StartAngels Network

What StartAngels Network does

StartAngels Network (SAN) is a Zurich-based, non-profit association (Verein) founded in 1999 that connects early-stage Swiss startups with a membership of approximately 85 experienced business angels. The organization does not invest its own capital; instead, it curates and channels deal flow from individual angel members, who typically invest CHF 50,000–200,000 per company in total rounds of CHF 0.5–3 million. SAN invests exclusively in Swiss companies and operates an event-driven go-to-market model centered on three annual pitching events co-hosted with Swiss bank partners (Zürcher Kantonalbank, Bank Vontobel, and Rothschild & Co), supplemented by a structured application, pre-screening, and mentorship process.

The core service consists of a gated investment funnel: startups submit a FactSheet and Pitch Deck, the board pre-selects 3–5 companies per event, each selected startup is assigned a "godfather/godmother" mentor (Götti/Gotte) from the network, and pitching training is provided before the public event. After the event, lead angels organize due diligence and term-sheet negotiations through to closing, with ongoing board representation and coaching support for portfolio companies. The association also maintains ecosystem partnerships with ETH Transfer, EPFL, venturelab, sictic, Swiss Startup Invest, Zühlke Ventures, investiere, and Fongit to source deal flow.

Governance is provided by a Board of Directors co-chaired by Norbert Zeller and Dr. Gisela Reichmuth, with Peter H. Müller as Vice-President and additional board members including Dr. Marc Bär, Martin Burkhardt, Peter Früh, Dr. Friedrich G. Hoepfner, Lukas Knecht, and Dr. Erich Platzer; day-to-day operations are led by Managing Director Elisabeth Schoch. Since inception, SAN has facilitated 160+ financing rounds (103 led by the network), with 2025 activity of 17 rounds, 13 portfolio companies, 4 new companies, CHF 21.5 million deployed, and 1 productive exit (Mininavident AG acquired by Straumann Group in August 2024); notable prior exits include VirtaMed (2017), Creoptix (2022), and Diviac-Reisen (2017). SAN does not charge fees to startups.

Name

StartAngels Network

Legal name

StartAngels Network

Website

https://startangels.ch

Company type

Private

Founded year

1999

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Angel Investing Network

NAICS

Miscellaneous Financial Investment Activities (523999)

SIC

Investment Advice (6282), Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Micro-VC & Angel Funds (FSANAAAI)

Keywords

• Angel investing network
• Startup financing
• Venture capital
• Seed investment
• Investor matching

Headquarters

HQ city

Zürich

HQ country

Switzerland

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Membership Services (Non-Profit): StartAngels Network is a non-profit association that does not invest by itself. The organization facilitates connections between Swiss startups and experienced angel investors. Members invest as individuals on their own account. No fees are charged to startups for the investment process.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

StartAngels Network is a non-profit business angel association that facilitates connections between Swiss early-stage startups and approximately 85 experienced angel investors. The network operates a structured investment process including FactSheet and Pitch Deck submission, board pre-screening, and three annual pitching events hosted in partnership with Swiss banks (Zürcher Kantonalbank, Bank Vontobel, Rothschild & Co). Members invest individually on their own account, with individual investments typically ranging from CHF 50,000 to 200,000 per company and total investment rounds of CHF 0.5 to 3 million. Selected startups receive an assigned godfather/godmother mentor, pitching training, and access to experienced board members.

Product overview

StartAngels Network is a non-profit business angel association that facilitates contact between Swiss start-ups and experienced investors. The organization does not offer a technology product; rather, it provides an investment network service consisting of three annual pitching events where selected start-ups present to investors, a structured investment process (from project submission through pre-screening, selection, kick-off, term sheet negotiation, to closing), and ongoing coaching support through assigned mentors (Götti/Gotte system) for portfolio companies. Individual StartAngels invest CHF 50–200k per company, with total investment rounds typically ranging from CHF 0.5 to 3 million. The network has approximately 85 members and has facilitated over 160 financing rounds since inception.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Quarterly Pitching Events
• Startup Mentorship Program
• Angel Network Membership

Quantifiable outcome

• 160+ financing rounds facilitated since inception (1999)
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and supporting.

• Rothschild & CocoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 22 October 2025Autumn pitching event co-hosted with Rothschild & Co in October 2025. Includes panel discussion with SAN board members on investment topics.
• Zürcher Kantonalbank (ZKB)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSwiss cantonal bank partners with SAN to host quarterly pitching events. ZKB provides access to their private banking clients interested in startup investments. Joint pitching event held annually at ZKB headquarters.
• Bank VontobelcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAnnual pitching event co-hosted at Vontobel headquarters. Partnership enables Vontobel to present attractive private equity opportunities to their clients.
• Swiss Startup InvestsupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerPartnership for deal flow optimization. Swiss Startup Invest refers promising startups to SAN for potential investment.
• venturesupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerSwiss venture organization partnering for ecosystem integration and deal sourcing.
• sicticsupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerPartnership for startup ecosystem connection and deal flow optimization.
• venturelabsupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerPartnership for deal flow and ecosystem integration with Swiss startup support programs.
• ETH TransfersupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerPartnership with ETH Zurich's technology transfer office. ETH spin-offs represent a significant pipeline of investment-ready startups. Up to 30 spin-offs annually from ETH Zurich.
• EPFLsupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerPartnership with École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne for startup ecosystem connection.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Market position

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/startangelsnet
• Facebookfacebook.com/startangelsnetwork

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles11 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments31 records

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about StartAngels Network