Participated · Series A · Mar 2022

AELER is an EPFL spinoff that modernises shipping containers to reduce logistics costs and CO₂ emissions. The company reports doubled shipment volumes year-on-year and has transported over CHF 100 million worth of goods for customers. AELER says its solution delivers 10–20% logistics cost reductions and over 20% CO₂ reductions for clients including Procter & Gamble. It plans to commercialise its fleet and deploy several thousand shipping units annually through strategic partnerships with logistics firms such as Rhenus. To support this expansion the company has raised over CHF 22 million in equity since 2022 plus €4 million in asset-backed financing and added SipChem InnoVent as a shareholder in its latest CHF 8.4 million round. The startup recently appointed Benoit Dumont, former regional CEO at DHL, as CEO ahead of planned large-scale industrial deployment.

Participated · Equity · Dec 2014

Vidcoin offers an SDK and a native mobile video ad format that detect connection speed and pre-load targeted video ads inside apps so videos play instantly. The company focuses on integrations with app developers, targeting freemium developers—particularly gaming apps—and is also getting interest from messaging and other freemium apps. Users opt in to watch Vidcoin ads in exchange for in-app rewards such as coins or unlocked levels. Vidcoin partners with ad inventory providers including Teads, AOL (TechCrunch’s owner) and Unruly Media, allowing it to concentrate on delivery technology. The startup reports a current run rate of $2 million and reaches about 50 million people every month. The recent funding will be used in part to open a New York office.