Aviva Investors, a London-based asset management business, announed it has made an €11.4 million investment with Lakestar, a European venture and growth capital firm specialising in technology.
This commitment to the Lakestar Growth Fund II targets growth-stage companies in deep tech, healthcare, fintech, and digitalisation.
The fund has already begun deploying capital, with recent investments including patient health assessment start-up Neko and low-cost satellite company Isar Aerospace.
Founded in Switzerland in 2012, Lakestar has previously backed prominent UK and European tech firms such as Revolut, Blockchain.com, and Spotify.
“Lakestar has a rich history and wealth of expertise, discovering and supporting pioneering companies which have grown to be at the forefront of their industries,”
said Ben Luckett, Managing Director of venture and strategic capital at Aviva Investors.
“The European technology sector has such vast potential to nurture world-leading ideas from globally-important clusters which can drive future growth. We believe Lakestar’s can give us unrivalled access to these opportunities, supporting portfolio company growth and unlocking long-term investment returns for our clients.”
This marks the third venture and growth capital investment announced by Aviva Investors this year, following its previous backing of Oxford Science Enterprises and Northern Gritstone.
It also follows the February launch of the Aviva Investors Venture and Growth Capital Long Term Asset Fund (LTAF), designed to offer pension funds better access to innovative companies.
Previously, Lakestar announced the closing of their Early IV and Lakestar Growth II funds, for around US$600 million to inject new capital into the next generation of European startups.
Featured image credit: edited from freepik
The post Aviva Investors Joins Lakestar’s Fund with €11.4m Investment, Backing Revolut’s Investor appeared first on Fintech Schweiz Digital Finance News - FintechNewsCH.
Full story here Are you the author?
You Might Also Like
Top 12 Fintech Courses and Certifications in Switzerland in 2025
2025-02-25
Fintech is one of the fastest growing industries in the world. The Boston Consulting Group (BCG) estimates that the market will reach a size of US$1.5 trillion in revenue 2030, representing a roughly fivefold increase from 2024.
This growth has driven a surge in demand for fintech professionals, leading to the launch of a wide range of educational programs, courses, and certifications tailored to both young students and experienced professionals looking to navigate the rapidly evolving and intricate world of fintech.
Today, we look at the top fintech courses and certifications available Switzerland in 2025. These programs include certificates of advanced studies (CAS), master’s degrees, seminars, and special courses. They cover a diverse range of topics, from cryptocurrency and blockchain
Crypto VC Funding Remains Steady at US$10B in 2024
2025-02-14
PitchBook has released its Q4 2024 Crypto VC Trends Report, providing an overview of venture capital investment in the cryptocurrency sector.
The report highlights key trends across blockchain infrastructure, Web3, decentralised finance (DeFi), and AI-driven decentralised systems.
Crypto venture funding saw a modest recovery in the fourth quarter, increasing by 13.6% compared to the previous quarter.
Deal value rose from US$2.2 billion in Q3 to US$2.5 billion in Q4.
However, the number of deals continued to decline, falling from 411 to 351, a 14.6% drop.
For the full year, total crypto VC investment reached US$10 billion across 1,940 deals, close to the US$10.3 billion recorded in 2023.
This stability reflects the sector’s resilience despite macroeconomic pressures and regulatory
Sygnum Gains Unicorn Status with US$58 Million Funding Round
2025-01-14
Sygnum, a global digital asset banking group, has secured US$ 58 million in an oversubscribed funding round, earning it unicorn status with a valuation to over US$ 1 billion.
The round bolstered Sygnum’s balance sheet and CET1 capital, supporting plans for future growth.
Led by Bitcoin-focused venture capital firm Fulgur Ventures, the round saw participation from new and existing investors, along with Sygnum’s co-founders, board, and team members, who continue to hold a majority ownership in the company.
The funds will be used to expand Sygnum’s market presence in the EU/EEA and Hong Kong, enhance institutional infrastructure, and develop Bitcoin-focused products.
Additional investments will strengthen compliance, risk management, and organisational resilience.
Sygnum reported strong
The 10 Largest Crypto Acquisitions
2025-01-06
Q4 2024 witnessed a remarkable resurgence in the cryptocurrency market, highlighted by bitcoin surpassing the historic US$100,000 milestone on December 05.
This surge was fueled by significant events, notably Donald Trump’s election victory, which spurred expectations of a pro-crypto regulatory shift. South Korea also played a key role in the global trading surge, driven by an altcoin frenzy.
According to CCData, a data and index solutions provider specializing in the digital asset market, aggregate trading volumes across major South Korean exchanges, including Upbeat and Bithumb Korea, reached a record of US$254 billion, representing a a staggering 294% month-on-month (MoM) increase. South Korea now accounts for 7.38% of the total spot trading volumes on centralized exchanges.
November
Swiss Bitcoin App Relai Raises US$12M Funding, Eyes MiCA License for EU Growth
2024-12-16
Swiss-based cryptocurrency app Relai has secured US$12 million in funding to drive its expansion across Europe.
The investment was led by ego death capital with participation from Plan B Bitcoin Fund, Timechain, and Solit Group.
The heavily oversubscribed funding round will enable Relai to enhance its platform, streamline the Bitcoin buying process, and educate users on the benefits of the crypto as a savings tool.
Relai also shared its plans to obtain the Markets in Crypto-Assets Regulation (MiCA) license to gain access to a potential user base of 400 million.
The company has reported significant growth, with a 300% year-on-year increase in user adoption, and is on track to reach 1 million downloads by 2025.
Founded by Julian Liniger and Adem Bilican in 2020, Relai’s self-custody feature
Retail Investors Show Divergent Behaviors in Crypto versus Traditional Assets
2024-12-10
Retail investors are showing distinct behavioral patterns when trading cryptocurrencies compared to traditional assets such as gold and stocks. Traditionally, investors tend to sell their stocks and gold when prices rise.
Tags: Featured,funding,newsletter
