Lakestar

Lakestar Advisors GmbH is a venture capital firm founded in 2012, headquartered in Zurich, Switzerland, with additional offices in Berlin, Germany, and London, United Kingdom. The firm specializes in investing in technology-driven companies across various sectors, including media and entertainment, fintech, travel technology, mobility, digital healthcare, artificial intelligence, and blockchain. Lakestar targets series A, early, mid, late venture, and growth-stage investments, typically ranging from €500,000 to €45 million. Since launching its first fund in 2013, Lakestar has managed over €1 billion across multiple early-stage and growth funds. The firm's notable early investments include Skype, Spotify, Facebook, and Airbnb, while its current portfolio features companies such as Opendoor, Oscar, and Revolut. Lakestar focuses on helping its portfolio companies expand into new markets, particularly in Europe and the United States, providing support in business development, recruitment, technology, and marketing.

Nicolas Brand

Partner

Akis Bratsos

Senior Associate

Ben Cousens

Principal

Mathias Haniel

Principal

Oliver Heimes

Partner

Klaus Hommels

Founder & Chairman

Andreas Klukas

Head of Finance

Enrico Mellis

Principal

Dharmash Mistry

General Partner

Stephen Nundy

Partner and CTO

Fredrik Nylander

Partner

Mika Salmi

Managing Partner Zurich

Mark Schmitz

General Partner

Christoph Schuh

Partner

Michael Stuenkel

Partner

Ninja Struye de Swielande

Partner

Dr. Aline Vedder

Principal

Julian Wokoeck

Senior Associate

Past deals in Zurich

Imburse

Series A in 2021
Imburse addresses the integration challenges faced by companies within the global payments ecosystem, allowing businesses to implement any payment technology or system quickly and at no cost. By facilitating seamless connections between various payment methods, Imburse accelerates the deployment of payment solutions, ultimately reducing associated costs. The platform enables organizations to modernize their systems, enhance operational efficiency, and engage consumers more effectively. Designed as an enterprise SaaS solution, Imburse supports multi-tenancy deployments, making it suitable for a wide range of businesses. Through its services, Imburse aims to empower CFOs, COOs, and CMOs in their efforts to improve customer engagement and drive business efficiency.

Imburse

Seed Round in 2020
Imburse addresses the integration challenges faced by companies within the global payments ecosystem, allowing businesses to implement any payment technology or system quickly and at no cost. By facilitating seamless connections between various payment methods, Imburse accelerates the deployment of payment solutions, ultimately reducing associated costs. The platform enables organizations to modernize their systems, enhance operational efficiency, and engage consumers more effectively. Designed as an enterprise SaaS solution, Imburse supports multi-tenancy deployments, making it suitable for a wide range of businesses. Through its services, Imburse aims to empower CFOs, COOs, and CMOs in their efforts to improve customer engagement and drive business efficiency.

Avrios

Series B in 2019
Avrios International AG, founded in 2015 and based in Zürich, Switzerland, specializes in developing software for fleet and mobility management. The company offers a comprehensive Fleet Management Platform that enables organizations to efficiently manage employee transportation and fleet data. By integrating various data sources, Avrios automates processes and provides real-time insights, allowing users to optimize their fleet operations. The software collects relevant information in a centralized database and performs necessary calculations, facilitating informed decision-making and improved efficiency in fleet management.

Teralytics

Series D in 2019
Teralytics AG is a company based in Zurich, Switzerland, that specializes in big data analysis for the telecommunications industry. Founded in 2012, Teralytics utilizes mobile network data to provide insights into human behavior, including movement patterns, demographics, and interests. This information supports various sectors, such as financial services, retail, and transportation, in developing more effective products and services. The company's platform leverages advanced machine learning to enhance transportation planning and operations, ultimately aiming to create sustainable mobility solutions. By addressing critical mobility challenges, Teralytics seeks to improve journey times, ensure accessibility, increase operational efficiencies, and reduce environmental impact.

