Antefil Composite Tech closes CHF 1.5M pre-seed round and welcomes new board member
23.05.2023
Antefil Composite Tech, a Swiss start-up revolutionizing lightweight structure production for industrial applications, has successfully closed a CHF 1.5M pre-seed financing round. Led by experienced entrepreneur Werner Frei, who now joins the company's board of directors, the round received investments from Unifil AG, Serpentine Ventures AG, and the Kick Foundation. With this funding, Antefil aims to accelerate the industrial production of its innovative hybrid fibers, bringing more cost-efficient and sustainable solutions to the market.
 Antefil's co-founders - Dr. Christoph Schneeberger, Dr. Nicole Aegerter, Prof. Dr. Paolo Ermanni, Dr. Thomas Billeter
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Swiss start-up Antefil Composite Tech is thrilled to announce the successful closure of its CHF 1.5M pre-seed financing round. Led by seasoned entrepreneur Werner Frei, who has also joined the company's board of directors, the round marks a significant milestone for Antefil. The funding will accelerate the industrial production of Antefil's hybrid fibers, leveraging their patent-pending technology that enables cost-efficient and cleaner production of lightweight structures for industrial applications.
The financing round saw participation from esteemed investors, including the Kick Foundation (Fonds Venture Kick), Unifil AG, and Serpentine Ventures AG. Serpentine Ventures and the Kick Foundation had previously closed convertible loan agreements with Antefil. This strong support will enable Antefil to develop its innovative approach to composite production further and expand its operations on a larger scale.
Nicole Aegerter, Antefil's chairwoman, operational lead, and co-founder, expressed her delight in having Werner Frei as an investor and board member. She emphasized his invaluable experience and expertise in building and scaling companies in glass fiber materials and industrial production. Aegerter believes that Frei's involvement will significantly contribute to Antefil's ongoing innovation and development of new composite materials.
Werner Frei, the newest member of Antefil's board of directors, expressed his excitement about joining the company and investing in its revolutionary technology. He acknowledged Antefil's potential to revolutionize the production of composite structures. He emphasized his commitment to working with the team to scale production and bring these innovative materials to the market.
Dr. Christoph Schneeberger, the company's executive lead and co-founder, shared his vision for Antefil three years from now, stating that it aims to scale its annual production to over a kiloton. They also hope to see their materials used in automotive components for series production. He credited the Venture Kick program for its instrumental role in Antefil's success, citing the pragmatic approach, efficient discussions, and inspiration gained from the program.
We asked Dr. Christoph Schneeberger to tell us how the Venture Kick program helped him to get to his current stage of success. «The name certainly says it all! The “kicking spirit” applied by the coaches in the camps and by the jury during the pitching sessions was key for us,» stated him. «Our team thrives on pragmatism, and the interactions with everyone at Venture Kick were always filled with that – and a refreshingly straightforward way of communicating. That meant more efficient and encompassing discussions that weren’t filled with unnecessary and distracting discussions. We always walked away filled with inspiration to critically rethink all aspects of our business plan, enabling us to come back stronger at each stage and also beyond the program.»
We also asked him what his best advice to other founders who are just getting started would be. «Reflect on what you’re good at and identify what (or who) you’re missing. You’re probably not getting much customer feedback yet, so go out and talk to as many relevant people as you can find. Do the research, inform yourself, ask different experts about the same things, and only then form your opinion. That way, you can always argue both sides of the coin, nurture a strong network, and ultimately build real confidence in your plans. And apply to Venture Kick, of course!»
The financing round saw participation from esteemed investors, including the Kick Foundation (Fonds Venture Kick), Unifil AG, and Serpentine Ventures AG. Serpentine Ventures and the Kick Foundation had previously closed convertible loan agreements with Antefil. This strong support will enable Antefil to develop its innovative approach to composite production further and expand its operations on a larger scale.
Nicole Aegerter, Antefil's chairwoman, operational lead, and co-founder, expressed her delight in having Werner Frei as an investor and board member. She emphasized his invaluable experience and expertise in building and scaling companies in glass fiber materials and industrial production. Aegerter believes that Frei's involvement will significantly contribute to Antefil's ongoing innovation and development of new composite materials.
Werner Frei, the newest member of Antefil's board of directors, expressed his excitement about joining the company and investing in its revolutionary technology. He acknowledged Antefil's potential to revolutionize the production of composite structures. He emphasized his commitment to working with the team to scale production and bring these innovative materials to the market.
Dr. Christoph Schneeberger, the company's executive lead and co-founder, shared his vision for Antefil three years from now, stating that it aims to scale its annual production to over a kiloton. They also hope to see their materials used in automotive components for series production. He credited the Venture Kick program for its instrumental role in Antefil's success, citing the pragmatic approach, efficient discussions, and inspiration gained from the program.
We asked Dr. Christoph Schneeberger to tell us how the Venture Kick program helped him to get to his current stage of success. «The name certainly says it all! The “kicking spirit” applied by the coaches in the camps and by the jury during the pitching sessions was key for us,» stated him. «Our team thrives on pragmatism, and the interactions with everyone at Venture Kick were always filled with that – and a refreshingly straightforward way of communicating. That meant more efficient and encompassing discussions that weren’t filled with unnecessary and distracting discussions. We always walked away filled with inspiration to critically rethink all aspects of our business plan, enabling us to come back stronger at each stage and also beyond the program.»
We also asked him what his best advice to other founders who are just getting started would be. «Reflect on what you’re good at and identify what (or who) you’re missing. You’re probably not getting much customer feedback yet, so go out and talk to as many relevant people as you can find. Do the research, inform yourself, ask different experts about the same things, and only then form your opinion. That way, you can always argue both sides of the coin, nurture a strong network, and ultimately build real confidence in your plans. And apply to Venture Kick, of course!»
Additional Links
- Startups developing 3D-printed medical devices, microengineered hybrid fibers, an online marketplace for insurance, digital health interventions, and a device for visually impaired users win CHF 10,000 each
- Antefil Composite Tech wins CHF 150,000 to transform the production of lightweight structures