Swisspreneur Show

EP #542 - Laurent Decrue & Sophie Lamparter: Do Swiss Startups Need the US to Win Big?

Jan 26, 2026
Laurent Decrue, Co-founder & Co-CEO of Holycode, a builder of AI-driven software for startups and SMEs. Sophie Lamparter, Founder & Managing Partner at VitaminºC, an early-stage climate and deep-tech investor. They discuss Switzerland gaining attention for AI, robotics and drones. They explore liquidity paths beyond IPOs, founder trade-offs between exits and scale, and the playbook of building in Europe while fundraising in the US.
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ANECDOTE

Climeworks Took Private Equity Early

  • Partners Group invested into Climeworks despite early-stage revenue questions.
  • Their involvement pushed the team to consider earlier revenue and profitability paths.
ADVICE

Negotiate Secondaries Early

  • Push for secondary liquidity during financing so founders can stay focused on big outcomes.
  • Educate investors and be assertive when negotiating founder secondaries.
ADVICE

Use Crowdfunding Early, Not As A Rescue

  • Use crowdfunding early to validate ideas and build customer relationships.
  • Avoid late-stage crowdfunding as a last-resort rescue for struggling companies.
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