Investor Profile: Swanlaab — Thesis, Cheque Size & How to Apply

A Madrid venture firm with Israeli VC DNA has spent a decade building companies rather than just backing them. Swanlaab funding flows through a 'venture factory' model — hands-on operational support alongside capital — and the firm now runs three investment strategies spanning B2B software, agrifood tech and search funds. Co-founded in 2013 by Spanish consulting group IVC with Israeli partner Giza VC, Swanlaab Venture Factory operates from Madrid and Tel Aviv with a 21-strong team from five nationalities, writing cheques of €500K–€3M.

Thesis & focus

Swanlaab's mission is to accelerate growth, drive innovation and create lasting impact in high-potential industries. Rather than a cheque and a board seat, it offers a repeatable company-building system: lead-investor conviction from day one, hands-on help with hiring, go-to-market, internationalisation and next-round readiness, and a global mindset built on the Spain–Israel corridor. The model reflects its pedigree — team members carry experience from Crescendo VP and Giza Venture Capital, firms with decades of Israeli tech investing behind them.

Sectors & stages

Three strategies define the firm. Swanlaab Tech Fund II backs high-tech B2B software startups with the potential to become global leaders, at late seed and early Series A, focusing on disruptive technologies with strong market differentiation. Swanlaab Agrifood Tech Fund I invests in high-impact agrifood tech from concept validation through early Series A, across agricultural technology, food production and processing, and logistics, distribution and retail. Scipio Swanlaab SF SCR backs search funds worldwide — sector-agnostic investments in high-potential entrepreneurs acquiring and leading established, profitable SMEs.

Fund size & cheque size

Swanlaab writes cheques of €500K to €3M, with initial tickets from €0.4 million and follow-on capacity. Its original fund was a €40 million vehicle reported at launch. The firm does not publicly disclose the sizes of Swanlaab Tech Fund II or Swanlaab Agrifood Tech Fund I, so those figures are not publicly disclosed. Historically the wider group has carried out more than 140 investments with over 40 successful exits, eight of them IPOs.

Notable portfolio & Swanlaab funding highlights

The portfolio includes IriusRisk, Sales Layer, Odilo, Landbot and Situm, with exits including Kompyte (acquired by Semrush) and Unnax (acquired by PSG). Swanlaab funding led the €2.8 million round of data-privacy deep-tech company Nymiz, and the firm co-invested €2.5 million in greenhouse-robotics startup Grodi alongside Axon and CDTI.

Partners & team

Mark Kavelaars, chairman of IVC, serves as partner, CEO and co-chairman of Swanlaab's Investment Committee, while Juan Revuelta is a partner at the firm. The team today comprises 21 professionals from five nationalities — Spain, Israel, Australia, Colombia and the United States — combining global perspective with local execution from Madrid and Tel Aviv.

How to apply for funding

Swanlaab's strategy page ends with an open invitation: 'If this sounds like you, we'd love to hear from you.' Founders can reach the team at [email protected] or on +34 919 957 796. The stated criteria are a technology-driven company with a B2B model and strong market potential, proprietary know-how or deep-tech differentiation, early-stage with strong scalability, and a professional, dedicated team.