What we do
At SEIF, we work with impact driven founders who aim to solve our planet’s most pressing global challenges, by employing and leveraging innovative business models within the marketplace. Our aim is to support passionate entrepreneurs in establishing product-market-fit and scale ventures with positive impact integrated at the core of their business model.
SEIF is well positioned in the heart of Europe’s tech for impact ecosystem with the annual SEIF Tech for Impact Awards, where more than 3’800 impact startups have been evaluated. Since 2019, the Awards finalists have gone on to successfully raise over CHF 86 million in equity funding.
SEIF also offers acceleration and capacity building programs in close collaboration with corporate partners. To date, our programs have supported over 1’500 impact startups and granted exclusive access to an international angel investor network.
Meet the team
Prof. Mariana Christen Jakob
Founder and Managing Partner SEIF
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Impact Investing
With over 20 year’s experience in social innovation, CSR, impact measurement and impact investing, Mariana is an expert within the ecosystem of impact startups with a focus on tech for impact. She founded SEIF in 2011 with the aim to professionalize the impact entrepreneurship sector and provide startups with the necessary support to grow and scale successfully. Today, Mariana works together with her team to develop and implement new programs to accelerate impact driven startups and initiate impact measurement tools for the impact investing sector.
Mandates
BRIDGE, jointly offered by the Swiss National Science Foundation (SNSF) and Innosuisse, Member Steering Committee
The programme offers funding opportunities at the intersection of basic and science-based innovation for young and experienced researchers
Design Prize Switzerland: Going Circular Economy, Nomination
Green Fintech Network Member, State Secretary for International Finance SIF
MassChallenge, Sustainable Food Systems Challenge, Jury Member
Zoé Dumont
Senior Impact and Project Manager
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Zoé is leading our accelerator programs that support impact-driven entrepreneurs to manage and scale their impact. She thrives in environments that promote innovative ways to solve contemporary challenges. She is convinced that knowledge sharing and the dissemination of both impactful and profitable business ideas are building a more sustainable business ecosystem.
Elena Soto
Impact Analyst Support
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Elena Soto supports SEIF’s Impact Investing services team with the impact assessment tool, impact due diligence of start-ups, as well as connecting the investor network with promising impact start-ups. Elena is convinced that the social acceptance of sustainable innovations begins with great business models supported by knowledge sharing and economic resources. After graduating from the University of St.Gallen with a bachelor in business administration, she was at the front of the business development of impact tech start-ups in several markets and industries. She is currently pursuing her masters degree in Accounting and Finance at her alma matter.
Nilani Sunthar
Project Manager & Impact Analyst
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Nilani’s analytical game is strong. She believes that there is no real change made, without being able to prove it in a data-driven way. She brings with her a previous consulting experience and an education on how to lead companies in a sustainable and profitable way. She loves active contact with different stakeholders and likes getting her point of views challenged. She will focus on supporting the startups to leverage their impact, hence helping SEIF to grow further in its mission.
Roman Suleiman
Impact Management Consultant
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As Freelance Impact Management Consultant, Roman supports SEIF in conducting impact management projects. Moreover, he aims to strengthen synergies between startups and corporates in SEIF’s existing ecosystem. He believes that implementing sustainability taking a systemic approach is key to secure the long-term competitiveness of any organization. Besides his engagement at SEIF, he acts as the founder of a climate risk analysis startup. Previously, he worked in management consulting and impact investing, co-founded an agroforestry startup, and brings along additional experience from venture capital and technology. He holds a Master in Finance, Strategic Management, and Sustainable Business from Copenhagen Business School.
Eric Gisiger
Partner
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Investments
As Partner at SEIF, Eric acts as Investment Advisor in the development of the platform and the underlying portfolio companies with a Tech for Impact focus. In addition to the positive impact, he sees great commercial potential and thus attractive investment opportunities in early-stage and growth companies addressing some of our most pressing global challenges. Eric is a seasoned and entrepreneurial investment professional with more than 20 years of successful international working experience covering the areas of private equity / venture capital, M&A, corporate development, international project- and institutional relationship management.
Luca Christen
Partner
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Finance & Investments
Niccolò Schlueb
Impact Management Consultant
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Niccolò’s role strongly focuses on accelerating and supporting impact-driven initiatives and mission-driven entrepreneurs. He has mentored and consulted numerous startups and lead several impact workshops. Besides, Niccolò is also invested in developing and implementing impact management tools and measuring and reporting the impact of young companies.
Our History
SEIF has a longstanding history as an impact venture accelerator with a pan-European focus. Founded in 2011 by Prof. Mariana Christen Jakob with the aim of professionalizing the social entrepreneurship sector and providing impact startups with the necessary support to grow and scale successfully.
Over the past 10 years, the SEIF team has built an extensive pipeline and database of impact driven entrepreneurs, whereby a significant gap in external capital made available for early-stage impact ventures in need of first-time financing has been observed.