Anaïs Ventures

What they fund

• Sector Focus (Deep Tech & Industrial AI) — Anaïs Ventures targets high-impact technology companies, specifically those leveraging artificial intelligence for industrial applications, as demonstrated by their investment in Neural Concept, which provides CAD-native enterprise AI for automotive, aerospace, energy, and semiconductor sectors [1], [2].
• Sector Focus (Sustainable Materials & Biotech) — The firm invests in sustainable manufacturing and biomass technologies, evidenced by their co-leadership of a Series A round for Bloom Biorenewables, which develops patented Aldehyde-Assisted Fractionation (AAF) technology for sustainable material production [1], [2].
• Sector Focus (High-Performance Sports & Technology) — Anaïs Ventures extends its investment thesis into high-performance sports and technology integration, as seen in its strategic investment in the Swiss SailGP Team, supporting the development of cutting-edge F50 foiling catamarans and technical talent [1], [2].
• Geographic Focus (Swiss Ecosystem) — The firm prioritizes companies rooted in the Swiss innovation ecosystem, highlighting Neural Concept’s origins at EPFL in Lausanne and Bloom Biorenewables’ headquarters in Marly, Switzerland, as examples of local talent meeting global industrial relevance [1], [2].
• Stage Focus (Growth & Series A) — The firm participates in significant growth stages, including a $100 million Series C for Neural Concept and a CHF 13 million Series A for Bloom Biorenewables, indicating capacity and interest in scaling established startups rather than only early-stage seed investments [1], [2].

Investment thesis

• Support for Creators and Entrepreneurs — The firm’s core mission is to "support creators in their entrepreneurial journey," focusing on backing founders who are building category-defining technology companies with tangible real-world impact [1], [2].
• Industrial Relevance and Impact — Anaïs Ventures seeks investments that offer concrete, measurable impact in global industries, such as accelerating product development cycles in engineering or enabling sustainable material production, aligning with the demand for enterprise-grade solutions [1], [2].
• Excellence and Innovation — The firm is driven by a passion for excellence and pioneering spirit, evident in their support for the Swiss SailGP Team’s quest for competitive excellence and their backing of EPFL spinouts that represent the pinnacle of Swiss research and entrepreneurial talent [1], [2].
• Positive Impact and Sustainability — The investment strategy incorporates a strong sense of positive impact for people and the planet, reflected in the support for sustainable biomass technologies and the commitment to sustainable innovation within the SailGP championship [1], [2].
• Family Legacy and Values — The thesis is deeply influenced by the Firmenich family’s long-standing values, including a generational passion for sailing and a dedication to high performance, which translates into a strategic approach to investing that values heritage, excellence, and global leadership [1], [2].

Value add

• Strategic Capital and Syndication — Anaïs Ventures provides not just capital but also strategic syndication power, as seen in the Bloom Biorenewables round where they co-led with Valquest Partners and attracted a strong syndicate including Breakthrough Energy Ventures, Lombard Odier, and Amcor Ventures [1], [2].
• Board Governance and Leadership — The firm offers high-level governance support, with Yasmine Firmenich Luginbühl joining the Board of Directors of the Swiss SailGP Team to provide strategic oversight and align the team with the family’s entrepreneurial vision [1], [2].
• Access to Global Networks — By co-investing with major global players like Goldman Sachs Alternatives in the Neural Concept round, Anaïs Ventures facilitates access to top-tier institutional capital and global networks for its portfolio companies [1], [2].
• Technical and Talent Development Support — The firm supports portfolio companies in deepening their talent pools and accelerating technical development, as explicitly stated in the investment rationale for the Swiss SailGP Team’s competitive ambitions [1], [2].
• Brand and Ecosystem Alignment — Anaïs Ventures enhances the brand value of its investments by associating them with Switzerland’s vibrant innovation ecosystem and the prestigious Firmenich family name, reinforcing the companies' credibility in global markets [1], [2].

Notable investments & exits

• Neural Concept (Series C, Jan 2026) — Anaïs Ventures co-invested alongside Forestay Capital in Neural Concept’s $100 million Series C, led by Growth Equity at Goldman Sachs Alternatives, marking a landmark round for this EPFL spinout [1], [2].
• Swiss SailGP Team (Strategic Investment, Jul 2025) — Anaïs Ventures made a strategic investment in the Swiss SailGP Team, strengthening its capital foundation and enabling Yasmine Firmenich Luginbühl to join the Board of Directors [1], [2].
• Bloom Biorenewables (Series A, Apr 2025) — Anaïs Ventures co-led a CHF 13 million Series A round for Bloom Biorenewables with Valquest Partners, attracting participation from Breakthrough Energy Ventures, Lombard Odier, Capital Risque Fribourg, Btomorrow Ventures, Amcor Ventures, Rosebrook, and The King Baudouin Foundation [1], [2].
• No Publicly Disclosed Exits — Unknown — The provided sources do not list any completed exits or liquidity events for Anaïs Ventures’ portfolio companies as of the latest available data [1], [2].