+ Swiss roots. Global ambition.
The nextgreat leapis physical.
Zurich, Switzerland
An early stake
The next industry is still in the workshop.
We seek an ownership stake at formation, then invest further as teams prove the technology and the business.
02 The thesis
Intelligence is
leaving the screen.
Machines are learning to perceive, decide and act. We invest in the systems, intelligence and enabling technologies that turn that capability into useful products.
Read our full thesisClose full thesis
The people who will make this happen are already here. ETH Zurich is one of the world’s leading places for robotics, and together with EPFL and TUM it forms one of the strongest hubs for deep tech talent anywhere. Students and researchers work late in their labs and workshops, and many of them are building their first prototypes right now. We know them, we build alongside them, and we believe in them.
Robotics Capital is a concentrated bet on this generation of deep tech founders. We are betting on their talent, their ambition and the companies they are about to create.
Our investment frontier
Three layers. One physical future.
Complete machines that solve real problems in the physical world. From humanoids and industrial robots to drones, surgical systems and robots in agriculture and construction.
03 Our edge
Close to the work.
Useful from day one.
A prototype is a beginning. The next challenge is building a company around it.
01 /A relationship before the round
Our roots in the ETH Robotics Club and connections across ETH, EPFL and TUM let us get to know engineers through their work, often before they start a company.
02 /The right people around the table
We connect founders with technical talent, industry partners and the HSG business community. The aim is a team that can build the technology and bring it to customers.
03 /A clear next milestone
We help sharpen the use case, commercial story and next financing milestone. Support follows what the company needs to prove next.
Our first investment
Theseus Robotics
Building humanoid robots to restock shelves, rotate stock and pick grocery orders.
04 The people
Builders’ perspective.
Investors’ discipline.
Robotics & communityDeclan Shine
Founding partner
President of the ETH Robotics Club. Brings robotics community leadership and early-stage investing experience through Founderful Campus.
Partnerships & investingErik Pfister
Founding partner
Vice President and Head of Partnerships at the ETH Robotics Club. Connects technical founders, industry partners and the HSG business community, with experience building an investment fund and backing private companies.
Finance & operationsMark Pfister
Founding partner
Brings experience at EWOR and Ufenau Capital Partners. Focuses on the financial and commercial foundations that help young teams build investable companies.
A note from the founders
The first signal
is human.
We started Robotics Capital because we build alongside people who keep going when a prototype fails. We want more of that work to become companies.
Our job is to bring capital, useful introductions and clear thinking about what comes next.
Declan, Erik and MarkFounding partners, Robotics Capital
05 For investors
A long view.
An early position.
Explore the investment thesis, portfolio approach and team behind Robotics Capital. Start with the briefing, then speak with us about becoming a limited partner.
From first cheque to follow-on
We invest at pre-seed and selectively at seed, then reserve capital to support companies as the technology and business develop.
We look at the team, the technical progress and the path to a paying customer. Each next investment depends on the evidence a company builds.
We welcome conversations with family offices, corporate investors and people who share our long-term view.
06 Before we speak
Before we
start a conversation.
What we back. How we work. What happens next.
How early can we speak to you?
Before the company, before the round, or while you are still testing a prototype. Tell us about the problem, your team and what you need to prove next. We focus on pre-seed and can also invest at later stages.
Do you only back humanoid robots?
Our focus spans robotic systems, physical AI and the deep tech foundations underneath them. That includes industrial machines, drones, medical robotics, autonomy software, sensors and specialised hardware.
What happens after I introduce my team?
We review your introduction and explore whether there is a fit. The next conversation is about the team, the technology, the customer and the next milestone. Any investment follows separate diligence and agreement on terms.
What support comes with an investment?
We help founders find talent, make relevant introductions and prepare for the next financing milestone. The work depends on the company: proving a use case, clarifying the commercial story or building the team around the technology.