Meet Ruben Feurer, COO of OOMNIUM AG

OOMNIUM has grown from a crowd investing platform in 2023 to a sector-agnostic growth financing platform by 2026. What were the main reasons that led to this transformation?

R.F.: Crowd investing proved to be particularly effective for B2C startups, which benefited from the visibility and engagement offered by crowd campaigns. However, OOMNIUM recognised that B2B startups faced different challenges, especially since the crowd aspect was less relevant or effective for them. To address these needs, OOMNIUM began developing two new products over the past year focused specifically on B2B startups: the “private” and “private plus” fundraising rounds. These innovations enable B2B startups to leverage their personal and industry networks for funding, emphasising fewer investors with larger investment tickets rather than the many smaller contributions characteristic of traditional crowd investing. This strategic pivot allowed OOMNIUM to broaden its platform and move towards a sector-agnostic growth financing model.

Can you describe the process for launching a fundraising round on OOMNIUM, from submitting a deal to receiving funds? How long does each phase take?

R.F.: The fundraising process on OOMNIUM starts with the startup and the OOMNIUM team co-structuring the campaign. This involves defining fundraising goals, identifying distinct investor segments based on network ties and preferred ticket sizes, and planning which investor groups to approach in successive campaign phases. The first phase usually targets the founder’s personal and professional network in a private pre-round to build initial momentum. Later phases expand to the broader network or OOMNIUM’s own investor community. Preparations, including legal setup and campaign strategy, typically take about two months, with OOMNIUM providing active support. Once prepared, the campaign’s closing phase, where funds are committed and raised, can span from two weeks to one month. Overall, a fundraising round usually takes around three months from start to finish, which is substantially faster than the six months or more typical of traditional fundraising.

You have a 92 percent campaign success rate. What criteria determine whether a startup is approved to launch a campaign on OOMNIUM, and what contributes to success?

R.F.: Approval hinges on the startup’s ability to present a convincing investment narrative, a strong and compelling story, and to demonstrate clear growth potential. Every application is individually reviewed for investment quality. A critical expectation is that startups are capable of mobilising their own initial network and do not rely solely on OOMNIUM to fill their fundraising round. Evidence of early commitments, such as anchor investments from venture capital or institutional backers, can significantly enhance the likelihood of success. For example, the startup PeriVision secured a VC commitment prior to its campaign and raised CHF 500,000 via OOMNIUM in just three weeks as part of a larger CHF 2.4 million round.

How is OOMNIUM’s investor community segmented, and what is the mix between retail investors, business angels, and other investor types?

R.F.: For each campaign, OOMNIUM segments its investor base by industry, target fundraising amount, and ticket size preferences. The majority of OOMNIUM’s investors are retail participants. Roughly 10 percent of the investor pool consists of serial investors who frequently invest in deals, and there is a growing segment of business angels who typically contribute between CHF 10,000 and CHF 20,000 per campaign. Through this segmentation, startups can influence which types of investors are exposed to and ultimately invest in their campaigns. Additionally, 40 percent of our investor base is female, a metric we are particularly proud of.

What support and mentorship does OOMNIUM provide founders during fundraising?

R.F.: Every founder launching a campaign on OOMNIUM is matched with a personal advisor who has significant fundraising experience. This advisor helps refine the founder’s pitch and investment narrative and provides guidance on structuring the campaign. OOMNIUM offers extensive support for legal setup, campaign planning, and the definition of investor segments, as well as for crafting effective investment incentives.

You are planning to launch the “OOMNIUM Circle” this year. What is it and why is it being launched?

R.F.: The OOMNIUM Circle is a new digital business angel club set to launch in 2026. It is intended as a response to traditional barriers to participation in classic business angel networks, such as requirements for physical presence or high minimum commitments. The OOMNIUM Circle is designed to be entirely digital, offering a more convenient and flexible way for the next generation of business angels to participate in startup investing. This format allows greater accessibility for individuals who wish to invest regularly while preferring a low-barrier, fully online experience. Ultimately, it is OOMNIUM’s growing base of such investors that motivated us to pursue this strategic initiative.

Will launching the “OOMNIUM Circle” change the investment landscape for startups raising funds?

R.F.: Yes, we expect the OOMNIUM Circle to expand opportunities for startups by connecting them with a new breed of business angels who are digitally native and prefer regular, streamlined investments. The club will lower barriers and provide startups with access to a broader base of engaged, tech-savvy investors, thereby enhancing their ability to raise funds efficiently.

How does raising funds with OOMNIUM compare to traditional fundraising in terms of duration and process?

R.F.: Traditional fundraising is often a labour-intensive process, with founders approaching individual investors one by one, negotiating terms separately, and facing timelines that can easily extend beyond six months. In contrast, OOMNIUM provides standardised terms and structured campaigns with clear timelines and deadlines. This transparency enables founders to track progress at each stage and ensures faster execution. As a result, fundraising with OOMNIUM typically takes around three months from preparation to close, significantly reducing the time required compared to the conventional approach.

Would you like to add anything for the SSA community?

R.F.: Yes. OOMNIUM actively encourages startups with compelling investment cases to reach out. Our fundraising pipeline is filling quickly, and there is strong demand for exciting new startups to introduce to our investor base.

Follow Ruben on LinkedIn!