
Helvetia Venture Fund
Description
Helvetia Venture Fund, based in Basel, Switzerland, operates as the corporate venture capital arm of Helvetia Insurance, a prominent Swiss insurance group. Established in 2017, the fund is strategically focused on investing in early-stage startups within the rapidly evolving insurtech segment. Its primary objective is to identify and support innovative business models that have the potential to disrupt or enhance the insurance industry, aligning with Helvetia's broader strategy of fostering innovation and digital transformation.
The fund's investment thesis centers on providing growth capital to promising companies that offer solutions across the entire insurance value chain, from distribution and customer engagement to claims processing and risk management. Since its inception in 2017, the Helvetia Venture Fund has actively built a diversified portfolio, having invested in more than 20 startups. This robust activity underscores its commitment to being a significant player in the European insurtech ecosystem, often collaborating with other venture capital firms and strategic partners.
Helvetia Venture Fund typically targets early-stage companies, participating in seed and Series A funding rounds. The fund has a dedicated volume of CHF 50 million (approximately $57.5 million USD), which it deploys to support its portfolio companies. While specific check sizes can vary depending on the stage and needs of the startup, the fund generally provides initial investments ranging from CHF 250,000 to CHF 5 million (approximately $287,500 to $5,750,000 USD). Beyond capital, Helvetia Venture Fund offers its portfolio companies access to Helvetia Group's extensive industry expertise, network, and potential for strategic partnerships, facilitating market entry and scaling opportunities.
Through its investments, Helvetia Venture Fund aims to not only generate financial returns but also to gain insights into emerging technologies and business models that can benefit Helvetia Insurance's core operations. This dual approach positions the fund as a key enabler of innovation, driving the future of insurance by backing the next generation of insurtech leaders.
Investor Profile
Helvetia Venture Fund has backed more than 30 startups, with 1 new investments in the last 12 months alone. The firm has led 16 rounds, about 53% of its total and boasts 3 exits across its portfolio.
Investment Focus Highlights
- Concentrates on Seed, Series Unknown, Series A rounds (top funding stages).
- Majority of deals are located in Germany, Switzerland, Spain.
- Strong thematic focus on Financial Services, Insurance, Information Technology.
- Typical check size: $287.5K – $5.8M.
Stage Focus
- Seed (40%)
- Series Unknown (27%)
- Series A (20%)
- Pre Seed (7%)
- Series B (7%)
Country Focus
- Germany (40%)
- Switzerland (33%)
- Spain (10%)
- United Kingdom (7%)
- France (3%)
- Romania (3%)
- Austria (3%)
Industry Focus
- Financial Services
- Insurance
- Information Technology
- Software
- Insurtech
- Internet
- Transportation
- Automotive
- Fintech
- Car Sharing
Frequently Asked Questions
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