Series A capital in technology and healthcare startups, having deployed CHF 400M across 72-73 companies and closing a new CHF 150M fund in January 2026.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2001
- HeadquartersAltendorf, Switzerland
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What VI Partners does
VI Partners is the longest-established venture capital firm in Switzerland, founded in 2001 by ETH Zurich and McKinsey Switzerland and headquartered in Altendorf. Operating as Vi Partners AG under Swiss FinSA regulation, the firm invests at Seed and Series A stages in two verticals: technology (mission-critical software, AI, fintech, and industrial applications) and healthcare (biotech, medtech, and digital health). Across 25+ years the firm has deployed approximately CHF 400 million into 72-73 portfolio companies and produced five unicorns, including Nexthink (acquired by Vista Equity Partners at a $3 billion valuation in 2025), Araris Biotech (acquired by Taiho Pharmaceutical for up to $1.14 billion), Oculis (NASDAQ-listed), and SumUp (reportedly pursuing an IPO at $10-15 billion). The firm has a small investment team (11-50 employees) led by managing partners Arnd Kaltofen, Olivier Laplace, Diego Braguglia, and Gaetano Zanon, supported by founder/senior advisor Alain Nicod, venture partner Daniel Gutenberg, operating partner Yassine Zaied, and partner Julien Pache.
VI Partners firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- VI Partners
- Legal name
- Vi Partners AG
- Website
- https://vipartners.ch
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2001
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- VI Partners is the longest-established Swiss venture capital firm (founded 2001), investing Seed and Series A capital in technology and healthcare startups, having deployed CHF 400M across 72-73 companies and closing a new CHF 150M fund in January 2026.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
VI Partners industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Venture Capital
- NAICS
- Portfolio Management and Investment Advice (523940), Other Financial Investment Activities (5239)
- SIC
- Investors, Nec (6799)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Sector-Focused Venture Capital (Vertical Specialists) (FSANAAAD)
Keywords
Where VI Partners is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Altendorf
- HQ country
- Switzerland
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices1 record
Markets served
VI Partners business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others
Revenue model
- Venture Capital Fund Management: VI Partners generates revenue through management fees on assets under management and carried interest (performance fees) from successful portfolio company exits. The firm manages multiple funds including a new CHF 150 million fund targeting Seed and Series A investments.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels2 records
Marketing channels4 records
VI Partners product offering
Product offeringCore offering
VI Partners is a Swiss venture capital firm that provides Seed and Series A equity financing to early-stage startups in technology (mission-critical software, AI, fintech, industrial applications) and healthcare (biotech, medtech, digital health) sectors. The firm pairs capital with board-level strategic guidance, operating partner support, and introductions to its network of Swiss corporate partners and international co-investors. Its most recent vehicle is a CHF 150 million fund with first close completed in January 2026.
Product overview
VI Partners is a Swiss venture capital firm that provides investment funding and support to early-stage technology and healthcare startups at Seed and Series A stages. The firm does not offer traditional software products or services but rather acts as an investor and partner to portfolio companies developing various technologies and therapies.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- CHF 150 Million Venture Capital Fund A CHF 150 million venture capital fund investing in Seed and Series A technology and healthcare startups in Switzerland and Europe. For institutional limited partners and the founders receiving investment.
Quantifiable outcome
- 5 unicorns generated from portfolio including Nexthink ($3B), Araris Biotech (up to $1.14B acquisition), Oculis (NASDAQ listed)
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use VI Partners
Customer profileNamed customers7 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
VI Partners technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
VI Partners partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and flagship.
- European Medicines AgencycoreOculis received EMA PRIME designation for Privosegtor, advancing a potential first-in-class neuroprotective candidate for optic neuritis. This regulatory milestone validates the drug candidate's potential.
- FDAcoreOculis, a VI Partners portfolio company, had a positive FDA meeting regarding Privosegtor (OCS-05) for acute optic neuritis, advancing the neuroprotective candidate into registrational trials (PIONEER program).
- Taiho PharmaceuticalflagshipTaiho Pharmaceutical fully acquired Araris Biotech AG, a VI Partners portfolio company, for USD 400 million at closing plus up to USD 740 million in milestone payments (total up to USD 1.14 billion). This represents VI Partners' successful exit from Araris following a research collaboration that began in November 2023.
