Herbert Ventures has recently emerged as a significant new force in the European venture capital landscape, officially launching its inaugural fund on April 9, 2026. Based in Zurich, Switzerland, this early-stage firm has quickly captured attention with its €32.5 million (CHF 30 million) Fund I, dedicated to backing exceptional pre-Seed and Seed stage founders across Europe. What makes Herbert Ventures particularly noteworthy is its distinctive investment philosophy, emphasizing people over predefined industry narratives and adopting a unique "single-shot" investment model. This approach, coupled with its innovative use of artificial intelligence in its own operations, positions Herbert Ventures as a fresh and intriguing player poised to shape the future of early-stage European startups.
Herbert Ventures officially launched its Herbert Ventures Fund I on April 9, 2026, marking its entry into the highly competitive European venture capital market. This Zurich-based firm has quickly established itself as a dedicated early-stage investor, focusing on pre-Seed and Seed rounds. The launch signifies a new source of capital and strategic support for promising European startups, particularly within the DeepTech sector. Its timely emergence reflects a dynamic and evolving investment environment where new funds are continuously seeking to identify and nurture the next generation of innovative companies.
At the helm of Herbert Ventures are co-founders Ben Simon and Luis Huber, whose complementary backgrounds drive the firm's strategic direction. Ben Simon, a Forbes 30 Under 30 honoree in Technology (Europe), brings extensive operational experience as a founder-turned-investor, having co-founded and served as COO of VAY, an ETH spin-off later acquired by BowFlex Inc.. Luis Huber, an early-stage venture investor, has built and operated institutional venture platforms, most recently as a Senior Partner at QBIT Capital, focusing on university spin-offs. Their combined expertise in company building and disciplined investing forms the core of Herbert Ventures' leadership.
Herbert Ventures Fund I represents a substantial commitment to the European startup ecosystem, amounting to €32.5 million, or CHF 30 million. This capital is earmarked for pre-Seed and Seed investments, providing crucial early-stage funding that can be challenging for nascent companies to secure. The fund's size allows Herbert Ventures to target approximately 30 investments, predominantly within the DACH region and across wider Europe. This financial backing is designed to empower founders to move their ventures from initial concept to the next significant development stage.
The core of Herbert Ventures' investment strategy lies in its focus on pre-Seed and Seed stage companies. This means they engage with founders at the very beginning of their journey, often before a clear market consensus has formed around their ideas. The firm's mandate is explicitly European, with a particular emphasis on the DACH region (Germany, Austria, and Switzerland). By investing early, Herbert Ventures aims to identify and partner with "exceptional" founders and serial entrepreneurs who possess the vision and drive to create category-leading businesses, rather than simply following existing trends.
Herbert Ventures distinguishes itself with an intentionally industry-agnostic strategy, deliberately avoiding thematic investing and short-term hype cycles. Its philosophy centers on the belief that "great founders adapt and find solutions, regardless of what the market does". This "people over narratives" approach means the firm prioritizes the quality, resilience, and vision of the founding team above specific industry trends or established categories. This allows Herbert Ventures to maintain flexibility and invest in truly disruptive innovations, regardless of the sector they emerge from.
A defining characteristic of Herbert Ventures is its "single-shot" investment model, where the fund does not reserve capital for follow-on investments. This structural choice is designed to eliminate "sunk-cost bias," a common challenge in traditional venture capital where funds might feel compelled to reinvest in struggling portfolio companies. By committing to a single initial investment, Herbert Ventures ensures that its post-investment objective is solely to support the company in reaching its next stage, without the conflict of interest inherent in potential future funding rounds.
Demonstrating its commitment to innovation, Herbert Ventures has integrated artificial intelligence into its own operational framework. Notably, the firm has "hired" Claude, the AI model from Anthropic, as its first "employee". This AI assistant is utilized for internal automation and optimization, handling tasks such as email and call summaries, and supporting CRM functions. This practical application of AI within its own operations not only streamlines processes but also reflects the firm's forward-thinking mindset and its readiness to embrace cutting-edge technology in its day-to-day business.
Herbert Ventures' inaugural investment showcases its focus on high-potential, early-stage technology. The firm's first portfolio company is DroidRun, a German pre-Seed company specializing in developing the MCP (Model Context Protocol) orchestration layer for AI agents across mobile applications. This investment aligns perfectly with Herbert Ventures' interest in DeepTech founders and underscores its strategic move into the burgeoning field of artificial intelligence, particularly in areas that promise to revolutionize mobile computing and agent-based systems.
While providing capital is fundamental, Herbert Ventures emphasizes that its role extends far beyond mere financial injection. The firm is built on the premise of partnering closely with founders from inception, offering hands-on support and transparent communication. Its "single-shot" approach means that after the initial investment, the sole focus is on helping portfolio companies achieve their next milestones and successfully navigate subsequent funding rounds from other investors. This dedicated support aims to fill the gaps often identified by founders in early-stage funds, such as a lack of speed, transparency, and meaningful assistance.
Herbert Ventures is proudly based in Zurich, Switzerland, a growing hub for innovation and finance in Europe. While rooted in the DACH region, the firm operates with a broader European mandate, seeking out exceptional founders across the continent. This geographical flexibility allows Herbert Ventures to tap into diverse talent pools and emerging technological advancements throughout Europe, reinforcing its commitment to supporting the continent's vibrant startup ecosystem and fostering cross-border innovation. The firm is managed through HS Capital AG (Zurich) and structured as a Luxembourg SCSP.
Herbert Ventures represents a fresh and strategic addition to the European early-stage venture capital landscape. With its €32.5 million Fund I, the Zurich-based firm is poised to make a significant impact by championing pre-Seed and Seed stage companies across Europe, particularly those led by visionary DeepTech founders. Its unique "single-shot" investment model and industry-agnostic philosophy underscore a commitment to backing exceptional people over fleeting trends. Furthermore, the innovative integration of AI into its own operations signals a forward-thinking approach that aims to enhance efficiency and support. As Herbert Ventures embarks on its mission, its focus on founders, coupled with its distinctive strategy, promises to cultivate a new generation of European tech leaders and category-defining companies.