Auterion

Seed Round in 2018
Auterion AG, founded in 2008 and headquartered in Zurich, Switzerland, specializes in developing software platforms and systems for the drone industry. The company offers an enterprise operating system that enhances drone functionality and a web-based platform called Insights, which provides comprehensive data on flights, fleets, and individual drones. Auterion focuses on creating an ecosystem of software-defined drones, payloads, and third-party applications, all built on open-source standards. They cater to both enterprise and government sectors, including partnerships with notable organizations such as General Electric Aviation and the U.S. Department of Defense. Auterion Government Solutions, a subsidiary, delivers unmanned aircraft systems and services tailored to government operations, emphasizing open-source solutions to ensure interoperability and prevent vendor lock-in. With a commitment to engineering excellence and collaboration, Auterion aims to advance the drone industry through innovative software solutions.

Auterion

Pre Seed Round in 2017
Auterion AG, founded in 2008 and headquartered in Zurich, Switzerland, specializes in developing software platforms and systems for the drone industry. The company offers an enterprise operating system that enhances drone functionality and a web-based platform called Insights, which provides comprehensive data on flights, fleets, and individual drones. Auterion focuses on creating an ecosystem of software-defined drones, payloads, and third-party applications, all built on open-source standards. They cater to both enterprise and government sectors, including partnerships with notable organizations such as General Electric Aviation and the U.S. Department of Defense. Auterion Government Solutions, a subsidiary, delivers unmanned aircraft systems and services tailored to government operations, emphasizing open-source solutions to ensure interoperability and prevent vendor lock-in. With a commitment to engineering excellence and collaboration, Auterion aims to advance the drone industry through innovative software solutions.

Avrios

Series A in 2017
Avrios International AG, founded in 2015 and based in Zürich, Switzerland, specializes in developing software for fleet and mobility management. The company offers a comprehensive Fleet Management Platform that enables organizations to efficiently manage employee transportation and fleet data. By integrating various data sources, Avrios automates processes and provides real-time insights, allowing users to optimize their fleet operations. The software collects relevant information in a centralized database and performs necessary calculations, facilitating informed decision-making and improved efficiency in fleet management.

Teralytics

Series C in 2016
Teralytics AG is a company based in Zurich, Switzerland, that specializes in big data analysis for the telecommunications industry. Founded in 2012, Teralytics utilizes mobile network data to provide insights into human behavior, including movement patterns, demographics, and interests. This information supports various sectors, such as financial services, retail, and transportation, in developing more effective products and services. The company's platform leverages advanced machine learning to enhance transportation planning and operations, ultimately aiming to create sustainable mobility solutions. By addressing critical mobility challenges, Teralytics seeks to improve journey times, ensure accessibility, increase operational efficiencies, and reduce environmental impact.

Avrios

Seed Round in 2015
Avrios International AG, founded in 2015 and based in Zürich, Switzerland, specializes in developing software for fleet and mobility management. The company offers a comprehensive Fleet Management Platform that enables organizations to efficiently manage employee transportation and fleet data. By integrating various data sources, Avrios automates processes and provides real-time insights, allowing users to optimize their fleet operations. The software collects relevant information in a centralized database and performs necessary calculations, facilitating informed decision-making and improved efficiency in fleet management.

Teralytics

Series B in 2014
Teralytics AG is a company based in Zurich, Switzerland, that specializes in big data analysis for the telecommunications industry. Founded in 2012, Teralytics utilizes mobile network data to provide insights into human behavior, including movement patterns, demographics, and interests. This information supports various sectors, such as financial services, retail, and transportation, in developing more effective products and services. The company's platform leverages advanced machine learning to enhance transportation planning and operations, ultimately aiming to create sustainable mobility solutions. By addressing critical mobility challenges, Teralytics seeks to improve journey times, ensure accessibility, increase operational efficiencies, and reduce environmental impact.