Realr — Early-stage venture capital for Switzerland, Germany and the Nordics
Backing the obsessed. Realr is an early-stage venture capital firm headquartered in Zürich and Berlin. We write pre-seed and seed cheques of €150,000 to €1,500,000 into founders building category-defining companies in health, food, climate and critical infrastructure across Switzerland, Germany, Austria and the Nordics (Sweden, Norway, Finland, Denmark), and selectively across the rest of Europe.
Thesis
Capital is a commodity. Deep partnership, built early, is the only durable edge. Realr backs founders solving the systemic problems of the next decade — health, food, climate, and the infrastructure that holds modern life together. Deep tech is welcome where it is core to the solution.
The REAL framework guides what we look for in founders and companies:
Rebels — non-consensus thinkers who reject the status quo.
Revolution — category-defining ambition, not incremental improvement.
Relationships — long-term partnership over transactional capital.
Real risks — willingness to take the risks that matter.
Investment model
Stage: Pre-seed and seed.
Initial cheque: €150,000 – €1,500,000.
Geography: Switzerland, Germany, Austria (DACH); Sweden, Norway, Finland, Denmark (Nordics); selectively across Europe.
Sectors: Health, food, climate, critical infrastructure, applied deep tech.
The Realr team combines operator experience with venture investing — uniquely suited to identify, evaluate and back the next decade of category-defining founders in DACH and the Nordics.
VFTI — Venture Founder Type Indicator
Realr publishes the VFTI, a founder assessment that maps how founders think, decide and lead across three archetypes — Hustlers, Hackers, Hipsters (HHH). Startups with diverse, complementary founder types are roughly twice as likely to succeed. Founders can take the assessment at /vfti-quiz.
FAQ
What is Realr?
An early-stage venture capital firm based in Zürich and Berlin, investing pre-seed and seed cheques of €150k–€1.5M into founders building in health, food, climate and critical infrastructure.
Where does Realr invest?
Switzerland, Germany, Austria (DACH) and the Nordics (Sweden, Norway, Finland, Denmark); selectively across Europe.
What stage and cheque size?
Pre-seed and seed, with initial cheques between €150,000 and €1.5 million.
Which sectors?
Health, food, climate, and the systemic infrastructure that sustains modern life — including deep tech where it is core to the solution.
How can a founder reach Realr?
Submit a pitch via the assessment tool at /assessment, or take the VFTI at /vfti-quiz.