BackBone Ventures
BackBone Ventures is a Zurich-based early-stage venture capital firm founded in 2018 that manages the EUR 20 million 5502 Fund, providing pre-seed capital to underrepresented founders (migrants, women in male-dominated fields, socioeconomically disadvantaged) across Germany and Switzerland.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2018
- HeadquartersZürich, Switzerland
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What BackBone Ventures does
BackBone Ventures is a privately held, Zurich-headquartered early-stage venture capital firm founded in 2018 that manages the "5502 Fund," a EUR 20 million pre-seed vehicle launched in September 2022. The firm invests at the earliest stages (typically EUR 300k-400k lead checks, below EUR 1m rounds) into founders with strong character and large addressable markets, with an explicit thesis of backing underrepresented founders — specifically 1st and 2nd generation migrants, women in male-dominated sectors, and socioeconomically disadvantaged entrepreneurs — across Germany and Switzerland, with capability to invest across Europe.
The firm runs a deliberately narrow pre-seed remit and broad sector scope (robotics, HealthTech, SaaS, D2C, AI, ClimateTech, food tech, deep tech), illustrated by portfolio companies such as Eternal AG (autonomous greenhouse harvesting robots), Zeeg (AI-powered Booking CRM), Adon Health (digital hormone health), Aepsy (mental health platform), 8hours (premium sleep supplements), Reshape Systems (generative AI risk analysis), and Meloon GmbH (nanoporous CO2 separation membranes). Co-investor relationships with HTGF, IBB Ventures, Berlin Angel Fund, Simon Capital, Oyster Bay Venture Capital, and EquityPitcher Ventures extend deal flow and follow-on capacity.
The business generates revenue primarily through management fees on the EUR 20m 5502 Fund and, opportunistically, through carried interest on successful exits. The firm operates from a Zurich headquarters (BackBone Ventures AG) and a Frankfurt office (Backbone Ventures GmbH at TechQuartier), is staffed by 1-10 employees organized around four Managing Partners (Dr. Jan Claudio Muñoz, Philippe Bernet, Miklos Stanek, Louis-Paul Zuppinger) supplemented by a Board of Directors and Venture Partners with senior operating backgrounds at Bain & Company, KKR, Julius Bär, HSBC Guyerzeller, Digitec Galaxus, and ETH-affiliated ventures.
BackBone Ventures firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- BackBone Ventures
- Legal name
- BackBone Ventures AG
- Website
- https://backbone.vc
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2018
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- BackBone Ventures is a Zurich-based early-stage venture capital firm founded in 2018 that manages the EUR 20 million 5502 Fund, providing pre-seed capital to underrepresented founders (migrants, women in male-dominated fields, socioeconomically disadvantaged) across Germany and Switzerland.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
BackBone Ventures industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Venture Capital
- NAICS
- Portfolio Management and Investment Advice (523940)
- SIC
- Investment Advice (6282)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Early-Stage Venture Capital (Pre-Seed/Seed) (FSANAAAA)
Keywords
Where BackBone Ventures is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Zürich
- HQ country
- Switzerland
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices2 records
Markets served
BackBone Ventures business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Others, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Fund Management: Early-stage venture capital firm managing the Backbone Ventures 5502 Fund, a EUR 20m pre-seed fund focused on Germany and Switzerland. Generates returns through equity stakes in portfolio companies.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels2 records
BackBone Ventures product offering
Product offeringCore offering
BackBone Ventures is an early-stage venture capital firm that invests at the pre-seed stage in startups, primarily in Germany and Switzerland, through its 5502 Fund (EUR 20 million). The firm targets underrepresented founders, including 1st and 2nd generation migrants, women in male-dominated sectors, and socioeconomically disadvantaged entrepreneurs, typically leading EUR 300,000–400,000 rounds with total rounds usually below EUR 1 million. In addition to capital, the firm provides hands-on operational support and access to a network of partners and venture partners.
Product overview
BackBone Ventures is an early-stage venture capital firm that operates the 5502 Fund, a EUR 20 million pre-seed fund targeting underrepresented founders in Germany and Switzerland. The firm provides venture capital investment services and portfolio company support rather than traditional technology products. Their investment portfolio spans diverse industries including robotics, health technology, fintech, food tech, deep tech, and climate tech.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- 5502 Fund: EUR 20 million pre-seed fund targeting underrepresented founders in Germany and Switzerland, named after postal code 5502 of Pachacamita, Chile.
