2018 Startup GUIDE - 10th Edition
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44 | COVER STORIES<br />
SVC Ltd. for Risk Capital for SMEs<br />
CHF 30 MILLION FOCUSED ON FINTECH<br />
The fintech sector is a rather new area of investment for SVC Ltd.<br />
and is being handled somewhat differently than robotics & automation<br />
and medtech. Funding will be provided to companies<br />
that develop digital finance-related innovations and bring them<br />
to the market. Some of these companies operate in a similar area<br />
to Credit Suisse itself or they offer solutions for the bank’s value<br />
chain. As such, the bank sees an opportunity to be actively involved<br />
in the young fintech space and to potentially use these innovations<br />
itself or for its clients’ benefit. Credit Suisse is providing<br />
investment capital of CHF 30 million for this area. The investment<br />
decisions are made by a dedicated fintech investment committee,<br />
newly established for this purpose and comprising both experts<br />
from within Credit Suisse and external members.<br />
GENERAL INVESTMENT CRITERIA:<br />
• Entrepreneurs with complementary skill sets and relevant track<br />
records<br />
• Innovative, well-thought-out business model with clear USPs<br />
• Evidence of market acceptance with actual sales generated<br />
• Activity with close ties to Switzerland<br />
• Successful investment realization within maximum four to seven<br />
years<br />
• Ability to develop company both organically and non-organically<br />
• No legacy issues (restructuring cases)<br />
• AG or GmbH legal form (with at least CHF 100,000 paid-in<br />
capital)<br />
ORGANIZATION & GOVERNANCE<br />
Helvetica Capital AG (Helvetica) has been responsible for investment<br />
portfolio management on behalf of SVC Ltd. since September<br />
2015. In general, the portfolio companies are managed by<br />
supporting them at a strategic level, usually by joining the respective<br />
boards.<br />
SVC Ltd. itself is managed by a broadly-based Board of Directors<br />
that is supported by the SVC Ltd. operations team. The investment<br />
decisions are made by an independent investment committee.<br />
PARTNERS<br />
For 17 years, the Swiss Venture Club has single-mindedly pursued<br />
its mission to encourage and connect entrepreneurs. As an independent<br />
organization with over 3,000 members, it sees itself as<br />
a platform for dialogue between entrepreneurs and has created<br />
fertile ground for successful entrepreneurial ideas and business<br />
opportunities. Through its partnership with SVC Ltd., it is able to<br />
identify alternative financing solutions for SMEs, while SVC Ltd. in<br />
turn benefits from the club’s extensive network.<br />
Helvetica Capital AG was founded in August 2015. It is an autonomous<br />
company, and fully independent of SVC Ltd. One of its<br />
key responsibilities is to manage and continuously develop SVC<br />
Ltd.’s portfolio.<br />
In keeping with its guiding principle of promoting Swiss entrepreneurship<br />
over the long term, the company also runs a platform<br />
for Swiss entrepreneurs and investors. The new platform aims to<br />
bring the best entrepreneurs together with the best Swiss SMEs,<br />
thus ensuring active and sustainable development for these SMEs.<br />
Facts and Contact<br />
Organization<br />
Foundation 2010<br />
Employees<br />
Postal Address<br />
Contact Person<br />
Webpage<br />
SVC-Ltd. for Risk Capital for SMEs<br />
2 (11 advisors)<br />
Europaallee 1, 8004 Zurich<br />
Elios Elsener<br />
info@svc-risikokapital.ch<br />
+41 (0)44 333 10 63<br />
www.svc-risikokapital.ch<br />
SWISS STARTUP <strong>GUIDE</strong> <strong>2018</strong>
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