Building the Future: Wanja Humanes on Leading Kickfund and Empowering Switzerland’s Top Startups
20.08.2024
Wanja Humanes is the CEO of Kickfund AG, the investment management firm that strategically allocates resources to winners of the Venture Kick program through Kickfund Ventures Fund I. Previously, he served as an Investment Director at MTIP, a private equity and venture capital firm specializing in Health Tech. Wanja played a pivotal role in transforming Swisscom Ventures from a conventional corporate venture capital unit into a sophisticated investment entity supported by institutional investors. His earlier career included several board roles, notably as a Board Director at Bring! Labs AG, where he contributed to its successful acquisition in 2021. Wanja is an alumnus of the University of St. Gallen (HSG) and a CFA Charterholder. We interviewed him to learn more about his vision of the Swiss startup ecosystem.
 |
 |
Wanja, thank you for your time for this interview. In June 2023, you have become CEO of Kickfund. In the meantime, the fund has compiled a portfolio of 37 startups. Can you tell us a bit more about your experience and the Kickfund?
Sure, at Kickfund, we are passionately committed to supporting the best of Switzerland's startup ecosystem. With years of experience in venture capital and private equity, I’ve seen firsthand the impact that strategic investments can have on emerging companies.
Earlier this year, we reached a significant milestone with the final closing of Kickfund Ventures Fund I at CHF 75 million. This fund is specifically designed to invest in graduates of the Venture Kick program, which has become a cornerstone of Swiss innovation, consistently producing a large number of the TOP100 Swiss startups. At Kickfund, we aim to invest up to CHF 850,000 in each company, ensuring they have the resources and support needed to succeed. Our mission is to back the next generation of deep tech companies and help them realize their full potential in a highly competitive landscape.
You have been active in the VC scene for 10 years, what attracted you to the Kickfund opportunity?
Having spent a decade in the venture capital scene, starting with my first job at Swisscom Ventures, I felt that I had to take this opportunity with Kickfund for several reasons. Firstly and most importantly, I have a very strong conviction about what Kickfund is investing in. Switzerland is at the forefront of most frontier technology sectors, and Venture Kick is one of the proven launchers and supporters of the winners in this league. Indeed, it is an innovative and superior VC product that excites me: to create a well-diversified portfolio with just Venture Kick winners, akin to creating a Swiss index fund of the nation's top deep-tech startups. But also, professionally, the challenge of designing and operating an investment machine from scratch to manage a high-paced investment strategy with a big portfolio was very attractive. Traditional roles in VC had started to feel repetitive, and the opportunity to take full ownership in developing what I believe could be the most compelling VC investment product in Switzerland was a challenge too tempting to resist. There is nothing like Kickfund in Switzerland, so it represents a special and exciting opportunity and matches very well with my passion for innovation and investment.
Together with Venture Kick, Kickfund offers a 1 million + funding opportunity for starting entrepreneurs: how does this work and how can this make a difference?
At Kickfund, we’ve teamed up with Venture Kick to offer a funding opportunity that can provide CHF 1 million to early-stage entrepreneurs, and the way it works is pretty straightforward. Once a company completes the Venture Kick program and meets our minimal investment criteria, we’re ready to step in with up to CHF 850,000, spread across two rounds of financing. We don’t lead these rounds, but our investment can make a big difference by helping startups close their funding rounds faster. For companies not yet actively raising funds, we also offer a convertible loan of CHF 100,000, matching the award they receive right after they graduate from Venture Kick.
What sets this apart is how it supports founders beyond just the money. Knowing they have an investor strongly committed to following on gives them the peace of mind to focus on building their business without constantly worrying about the next round of funding. Plus, being part of the Kickfund family opens up a lot of doors. We create opportunities for our portfolio companies to connect, share experiences, and learn from each other. And with international investors increasingly looking at Swiss deep tech, being part of Kickfund means getting noticed. We actively promote our startups and help connect them with the right investors, making sure they have the support they need to grow and succeed."
The latest funding reports show a significant decrease in startup funding. What is your assessment and how do you see Kickfund's role in this environment?
The recent funding reports showing a significant decrease in startup funding reflect a broader trend we've been seeing, largely driven by a reduced interest in venture capital as an asset class among limited partners (LPs). In my view, we may have already reached or are close to reaching rock bottom in this cycle. With interest rates starting to decrease in most major regions, I believe we should see asset allocations shift towards venture capital again, and, in turn, we should see better capital availability for startups in the near future.
In this challenging environment, the role of Kickfund becomes even more critical. While the overall capital landscape may be tight, great ideas and innovations are still emerging every day, and it’s our mission to ensure these ideas have the support they need to grow into successful companies. Kickfund’s contributions are essential in helping founders navigate these tough times by providing the necessary funding and backing to secure additional investments. We’re committed to supporting entrepreneurs in their fundraising activities, particularly when capital is harder to come by, ensuring that promising startups don’t just survive but thrive despite the broader funding challenges.
On a personal note, which are the areas you love investing in?
