Planven Research
Investment Thesis
Planven (operated by CRDH Capital AG, licensed by FINMA as a professional asset management company) is a growth equity firm that invests in disrupting technologies, scalable business models, and outstanding founders. The firm's stated purpose is to create value in portfolio companies, for its investors, and for society at large, and it applies a formal ESG policy across its investment analysis and decision-making. Planven distinguishes itself by connecting portfolio companies to a network of established multinational corporates to accelerate global expansion, and it has run co-branded initiatives such as a cybersecurity alliance with Italian utility Enel and portfolio company Nozomi Networks.
Stage Focus
Planven targets Expansion Capital and Venture Growth stage companies, i.e., later-stage, revenue-generating businesses ready to scale internationally rather than pre-product or early product-market-fit startups.
Check Size
The firm targets investments of approximately $10M-$20M per company and typically takes board representation, consistent with a lead or influential co-investor role rather than a passive check.
Lead Tendency
Planven takes board seats and is positioned as a lead or significant co-investor across its portfolio (e.g., leading rounds in Seraphic Security and Monogoto, and co-investing alongside strategics like CrowdStrike's Falcon Fund).
Recent Activity
Planven's portfolio has produced a wave of exits and growth rounds through 2025-2026: CrowdStrike acquired portfolio company Seraphic Security for $400M (January 2026); Mitsubishi Electric agreed to buy Nozomi Networks in a $1B deal (September 2025); Via Transportation completed a $493M US IPO at a $3.65B valuation (September 2025); and EncoreAI (formerly gainencore.ai) raised a $30M Series A (August 2026). The fund remains active, with recent rounds in Seraphic Security ($29M Series A, January 2025) and Monogoto ($27M Series A, October 2024).
Portfolio Highlights
Notable exits include Nozomi Networks (Mitsubishi Electric, ~$1B), Seraphic Security (CrowdStrike, $400M), CathWorks (Medtronic, $585M acquisition option), Tribe Dynamics (acquired by CreatorIQ), and Hysolate (acquired 2022). Via Transportation, a long-held portfolio company, completed a 2025 IPO at a $3.65B valuation after previously raising growth rounds led by EXOR. Other active portfolio companies span cybersecurity (BlueVoyant, Nozomi Networks, Seraphic), health tech and AI-powered diagnostics (Ibex Medical Analytics), industrial AI (Inspekto), IoT connectivity (Monogoto), data infrastructure (Equalum), remote support SaaS (TechSee), and media/SaaS (Applicaster).
Team
- Rosario Bifulco, Chairman - also Executive Deputy Chairman at Clessidra SGR, board member of Humanitas Group
- Giovanni Canetta Roeder, Founder & Managing Partner - investment banking background at Merrill Lynch, Crédit Agricole, UBS
- Eran Westman, Managing Partner - former GP at Viola Growth, former CEO of Vidyo
- Marc Greuter, General Partner - oversees all investment activities and value creation, ex-Philip Morris Equity Partners
- Elisabetta Vesconi, Principal - manages deal flow, due diligence, and portfolio monitoring; ex-Bain & Company
- Elle Taitou Spruch, Senior Investment Associate - Israeli VC expertise, ex-Hanaco Ventures
- Luca Pitta, Investment and Data Analyst - ex-Adara Ventures
- Luca Maria Zappa, Investment Counsel - handles fund structuring and transactions, ex-DLA Piper
- Amir Ofek, Operating Partner - CEO of AxoniusX, former CEO of Alcide and CyberInt
- Christof Baumgärtner, Operating Partner - former CRO of MobileIron
- Oren Hogery, Venture Partner - CISO of Via, 15+ years in cybersecurity
- Cinzia Arnaboldi, CFO - oversees finance, audit, and HR
- Leila Canetta Roeder, General Counsel & Chief Risk Officer - manages legal, regulatory, and compliance
- Silvia Hanaldy, Financial Controller
- Yulia Arkhangelskaya, Office Manager / PA to CEO
Decision Process
Planven operates as a multi-partner investment team (Chairman, Managing Partners, General Partner, and an investment team led by a Principal), consistent with a partnership-style decision process rather than a solo GP model.
Founder Preferences
The website does not state explicit founder preferences, but the portfolio skews toward technical founders in cybersecurity, health tech AI, and B2B/vertical SaaS building scalable, internationally expandable businesses.
Geographic Focus
Planven invests across Europe, Israel, and the USA, reflecting its Zurich headquarters, strong Israeli cybersecurity/tech deal flow, and US growth-stage exposure (Via Transportation, BlueVoyant, EncoreAI).