For FoundersFor Investors

About Us

Jacqueline Ruedin Rüsch

Founding Partner & CEO

Jacqueline is a seasoned entrepreneur, investor, and finance professional with nearly three decades of experience spanning private banking, asset management, and venture capital. After building a successful career in leading Swiss financial institutions, she founded her independent wealth management company in 2011, driven by the ambition to offer a more entrepreneurial and impact-oriented approach to investing.

Her passion for innovation and long-term value creation led her to enter venture capital in 2014, launching her first VC initiatives and later co-founding Privilège Ventures in 2021. Under her leadership, the firm has become a recognized player in the Swiss and European venture ecosystem, investing in high-potential early-stage technology companies across sectors such as HealthTech, DeepTech, ClimateTech, AgrifoodTech, and AI.

Jacqueline is particularly committed to backing resilient and visionary entrepreneurs and has been a strong advocate for diverse leadership teams, recognizing their proven ability to generate stronger performance and long-term returns. She actively contributes to the startup ecosystem as a mentor, speaker, jury member, and board member for several innovative technology and MedTech companies.

Jacqueline on LinkedIn

Angelica Morrone

Partner & CIO

Angelica is an experienced investor, entrepreneur, and strategic advisor with an international career spanning investment banking, asset management, venture capital, and innovation ecosystems.

She began her career in investment banking before founding her own asset management company in the United States in the late 1990s, driven by a strong entrepreneurial spirit and a vision for independent, forward-looking investment management. Over the years, she has built extensive expertise across asset allocation, portfolio construction, alternative investments, and private markets, advising both institutional and private investors across diverse geographies and market cycles.

She combines rigorous financial analysis with a strong ability to anticipate macroeconomic and technological trends, contributing to the firm’s conviction-driven approach to venture capital investing.
Beyond investing, Angelica is deeply engaged in entrepreneurship, education, and community building. She is an active speaker, mentor, and advocate for innovation, female leadership, and financial education, regularly contributing to initiatives that empower entrepreneurs and investors alike.

Angelica on LinkedIn

Nicole Schimenti

Business Operations Manager

Nicole oversees business operations at Privilège Ventures, ensuring efficient coordination across internal processes, strategic initiatives, and community activities. With a strong organizational mindset and a proactive approach, she supports the firm’s daily operations while fostering meaningful connections within the venture ecosystem.

Combining precision, adaptability, and energy, Nicole plays a key role in enhancing collaboration, streamlining workflows, and contributing to the dynamic growth of the firm and its network.

Nicole on LinkedIn

Cesare Pezzini

Venture Partner

Cesare is an entrepreneur with an international outlook and a strong passion for innovation and emerging technologies. After co-founding his first company at the age of 18, he developed hands-on experience in entrepreneurship, strategic growth, and early-stage business development.

Currently in Business Development at Inergio Technologies one of our portfolio company, in his past positions he contributed a dynamic and next-generation perspective to our investment team, supporting the sourcing and evaluation of high-potential startups across sectors including HealthTech, CleanTech, and DeepTech. He is particularly engaged in identifying early-stage opportunities and working closely with ambitious founders to help accelerate growth and long-term value creation.

Cesare on LinkedIn

Lucian Wagner

Senior Advisor

Lucian Wagner is a seasoned venture capital investor, entrepreneur, and co-founder of Privilège Ventures, with more than 20 years of experience supporting early-stage technology companies across Europe and the US. After 15 years with various semiconductor equipment companies in Switzerland and the US, he successfully built and exited FabCentric, Inc., a semiconductor software company, before transitioning into venture capital and international startup growth.

He has held leadership and board positions across DeepTech, MedTech, ClimateTech, and industrial innovation companies, bringing extensive expertise in scaling startups, fundraising, and strategic market expansion. As Senior Advisor to Privilège Ventures, Lucian contributes deep operational insight, a strong international network, and long-standing venture investing experience, supporting founders and portfolio companies in building globally competitive businesses. He is a Board member of several current portfolio companies.

