EP #520 - Wanja Humanes: From Lab to Launch: How Kickfund Backs Switzerland’s Brightest Ideas
September 22, 2025
Co-produced by
Co-produced by
9:00 – What Is Venture Kick and Kickfund?
12:55 – Why Wanja Joined Kickfund
18:45 – Why Founders & Investors Love Kickfund
27:05 – The Long-Term Vision
This episode was co-produced with KickFund, a VC fund investing in the most promising Swiss deeptech startups. Check out the link in the bio/comments to learn more about them!
Episode summary:
Wanja Humanes is the CEO of Kickfund, a Swiss investment fund that invests in leading deep tech startups recognized by the Venture Kick competition, providing strategic support and resources to help them scale and succeed globally. Wanja holds a BA in Business Innovation from the University of St. Gallen.
In his chat with Merle, Wanja shares how Switzerland’s flagship accelerator Venture Kick and its follow-on investment fund create a seamless path from lab to market. He reflects on his years at Swisscom Ventures, lessons from 90+ investments, and why a flexible co-investment strategy beats rigid thesis-driven VC.
Wanja also details Kickfund’s unique model: startups that graduate from Venture Kick can receive up to CHF 1 million in combined non-dilutive grants and follow-on capital—fast, founder-friendly, and backed by a growing community of investors and alumni. For Swiss founders and early-stage investors, it’s a masterclass in building and financing high-impact companies.
The cover portrait was edited by www.smartportrait.io.
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