Deeptech and research-driven startups often struggle to shift from university labs to the market. Most traditional VCs avoid complex areas such as quantum computing and advanced AI due to high technical risks and limited access to academic networks.
Constructor Capital aims to fill this gap with a science-focutilized investment strategy. The Swiss firm just closed its $110 million Fund I to invest in Seed and Series A rounds across deeptech, software, and edtech.
Constructor Capital partners with over 50 top universities, such as Harvard, MIT, and ETH Zurich, and has support from Nobel laureates. The firm offers due diligence and mentorship for projects that most funds cannot handle.
Bridging the “funding gap between scientific excellence and venture capital”
Constructor Capital was founded by Serg Bell, a physicist and serial entrepreneur with more than 350 patents and successful exits like Acronis and Parallels. The leadership team includes Managing Partner Matthias Winter and General Partners Marie Lepske (deeptech/quantum) and Alex Fine (software).
The firm was created to address the “funding gap between scientific excellence and venture capital,” driven by frustration over missed lab breakthroughs. Its mission is to combine academic rigour with practical support, assisting research turn into scalable companies. The vision is to build a global ecosystem where science leads the next wave of computing and education.
Constructor Capital invests in technologies such as quantum and photonic computing (QuEra, Lumai), AI enterprise platforms (GCore), and personalised edtech. Investment sizes range from $1 million to $15 million, including follow-on funding, in Europe, the US, the UAE, and Singapore.
Key differences include science-led sourcing and validation through university networks, hands-on experience from operator General Partners, and support from Constructor Group, which includes a university, accelerator, and tech platform.
Unlike generalist VCs like Sequoia and a16z or sector-specific funds, Constructor Capital focutilizes on highly complex deals. Its main competitors are DCVC, Lux Capital, and Bessemer.
What’s next?
The fund is now investing, leading and co-leading rounds to assist its portfolio companies shift from the lab to the market. Future plans include building a stronger ecosystem through talent, labs, and partnerships with Constructor University, Start, and Tech, as well as ongoing follow-on support.
Over time, Constructor Capital wants to grow its global reach and assist more quantum, AI, and edtech companies become unicorns.
TFN contacted Constructor Capital for comment regarding the diversity and inclusion plan; no response was received at the time of publication.
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