At COREangels, our belief is simple: to back the future, you must be where the future is being built. And few places in Europe embody that future as clearly and consistently as ETH Zurich—one of the top-ranked technical universities in the world and a powerhouse of deep tech entrepreneurship.

‍

This spring, COREangels Big Data & AI Europe proudly took part in the ETH Student Project House (SPH) pitching event—a high-energy gathering of ambitious founders and top-tier investors. While we’ve long invested across verticals and geographies, this event reinforced a key principle: even with a European and thematic focus, being locally close to the ecosystem is a critical advantage.

‍

As Dr. David Griesbach, Managing Partner of COREangels Big Data & AI Europe, put it:

‍

“Back at ETH Student Project House for the fourth time—and it just keeps getting better. Events like these reflect the strength and cohesion of Switzerland’s innovation and investment ecosystem — and our commitment to being an active part of it.

‍

Where Founders Meet Funders—And the Format Delivers

‍

Together with Pascal Stämpfli, CFA, David joined a curated mix of Swiss and European investors, founders, and ecosystem builders at ETH SPH. The format was tight, substance-focused, and refreshingly efficient:

‍

  • 60-second pitches—both startups and investors introduced themselves without slides
  • Thought leadership—short talks from VC and angel leaders including S2S Ventures and Founderful‍
  • High-impact networking—genuine, direct conversations that led to immediate outcomes

‍

And action followed swiftly: within just nine days of the event, one of the standout startups spotted by COREangels was already pitching at our Investment Committee (IC). That kind of turnaround is only possible when you’re truly close to where innovation is emerging—not just in theory, but in person.

‍

ETH Zurich: Where Innovation Has Staying Power

‍

ETH Zurich isn’t just a globally respected university—it’s a deep-tech launchpad that consistently produces venture-ready startups with scientific credibility and long-term resilience.

‍

The recently published ETH Spin-off Report 2024 reveals:

  • 615 ETH spin-offs to date

  • 37 new spin-offs in 2024, including 9 from its Pioneer Fellowship deep-tech incubation program

  • A remarkable 93% survival rate after 5 years, and 81% after 10 years

  • CHF 425 million raised in 2024 across 42 disclosed financing rounds

  • Over 98% of spin-offs remain in Switzerland, reinforcing the country’s strength as a venture hub

‍

What’s truly astonishing is the survival rate: in an industry where early-stage ventures face high failure risk, ETH startups defy the odds. This success stems from a blend of technical depth, academic support, and ecosystem alignment—qualities that closely match the investment thesis of COREangels’ deep tech funds.

‍

Spotlight: The Student Project House (SPH)

‍

The ETH Student Project House isn’t just a makerspace—it’s an entrepreneurial gateway. In 2024 alone, it supported 510 student projects, and at least six new ETH spin-offs emerged from its community, including Tethys Robotics, KoraLabs GmbH, and Riverkin GmbH.

‍

For angel investors, this environment offers a unique edge: access to frontier technologies and future founders at their earliest stage. COREangels’ attendance at SPH—alongside the country’s most established VCs—was not only a strategic move, it was a sign of recognition.

‍

We were invited from the beginning, placing COREangels among the top-tier names of Swiss venture capital. That’s an important signal: COREangels is no longer an observer—we are an embedded and recognized player in the local deep tech investment landscape.

‍

COREangels: Recognized and Embedded

‍

At this year’s ETH SPH event, COREangels was listed alongside some of the most respected names in the European and Swiss investment space: Redalpine, Verve Ventures, EquityPitcher, SICTIC, ZKB, GRAZIA EQUITY, and QBIT Capital.

‍

For a network that originated with a pan-European mission and vertical specialization, this local presence represents a strategic milestone. It also validates one of our core strengths: operating with a global mindset but investing with a local heart.

‍

We don’t just read pitch decks—we meet the founders in their labs, in their classrooms, at their first pitch events. That’s what proximity allows.

‍

What This Means for Angels and Fund Leaders

‍

For angel investors in the COREangels Syndicate or our vertical funds, our presence in ecosystems like ETH Zurich means:

  • Faster access to promising deals
  • Higher-quality startups, born out of years of research
  • Better founder relationships, built from the earliest stages
  • Reduced risk, through earlier vetting and post-investment alignment

‍

This ecosystem-first mindset benefits not just COREangels Big Data & AI Europe, but every fund and syndicate under the COREangels umbrella.

‍

Final Thoughts: From Labs to Unicorns

ETH Zurich has already produced global success stories like Climeworks, Scandit, and GetYourGuide. We believe the next ones are already taking shape—inside SPH, through Pioneer Fellowships, and across its spin-off community.

‍

As we saw firsthand, COREangels is now seen as part of that story—an investor that’s invited to the table early and trusted to add value.

‍

If you're an investor looking to join a professional angel network with strong vertical focus and deep local connections—or a founder building the next category-defining AI, data, or deep tech company—get in touch.

‍

Let’s invest where innovation begins.