Lucian on LinkedIn

Mershad Javan

Venture Partner

Mershad is a serial entrepreneur, investor, and mentor with over two decades of experience building and scaling technology-driven companies internationally. He founded and successfully exited multiple ventures, including the music technology platform Octiive (formerly MondoTunes), which he later reacquired and rebuilt, demonstrating his resilience and long-term strategic vision.

As Venture Partner at Privilège Ventures, he brings deep operational expertise, board-level leadership, and a founder-first mindset to support early-stage companies in scaling sustainably. With experience across technology, digital platforms, media, and innovation ecosystems, he actively mentors entrepreneurs and contributes strategic insight to high-growth ventures across Europe and internationally.

Mershad on LinkedIn

Haena Kim

Venture Partner

Haena is a global finance and investment professional with over a decade of experience spanning finance, international trade, venture ecosystems, and strategic growth. Having lived and worked across Asia, Europe, the US, and Africa, she brings a highly international perspective and a strong cross-border network connecting founders, investors, and innovation hubs globally.

As Venture Partner at Privilège Ventures, Haena supports venture sourcing, fundraising, and ecosystem development, with a particular focus on fostering connections between European and Asian innovation ecosystems.

Haena on LinkedIn

Didier Denat

Chairman of the Board

Didier is a senior finance executive and private markets expert with more than 30 years of international experience in corporate finance, private equity, leveraged finance, and governance. Formerly a Member of the Executive Board of Credit Suisse Switzerland and Head of Corporate & Investment Banking, he has advised private equity firms, entrepreneurs, and corporates on complex financings and growth strategies across Europe.

As Chairman of the Board at Privilège Ventures, he brings extensive leadership experience, strategic oversight, and deep expertise in alternative investments and entrepreneurial ecosystems. His strong governance background and long-standing involvement in innovation and SME financing support the firm’s long-term growth and institutional development.

Didier on LinkedIn

Marco Nannini

Board Member

Marco is an entrepreneur, investor, and sustainability advocate with extensive experience in venture capital, innovation, and international business development. A former executive at multinational technology companies including Microsoft and Digital Equipment Corporation, he later became an active angel and impact investor, backing more than 30 startups across sectors such as ClimateTech, Mobility, HealthTech, and Digital Innovation.

As Board Member at Privilège Ventures, he brings deep expertise in entrepreneurship, strategic growth, and governance, combining operational leadership with a strong commitment to sustainability and impact-driven innovation. His background in management consulting and global business development provides valuable insight in supporting founders and scaling high-potential ventures internationally.

Marco on LinkedIn

Elisabeth Aloy

Advisor

Elisabeth is a growth strategy consultant, neuroscientist, and innovation expert specializing in the transformation and scaling of Life Sciences and HealthTech companies. With an international career spanning Europe, the US, and Asia, she has advised BioTech, MedTech, and healthcare organizations on strategic growth, commercialization, and next-generation business models. (elisabethaloy.com)

Combining scientific expertise with business strategy, she brings a multidisciplinary approach to innovation, helping companies navigate complex market dynamics and accelerate sustainable growth. As Advisor to Privilège Ventures, Elisabeth contributes deep sector knowledge, strategic insight, and global perspective, strengthening the firm’s investment approach and supporting portfolio companies in the evolving Life Sciences ecosystem.

Elisabeth on LinkedIn

Sarah Clatterbuck

Advisor

Sarah is a senior technology executive and engineering leader with extensive experience scaling global consumer platforms and digital ecosystems. As Senior Director of Engineering at YouTube Shopping and Site Lead for Google Zürich, she led high-performing international teams focused on innovation within the Creator Economy, e-commerce, and platform technologies.

Prior to Google, she held leadership roles at LinkedIn, Yahoo!, and Apple, building products and engineering organizations at scale across social platforms, marketplaces, and consumer technology. As Advisor to Privilège Ventures, Sarah brings deep expertise in technology strategy, product innovation, and platform-driven business models, supporting the firm’s investment approach and helping portfolio companies scale globally in rapidly evolving digital markets.

Sarah on LinkedIn