How to invest pre-IPO in Switzerland

Pre-IPO investing means gaining exposure to a private company before it goes public. With the best companies staying private longer, the bulk of value creation now happens before the listing — a window historically reserved for venture funds, family offices and insiders.

In Switzerland, this access is reserved for qualified investors under the Financial Services Act (FinSA). Eligibility rests on wealth, experience or professional status, among other criteria, and is verified before any discussion.

In practice, pre-IPO exposure runs through the private secondary market: buying shares from existing holders (employees, early investors), dedicated vehicles (SPVs) or direct allocations in late-stage rounds. None of these happen on an exchange, and availability depends entirely on market conditions.

The risks are substantial: illiquidity (no guaranteed exit before an IPO, which may never occur), indicative and historical valuations, information asymmetry and the risk of total capital loss. Serious due diligence and full contractual documentation are essential.

The typical path: qualify your profile, define sectors and allocation, identify target companies, then review available opportunities with their terms. Pre-IPO records your interest and gets back to you within 48 hours — never guaranteeing access, availability or price.