These days, I find myself with a much broader perspective, thanks to the incredible diversity of companies we interact with through the Venture Kick program. I'm constantly learning and amazed by the groundbreaking technologies being developed in Switzerland. From brain stimulation technologies and novel drug release mechanisms to RNA sequencing solutions, sustainable color pigments, and small form factor thermal storage devices, the range of innovations is truly inspiring. What excites me the most is not just the potential for interesting investment opportunities but the prospect that many of these innovations could have a positive impact on the world. Investing in these areas allows us to support startup companies that are not only promising financially but also contribute to making the world a better place.
Find out more about the mission of the Kickfund.
Sure, at Kickfund, we are passionately committed to supporting the best of Switzerland's startup ecosystem. With years of experience in venture capital and private equity, I’ve seen firsthand the impact that strategic investments can have on emerging companies.
Earlier this year, we reached a significant milestone with the final closing of Kickfund Ventures Fund I at CHF 75 million. This fund is specifically designed to invest in graduates of the Venture Kick program, which has become a cornerstone of Swiss innovation, consistently producing a large number of the TOP100 Swiss startups. At Kickfund, we aim to invest up to CHF 850,000 in each company, ensuring they have the resources and support needed to succeed. Our mission is to back the next generation of deep tech companies and help them realize their full potential in a highly competitive landscape.
You have been active in the VC scene for 10 years, what attracted you to the Kickfund opportunity?
Having spent a decade in the venture capital scene, starting with my first job at Swisscom Ventures, I felt that I had to take this opportunity with Kickfund for several reasons. Firstly and most importantly, I have a very strong conviction about what Kickfund is investing in. Switzerland is at the forefront of most frontier technology sectors, and Venture Kick is one of the proven launchers and supporters of the winners in this league. Indeed, it is an innovative and superior VC product that excites me: to create a well-diversified portfolio with just Venture Kick winners, akin to creating a Swiss index fund of the nation's top deep-tech startups. But also, professionally, the challenge of designing and operating an investment machine from scratch to manage a high-paced investment strategy with a big portfolio was very attractive. Traditional roles in VC had started to feel repetitive, and the opportunity to take full ownership in developing what I believe could be the most compelling VC investment product in Switzerland was a challenge too tempting to resist. There is nothing like Kickfund in Switzerland, so it represents a special and exciting opportunity and matches very well with my passion for innovation and investment.
Together with Venture Kick, Kickfund offers a 1 million + funding opportunity for starting entrepreneurs: how does this work and how can this make a difference?
At Kickfund, we’ve teamed up with Venture Kick to offer a funding opportunity that can provide CHF 1 million to early-stage entrepreneurs, and the way it works is pretty straightforward. Once a company completes the Venture Kick program and meets our minimal investment criteria, we’re ready to step in with up to CHF 850,000, spread across two rounds of financing. We don’t lead these rounds, but our investment can make a big difference by helping startups close their funding rounds faster. For companies not yet actively raising funds, we also offer a convertible loan of CHF 100,000, matching the award they receive right after they graduate from Venture Kick.
What sets this apart is how it supports founders beyond just the money. Knowing they have an investor strongly committed to following on gives them the peace of mind to focus on building their business without constantly worrying about the next round of funding. Plus, being part of the Kickfund family opens up a lot of doors. We create opportunities for our portfolio companies to connect, share experiences, and learn from each other. And with international investors increasingly looking at Swiss deep tech, being part of Kickfund means getting noticed. We actively promote our startups and help connect them with the right investors, making sure they have the support they need to grow and succeed."
The latest funding reports show a significant decrease in startup funding. What is your assessment and how do you see Kickfund's role in this environment?
The recent funding reports showing a significant decrease in startup funding reflect a broader trend we've been seeing, largely driven by a reduced interest in venture capital as an asset class among limited partners (LPs). In my view, we may have already reached or are close to reaching rock bottom in this cycle. With interest rates starting to decrease in most major regions, I believe we should see asset allocations shift towards venture capital again, and, in turn, we should see better capital availability for startups in the near future.
In this challenging environment, the role of Kickfund becomes even more critical. While the overall capital landscape may be tight, great ideas and innovations are still emerging every day, and it’s our mission to ensure these ideas have the support they need to grow into successful companies. Kickfund’s contributions are essential in helping founders navigate these tough times by providing the necessary funding and backing to secure additional investments. We’re committed to supporting entrepreneurs in their fundraising activities, particularly when capital is harder to come by, ensuring that promising startups don’t just survive but thrive despite the broader funding challenges.
On a personal note, which are the areas you love investing in?
These days, I find myself with a much broader perspective, thanks to the incredible diversity of companies we interact with through the Venture Kick program. I'm constantly learning and amazed by the groundbreaking technologies being developed in Switzerland. From brain stimulation technologies and novel drug release mechanisms to RNA sequencing solutions, sustainable color pigments, and small form factor thermal storage devices, the range of innovations is truly inspiring. What excites me the most is not just the potential for interesting investment opportunities but the prospect that many of these innovations could have a positive impact on the world. Investing in these areas allows us to support startup companies that are not only promising financially but also contribute to making the world a better place.
Find out more about the mission of the Kickfund.