Meet Antonino Sardegno, Managing Partner of Hummingbird Capital Partners AG

Tell us more about HCP.

Angel investors, family offices, and fund managers should not wrestle spreadsheets across five time zones. Since 2022, HCP has built the operational backbone where TradFi meets DeFi and Swiss precision meets global reach. Allocate, do not administrate.

Please give some more details of your startup story: what was the “aha” moment that led to the idea for your startup?

After 20 years of watching VCs, asset managers, and family offices reconcile spreadsheets instead of closing deals, three partners and Nino had enough. HCP launched from Zürich with one premise: the real alpha is not in your portfolio, it is in your operations. Swiss headquarters, active in more than nine jurisdictions, combining TradFi and DeFi without legacy baggage.

So, what’s next for you—what’s a bold goal you’re chasing right now?

Making on-chain fund operations the new default: real NAV, real compliance, real audit trails. We are live in production with the support of our flagship portfolio company, fume, and are scaling it further as a strategic backbone. Fume built the on-chain fund engine we could not find anywhere. Now it is time for the market to recognise what we already know.

Which decision had the most unexpected positive impact on your startup?

Going hybrid TradFi and DeFi when everyone said “pick one.” Clients did not ask for on-chain NAV until they saw it. Then it became decisive. It turned out to be the reason an Asian principal’s office signed with us over bigger names. Structure beats charisma.

How did you build your team, and what helps you maintain your startup culture?

We did not build a team at first, we curated a network. No office, no formal org chart in the beginning. Today we are building institutionalised partnerships across Zürich, India, UAE, Singapore, and Luxembourg. Every partner has skin in the game. Nobody joins who does not make the whole platform better. No manifesto, just alignment and execution.

If you could do it all over again, what would you do differently? What are your biggest learnings?

Trust your gut earlier. Every time we ignored instinct and followed “industry best practice,” it cost us time. The contrarian bets worked. The safe calls wasted quarters. In asset servicing infrastructure, conventional wisdom is often just legacy thinking in an expensive suit.

Building a startup requires resilience, how do you stay focused during tough times?

Some weeks are brutal. What helps? A network that does not sugarcoat, clients who remind you why this matters, a short memory for setbacks, and perspective. When you operate globally, you see real resilience in action. Self-pity is not productive. Execution is.

One piece of advice for someone who is just starting out with their startup?

Kill your ego. Your idea is not special, but your execution might be. Talk to 50 potential clients before you write a single line of code or register a company. Find one person willing to pay. Revenue is the only validation that does not lie.

What’s your outlook on the future of the Swiss startup scene, and how can it compete internationally?

Switzerland does not need to imitate Silicon Valley or out-hustle Singapore. When the stakes are real and the numbers matter, the world flies to Switzerland. The opportunity is to combine credibility with speed. Play your strengths, but execute with urgency.

What value do you see in being part of the Swiss Startup Association?

We advocate for digital incorporation, smarter fund architecture, and stronger corridors between Switzerland and Asia. The Swiss Startup Association amplifies where it counts: in parliament, in commissions, and in the rooms where regulation is shaped. Switzerland sometimes lacks urgency. SSA pushes that agenda, and that is why we are part of it.

Is there anything else you would like to share with us?

We operate across four continents. The moment we say “Swiss,” people listen. That credibility is inherited. Let’s not waste it by moving too slowly. Build real things. Ship faster. If something does not work, fix it Monday, not next quarter. SSA keeps us connected and vocal. The rest is on us.

Connect with Antonino on LinkedIn!