EP #520 - Wanja Humanes: From Lab to Launch: How Kickfund Backs Switzerland’s Brightest Ideas
Swisspreneur Show
Intro
Episode opening, sponsor message from Property, and host introduction to Wanja and Kickfund.
Timestamps:
9:00 – What Is Venture Kick and Kickfund?
12:55 – Why Wanja Joined Kickfund
18:45 – Why Founders & Investors Love Kickfund
27:05 – The Long-Term Vision
This episode was co-produced with KickFund, a VC fund investing in the most promising Swiss deeptech startups. Check out the link in the bio/comments to learn more about them!Episode summary:
Wanja Humanes is the CEO of Kickfund, a Swiss investment fund that invests in leading deep tech startups recognized by the Venture Kick competition, providing strategic support and resources to help them scale and succeed globally. Wanja holds a BA in Business Innovation from the University of St. Gallen.
In his chat with Merle, Wanja shares how Switzerland’s flagship accelerator Venture Kick and its follow-on investment fund create a seamless path from lab to market. He reflects on his years at Swisscom Ventures, lessons from 90+ investments, and why a flexible co-investment strategy beats rigid thesis-driven VC.
Wanja also details Kickfund’s unique model: startups that graduate from Venture Kick can receive up to CHF 1 million in combined non-dilutive grants and follow-on capital—fast, founder-friendly, and backed by a growing community of investors and alumni. For Swiss founders and early-stage investors, it’s a masterclass in building and financing high-impact companies.
The cover portrait was edited by www.smartportrait.io.
Don’t forget to give us a follow on Instagram, Linkedin, TikTok, and Youtube so you can always stay up to date with our latest initiatives. That way, there’s no excuse for missing out on live shows, weekly giveaways or founders' dinners.
The AI-powered Podcast Player