- Chugai PharmaceuticalcoreAraris Biotech entered a Research Collaboration and Option to License Agreement with Chugai Pharmaceutical to develop next-generation ADCs using Araris' proprietary AraLinQ technology. Araris eligible for up to USD 780 million in milestone payments plus royalties.
- Taiho PharmaceuticalcoreAraris Biotech and Taiho Pharmaceutical entered initial research collaboration to develop next-generation ADCs using Araris' proprietary linker-conjugation technology. This collaboration preceded Taiho's acquisition of Araris.
Scale indicators6 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights5 records
VI Partners competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Creandum: Northern European (Stockholm/Berlin/San Francisco) early-stage venture capital firm. While geographically focused on Nordics rather than Switzerland, Creandum competes for similar Seed/Series A European technology opportunities and represents a comparable category of European VC.
- Atomico: European-focused technology venture capital firm founded by Skype's Niklas Zennström. While significantly larger and broader in geography than VI Partners, Atomico targets similar category-creating technology companies and competes for European founder mindshare.
- Earlybird Venture Capital: One of Europe's leading early-stage VCs with a healthcare/biotech franchise (Earlybird Health) directly comparable to VI Partners' healthcare practice. Operates from Berlin/Munich/London and is a relevant peer for European Seed/Series A healthcare investing.
- Index Ventures: One of Europe's largest venture capital firms with deep technology and healthcare franchises. While far larger than VI Partners, Index competes for the same category-defining European Seed/Series A opportunities and provides a benchmark for successful European VC outcomes.
- Speedinvest: Vienna-based European early-stage venture capital firm with sector-focused funds across technology verticals. Comparable in Seed/Series A focus but operates at substantially larger fund sizes and broader European footprint than VI Partners.
- Balderton Capital: London-based early-stage venture capital firm investing in European technology companies. Operates at significantly larger fund sizes but competes for similar Seed/Series A European technology founders and has co-invested in companies like SumUp.
Direct peers
- btov Partners: European venture capital firm founded in 2000 with offices in Switzerland, Germany, and the Baltics. Operates multiple sector-focused funds including digital, industrial, and biotech strategies, directly comparable to VI Partners' Seed/Series A model and Swiss/European footprint.
- Redalpine Venture Partners: Swiss-founded European venture capital firm with a multi-stage tech and healthcare thesis. Comparable to VI Partners in geography and Seed/Series A focus, making it a directly competitive peer for Swiss and European early-stage deal flow.
- Endeavour Vision: Swiss/European medtech and digital health-focused VC. Co-led CeQur's $115M round alongside VI Partners-backed companies, sharing a deep tech and healthcare thesis with direct co-investment overlap.
- Verve Ventures: Swiss early-stage VC investing in technology and healthcare across Switzerland and Europe. New VI Partners Partner Julien Pache previously led investment at Verve Ventures, making this a directly comparable European Seed/Series A firm with overlapping thesis and geography.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
VI Partners social profiles
Digital presenceVI Partners financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
VI Partners leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles8 records
VI Partners funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
VI Partners M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments113 records
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about VI Partners
What does VI Partners do?
VI Partners is a Swiss venture capital firm that provides Seed and Series A equity financing to early-stage startups in technology (mission-critical software, AI, fintech, industrial applications) and healthcare (biotech, medtech, digital health) sectors. The firm pairs capital with board-level strategic guidance, operating partner support, and introductions to its network of Swiss corporate partners and international co-investors. Its most recent vehicle is a CHF 150 million fund with first close completed in January 2026.
Is VI Partners a public or private company?
VI Partners is a private company. It is classified as unknown and is currently operating.
When was VI Partners founded?
VI Partners was founded in 2001. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is VI Partners based?
VI Partners is headquartered in Altendorf, Switzerland, in the Europe region.
How does VI Partners make money?
One revenue line is on record: venture Capital Fund Management.
Who are VI Partners's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Creandum, Atomico, Earlybird Venture Capital, Index Ventures, Speedinvest and Balderton Capital. Direct peers are btov Partners, Redalpine Venture Partners, Endeavour Vision and Verve Ventures.
Does VI Partners have an API?
No public API is recorded for VI Partners.
What industry is VI Partners in?
VI Partners's product category is Venture Capital. Its primary akta.pro industry code is FSANAAAD, Sector-Focused Venture Capital (Vertical Specialists). Its NAICS code is 523940 and its SIC code is 6799.