28.01.2026
Many company founders seek capital right from the start. The assumption that investors are the next logical step is often made at an early stage. But this decision is not as simple as that. Different investors have different expectations. Some support in the background, while others wish to have their say. Here you will find an overview of the most important forms of investment and financing in Switzerland, their strengths and their possible drawbacks.
Orientation is the first step: people who obtain information early on make better decisions.
Practice has shown that many company founders only realize how different expectations and roles can be when they talk to investors. That’s why it’s worth resolving three fundamental questions beforehand:
Is it about startup capital, growth or the next step in development? A clear purpose is often more convincing than the largest possible figure.
Do you wish to grow step by step or scale up a business model quickly? Both are legitimate, but not every investor supports both.
Do you wish to make decisions alone or do you appreciate sparring and co-determination? Some investors deliberately keep a low profile, while others provide active support.
Before you start thinking about individual forms of investment, it’s worth taking a quick look at one fundamental difference: equity and debt capital have very different effects on your company.
Which form makes sense depends, among other things, on how much control you wish to retain, how high your cash requirements are and how quickly you wish your company to grow.
In Switzerland, entrepreneurs have various options for raising capital. Which form comes into question depends on factors such as the business phase, the amount of capital and the risk profile of the business model.
The experience of company founders has also shown that forms of financing are frequently combined in practice – for example, equity capital supplemented by debt financing.
For many company founders, the private sphere is their first port of call. Family and friends provide capital, often at an early stage and based on trust. This capital can be contributed as a loan, as a participation or in a mixed form. Clear arrangements and written agreements help to clarify expectations and protect relationships.
Advantage: Fast, flexible
Disadvantage: Emotional potential for conflict
Business angels usually invest their own capital at a very early stage. They are often former entrepreneurs or experienced professionals who wish to actively support young companies.
Advantage: Capital supplemented by industry knowledge, experience and sparring
Disadvantage: Surrender of interests and right of involvement
Venture capitalists are professional investors or investment companies. They invest larger amounts in companies with high growth potential and a clear scaling strategy. In addition to financial support, they contribute strategic know-how and access to networks. This type of financing is particularly suitable for business models that are geared to strong growth and wish to cede interests in return.
Advantage: Access to large investment amounts for rapid growth
Disadvantage: High pressure from expectations and clear focus on scaling
Strategic investors are usually companies from the same or a related sector. They participate in a targeted manner in order to exploit synergies such as in market access, technologies and sales. This collaboration can be valuable but also entails dependencies, as strategic interests play a role.
Advantage: Know-how and market access from the sector
Disadvantage: Possible dependence on strategic goals
Crowdinvesting involves lots of people investing in a company, usually via online platforms. In return, they receive interests or a participation in future profits. In addition to capital, crowdinvesting can also create awareness and reach. At the same time, this type of financing requires transparent and continuous communication with large numbers of investors.
Advantage: Capital procurement combined with visibility
Disadvantage: High communication and coordination costs
Crowdlending is a form of external financing where several private individuals or institutional investors issue loans via online platforms. Financing is provided directly between investors and companies, without any equity participation. Startups receive capital in return for interest, but have to repay it under agreed conditions.
Advantage: Debt capital without relinquishing company shares
Disadvantage: Repayment obligation including interest
Traditional bank financing solutions such as current account credits, business loans or other loans are particularly suitable for companies capable of demonstrating sound foundations. These include real estate, machinery, receivables, patents and guarantees. Stable financial figures are also essential.
The advantage lies in immediate liquidity without having to relinquish shares. However, this is a challenging path for many startups, as there is a lack of collateral and future business performance is still uncertain.
Advantage: Debt capital without participation in the company
Disadvantage: High collateral and creditworthiness requirements
Supplier credits are a supplementary form of financing. Suppliers grant longer payment deadlines, around 60 or 90 days instead of the usual 30 days. This creates short-term financial leeway. This solution is particularly suitable for bridging in the startup and development phase, but it does not replace long-term financing.
Advantage: Short-term relief of liquidity
Disadvantage: Limited scope and usually only available temporarily
Which type of financing makes sense depends greatly on the amount of capital required and the risk profile of the business model. Those wishing to become self-employed with comparatively little capital, such as tens of thousands of francs, often turn to friends and family. For amounts of up to several hundred thousand francs, bank financing can be considered, provided that sufficient collateral is available. In the case of an innovative business model with higher risk but scaling potential, investors such as business angels or venture capitalists usually come into play.
As soon as it is clear which type of investment fundamentally comes into question, the search for investors also becomes more targeted. Instead of having as many discussions as possible, it is worth focusing on suitability, experience and expectations.
Proven points of contact when searching for investors in Switzerland include:
Company founders benefit not only from capital, but also from support and expertise, especially in the early phase. PostFinance has been working with the Institut für Jungunternehmen (IFJ) for many years and supports company founders in Switzerland with financing and startup issues. The IFJ supports company founders with coaching, networks and programmes for founding and developing companies.
This combination of financial infrastructure and entrepreneurial support helps them to prepare well for discussions with investors.
It is particularly important in your first meeting with investors to be able to explain your business model clearly and succinctly. Clear answers to three key questions are crucial:
If you can answer these questions briefly, coherently and convincingly, you will create a good basis for further discussions.
If you opt for the legal form of Ltd or LLC when founding your company, you will need a capital payment account. The starting capital is deposited to this until it is transferred to a business account after registration.
With the PostFinance startup package, you can create a solid basis for your financial transactions. When new company founders open a business account, we waive the account management fees for two years.
Investors can be more than just investors. The key thing is that the type of financing you choose is suited to your company, your phase and your role as company founder. If you are already planning the actual foundation of your company, it is worth clarifying the next formal steps at an early stage.
No. Many companies start without external investors. The latter become particularly relevant in the event of a greater cash requirement or clear growth targets.
Yes. Business angels and crowdinvesting in particular often focus more on the idea, team and market potential.
Usually when there is a scalable business model and rapid growth is the goal.
Unclear goals, lack of preparation and unrealistic expectations.
