DART Ventures Research
Overview
DART Ventures (also known as DART Labs) is a Zurich-based early-stage venture capital firm founded in 2018 that invests in Swiss and European founders working on breakthrough technologies in health and climate. The firm operates a unique model that combines pre-seed and seed investments with a 12-month tailored acceleration program designed to help European startups expand into the US market.
The firm maintains a dual presence with headquarters in Zurich, Switzerland and an office at swissnex San Francisco, positioning itself as a bridge between European innovation and US market opportunities. DART's mission-driven approach combines purpose and profit, focusing on founders who aim to fundamentally improve health outcomes and address climate challenges.
Investment Thesis
DART invests in early-stage Swiss and European teams developing breakthrough technologies that positively impact health and climate. The firm puts founders first through their tailored 12-month program that guides startups on strategy, culture, fundraising, and US expansion. Startups receive experienced partners and their networks as part of their extended team.
The firm believes that combining purpose and profit leads to meaningful impact. They are particularly interested in deep-tech, scientific solutions rather than incremental improvements, targeting companies that drive decarbonization, facilitate energy transition, and reduce global environmental footprint.
Stage Focus
DART focuses on pre-seed and seed stage investments. Their specialties include university spin-offs, indicating strong ties to European research institutions. The firm is designed to fund big visions early on, specifically targeting teams that need access to large markets and are tackling courageous missions.
Check Size
Specific check sizes are not publicly disclosed. Based on the firm's early-stage focus and portfolio characteristics, investments likely range in typical pre-seed/seed ranges for European VC.
Sector Focus
Health
DART invests at the convergence of consumer tech and health tech. They look for startups creating novel patient-centric hardware and software tools that provide AI-enabled, personalized, continuous, and expanded access to care beyond traditional clinical settings. Portfolio examples include fertility care (Bea Fertility), brain health therapy (BottNeuro), implantable bio-sensors (Impli), vision technology (Perivision), and continuous health monitoring (Una Health, Resmonics).
Climate
The firm invests in companies reducing environmental impact through deep-tech and breakthrough scientific solutions. Focus areas include decarbonization, energy transition, and reducing global footprint. Portfolio examples include bioplastics from organic waste (Fluidsolids), sustainable packaging (Gaeastar), fuel cells (Inergio), and cultivated meat (Orbillion Bio).
Geographic Focus
DART specifically targets Swiss and European founding teams, helping them expand into the US market. The firm is woven into both US and Swiss ecosystems, connecting the best of both. They offer US investors access to European talent pools and help European startups become global players.
Portfolio
DART's portfolio includes 15 startups with a 50% diversity factor and 1 exit. The portfolio spans:
Health Companies: Bea Fertility (at-home fertility care), BottNeuro (digital brain health), HealthCaters (organizational health), Impli (implantable bio-sensors), Perivision (AI vision care), Resmonics (lung monitoring), Testmate Health (at-home STD testing), Una Health (blood sugar tracking), VAY (motion analytics), Xsensio (on-skin bio-sensors).
Climate Companies: Fluidsolids (bioplastics), Gaeastar (sustainable cups), Inergio (mini fuel cells), Orbillion Bio (cultivated meat).
Other: Zoe (3D classroom tools).
Team and Advisors
The core team includes Sophie Lamparter (Managing Partner), Priska Roesli (Partner), Jasmine Kent, and Cheshta Balwani. DART has assembled an extensive advisory network of over 30 industry experts from organizations including Google, Meta, Stanford University, ETH Zurich, Daimler, Takeda, True Ventures, and Swisscom.
Program Model
Beyond capital, DART provides a 12-month tailored program covering:
- Strategy development
- Culture building
- Fundraising support
- US market expansion
Startups gain access to experienced partners and their networks as an extended team. The firm has demonstrated success in introducing portfolio companies to US VCs and helping secure relevant US board members.
Contact
- Email: [email protected]
- LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/dartlabs
- Twitter: @darttweeting
- Zurich: Hardturmstr. 3, 8005 Zurich, Switzerland
- San Francisco: swissnex, Pier 17 Suite 800, San Francisco, CA 94111