NewsJan 23, 2026, 10:59 UTC

VI Partners Announces First Close of $189M Fund Backed by Research and Industry Leaders

VI Partners has completed a first close of its latest venture capital fund, Vi-26, which is targeting CHF150 million. While the firm did not disclose the amount raised at first close, it said the fund is backed primarily by existing limited partners and is now actively deploying capital.

The close coincides with VI Partners’ 25th anniversary, marking a quarter century of activity in the Swiss venture market. Over that period, the firm has invested roughly €430 million in more than 70 companies, supporting businesses across technology and healthcare that have gone on to scale internationally. Its strategy has typically focused on early engagement with founders and long-term involvement through key growth stages.

Vi-26 will continue that approach, concentrating on Series A and early-stage investments. In technology, the fund will target mission-critical software and data-driven platforms, including enterprise software, AI-enabled applications and industrial technologies. In healthcare, VI Partners plans to invest across biotech, medtech and digital health, with a focus on companies addressing clearly defined clinical or system-level needs.

The investor base behind the fund includes a mix of institutional and private backers, many with strong links to Switzerland’s research and industrial landscape such as ETH Zurich, ABB, Bühler, Credit Suisse, McKinsey, Nestlé, and UBS. VI Partners says it expects further closings later in the year as it continues fundraising and builds out a new portfolio aligned with the country’s strengths in science, engineering and applied innovation.