Observed Signal · Feb 16, 2024 · Funding · Source: Trending Topics · Impact: 2/5 · Sentiment: Positive
Founderful (formerly Wingman Ventures) Raises $85M for New Swiss Tech Fund
Swiss venture capital firm Wingman Ventures has rebranded as Founderful and announced the raising of $85 million for its new second fund (Fonds II), targeting a total of $120 million. Founded in 2019 by Pascal Mathis, Alex Stöckl, and Lukas Weder, the firm focuses on early-stage investments in ambitious Swiss tech startups, particularly in B2B software, industrial technology (robotics, automation), artificial intelligence, machine learning, computer vision, and materials science for cleantech and climate tech. Founderful has already begun deploying capital from Fund II to companies including Chiral Nano, Nala Earth, and Ascento. Fund I invested $60 million in 40 startups, supporting 109 founders, and those companies have subsequently raised over $350 million in follow-on funding.
Funding of $85M for a Swiss VC fund supporting AI and industrial tech startups; relevant to the broader tech ecosystem but not directly AdTech-specific.
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Key Takeaways & Evidence Grounding
- Wingman Ventures rebranded to Founderful.
- Founderful raised $85 million for its second fund (Fonds II), targeting $120 million total.
- The firm was founded in 2019 by Pascal Mathis, Alex Stöckl, and Lukas Weder.
- Founderful focuses on B2B software and industrial tech, including AI, robotics, and materials science.
- Fund I invested $60 million in 40 startups; portfolio companies raised over $350 million in follow-on funding.
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Delivery Hero Alumni Build 150 Startups Worth €7.5B
A new analysis by Dealroom.co reveals that alumni of Delivery Hero and its European brands have founded 150 startups with a combined enterprise value of €7.5 billion, employing 11,000 people and raising €4.4 billion in venture capital. This makes Delivery Hero Europe's largest founder factory by VC raised and number of startups founded. The report highlights Germany's central role, with Berlin-based startups accounting for €4.9 billion of the total value and 42 startups from Delivery Hero's Berlin HQ alone. Alumni-founded companies span food, enterprise software, health, and transportation, with strong funding progression. Delivery Hero alumni have also spawned second-generation startups and moved into venture capital, raising €7.3 billion in new funds since 2020.
Uber to Acquire ezCater for $2.3B
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