Products and services
- 5502 Fund A EUR 20 million pre-seed venture capital fund managed by BackBone Ventures AG that invests in early-stage startups in Germany and Switzerland, specifically targeting underrepresented founders (1st and 2nd generation migrants, women in male-dominated environments, and socioeconomically disadvantaged entrepreneurs). Typical rounds are below EUR 1m with lead investments of EUR 300k–400k. The fund name '5502' references the postal code of Pachacamita, Chile.
Companies that use BackBone Ventures
Customer profileNamed customers6 records
Segments1 record
Ideal customer profiles1 record
BackBone Ventures technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
BackBone Ventures partnerships and signals
Strategic signalScale indicators3 records
Recent moves5 records
Expansion highlights5 records
BackBone Ventures competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Picus Capital: Munich-based early-stage VC that invests in pre-seed and seed rounds across Europe. Closely comparable by stage, geography, and check size philosophy to BackBone Ventures.
- UVC Partners: Munich-based early-stage VC focused on deep-tech and digital startups at pre-seed/seed stages. Comparable in DACH geographic focus and early-stage thesis to BackBone Ventures.
- Cavalry Ventures: Berlin-based early-stage VC focused on pre-seed and seed rounds in European technology startups. Operates a similar stage and geography playbook to BackBone Ventures.
- La Famiglia: European early-stage VC investing in pre-seed and seed technology companies across Europe. Comparable stage, pan-European footprint, and sector-agnostic orientation to BackBone Ventures.
- Female Founders Fund: US-based early-stage fund investing where women are key stakeholders, with a thesis that overlaps BackBone's underrepresented-founder focus. Same pre-seed/seed stage and 'founder-first' investment style.
- High-Tech Gründerfonds (HTGF): Bonn-based German pre-seed/seed VC that has co-invested directly with BackBone Ventures (e.g., Zeeg EUR 1.1m pre-seed). Same stage and DACH geographic focus, making it the most direct functional peer.
- BBG Ventures: New York-based VC that was among the first US funds focused on underrepresented founders. Comparable thesis (founders, not ideas) and pre-seed stage, though US-focused rather than DACH.
- Speedinvest: Vienna-based early-stage VC with deep DACH and broader EU footprint, investing at pre-seed through Series A. Operates a multi-sector, early-stage thesis overlapping with BackBone Ventures' strategy.
Broad incumbents
- Earlybird Venture Capital: One of Europe's longest-established VCs with strong Berlin/European presence and a focus on technology across seed to growth. Operates in the same DACH pre-seed ecosystem but at materially larger AUM.
- HV Capital: Munich-based venture capital firm investing across seed, growth, and late stages in Europe. Overlaps with BackBone Ventures in DACH geography but operates a much broader, multi-stage strategy.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat3 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
BackBone Ventures social profiles
Digital presenceBackBone Ventures financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
BackBone Ventures leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles11 records
BackBone Ventures funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
BackBone Ventures M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments61 records
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about BackBone Ventures
What does BackBone Ventures do?
BackBone Ventures is an early-stage venture capital firm that invests at the pre-seed stage in startups, primarily in Germany and Switzerland, through its 5502 Fund (EUR 20 million). The firm targets underrepresented founders, including 1st and 2nd generation migrants, women in male-dominated sectors, and socioeconomically disadvantaged entrepreneurs, typically leading EUR 300,000–400,000 rounds with total rounds usually below EUR 1 million. In addition to capital, the firm provides hands-on operational support and access to a network of partners and venture partners.
Is BackBone Ventures a public or private company?
BackBone Ventures is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was BackBone Ventures founded?
BackBone Ventures was founded in 2018. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is BackBone Ventures based?
BackBone Ventures is headquartered in Zürich, Switzerland, in the Europe region.
How does BackBone Ventures make money?
One revenue line is on record: fund Management.
Who are BackBone Ventures's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Picus Capital, UVC Partners, Cavalry Ventures, La Famiglia, Female Founders Fund, High-Tech Gründerfonds (HTGF), BBG Ventures and Speedinvest. Broad incumbents are Earlybird Venture Capital and HV Capital.
Does BackBone Ventures have an API?
No public API is recorded for BackBone Ventures.
What industry is BackBone Ventures in?
BackBone Ventures's product category is Venture Capital. Its primary akta.pro industry code is FSANAAAA, Early-Stage Venture Capital (Pre-Seed/Seed). Its NAICS code is 523940 and its SIC code is 6282.