Yova seeking further growth from fresh capital injection

With its sustainable investment products, Yova has the capacity to tap into new markets. The Zurich-based start-up has successfully raised more than 4 million Swiss francs in a financing round that has just been concluded. With this, the door is now open for the fintech company to expand into additional European countries.

Following strong growth in the German-speaking region of Switzerland and the planned entry into Romandy – the French-speaking area of Switzerland – at the end of April, Yova has set its sights on Germany as a third target market within the framework of its European expansion plans. Thereafter, Yova is planning to become active in additional countries.

“Entry into the German market will serve to further accelerate our business development. We are currently in talks to collaborate with various financial service providers and insurance firms, as they are increasingly noticing greater demand for sustainable, transparent investment products on the part of their clients”, explains Tillmann Lang, Co-Founder and CEO of Yova, in a press release.  

In explaining her rationale behind deciding to get involved with Yova, Carole Ackermann, investor and Supervisory Board member at Allianz Switzerland and BKW, comments that she not only expects Yova to emerge unscathed from the current crisis, but that the company is likely to substantially increase its business in the near future. In addition to Ackermann, other investors include WI Venture, the Founder of VZ Vermögenszentrums, Andreas Reinhardt, CEO of Salt, Pascal Grieder, and Eva Richterich, Executive Board Member at Ricola.

At Yova, customers can choose to focus on a range of 16 issues, ranging from climate change to renewable energy through to access to education, for example. In addition, a total of eight exclusion criteria, for example tobacco and weapons, can be selected. In accordance with the respective customer’s risk propensity, they are provided with suggestions from a mix of 400 companies in which Yova invests. The company mix can be customized, while favorites can be added from over 800 additional firms. The final portfolio comprises 30 to 40 different shares and sovereign bonds.