Robin Lauber is a third-generation heir, serial entrepreneur, and investor. Since 2015, he has developed the single-family office Infinitas Capital into a vertically integrated investment platform: aside from the proven real estate business, it also provides venture capital for innovative technology start-ups. In terms of content, Lauber has a particular passion for the life sciences.
VC Magazin: Family offices in Europe and the DACH region, in particular, often show restraint when it comes to life sciences. You, on the other hand, are considered a staunch advocate of this segment. What drives you?
Lauber: Depending on one’s risk profile, the complexity of valuation and long investment cycles in the life sciences industry can indeed seem quite daunting. I have always been attracted to this sector, initially for very personal reasons: in our family, we tend to be slightly hypochondriacal, which is why we are particularly fascinated by modern disease prevention methods and the idea of longevity. I have also been engaged with the question of how to not only preserve family wealth, but also invest it wisely in forward-looking areas. As a family office, we consciously focus on cross-generational and impact-oriented value creation. Life sciences offer a broad field here, ideally delivering above-average returns in combination with long-term, immediately measurable social impact. Seen in this light, life sciences are the ultimate impact investment. To date, we have invested USD 110 million into bio-assets, which we are aiming to increase by USD 30 million to 50 million this and next year.
VC Magazin: How do you navigate your way in this complex field?
Lauber: Since 2020, we have been investing globally with Korify Capital in selected biotechnology companies in the fields of longevity, precision medicine, mental health, and novel therapies. Timing our transactions based on opportunity and market dynamics rather than rigid stage labels, we focus on businesses with clearly identifiable value drivers and significant upside potential. Our approach is to actively develop these up to a defined value inflection point – typically through clinical milestones, regulatory de-risking or strategic capital market transactions. Last but not least, we are benefitting from a cultural shift in how wealth and entrepreneurship are viewed. Let me explain: previous generations were strongly influenced by discretion – money and transactions were rarely discussed. In the next generation, this attitude had already become more open. I myself maintain an active and trust-based exchange with other family offices. This dialogue enables us to learn from each other, sharpen our perspectives and specifically reduce risks in transactions through shared expertise and co-investments.
VC Magazin: Can you give us some insight into your portfolio? And what are your currently working on?
Lauber: Recent portfolio examples include Alto Neuroscience, which develops precision psychiatry treatments; Cambrian Biopharma, focused on geroscience and anti-aging therapies; Refoxy, which targets age-related diseases; and Gameto, a biotech company advancing women’s reproductive health. Having generated robust clinical data and received an extremely positive response from investors, one of our portfolio companies is now preparing for a crossover round. The aim is to further strengthen the capital base and accelerate IPO readiness with a target listing within the next twelve months, subject to market conditions and regulatory requirements. At the same time, we are in close contact with a group of high-conviction opportunities that align well with our strategic focus on extending healthspan and improving quality of life sustainably. In terms of content, we are looking at four areas in particular: firstly, ophthalmology – here, we are interested in disease-modifying approaches to degenerative diseases based on novel biological mechanisms with clear clinical and commercial prospects. Secondly, we focus on selectively modulating immune cells. We are particularly excited about platform technologies that can control immune responses more precisely, helping to make modern therapies both more effective and safer. Thirdly, we evaluate late-stage programmes in neuroscience, especially those with disease-modifying characteristics for conditions with high unmet medical need. Fourthly, we continue to invest in platform-based biotechnology, i.e. selected high-growth companies in the longevity and next-generation biotech sectors, to build up diversified exposure in this area.
VC Magazin: How do you measure the much-cited impact?
Lauber: In this field, it is often very specific and an integral part of the business model. Biotechnological innovations can prolong life, improve quality of life and, in the best case, save lives. Their effectiveness is measured in detail and precisely in clinical trials using defined endpoints such as tumour growth, metastasis, overall survival or progression-free survival. In the field of mental health, standardised parameters are used to improve psychological wellbeing. Returns are thus generated from demonstrable medical efficacy – and thus from real, quantifiable impact. We are aiming to make 70 the new 50.
VC Magazin: According to SECA, equity investments in the biotech sector in Switzerland reached an all-time high of CHF 946 million in 2025. How do you assess this momentum?
Lauber: Market sentiment has improved noticeably. We see several structural reasons for this. Interest rate developments play a key role, of course, as the biotech sector is naturally sensitive to interest rates – cash flows usually only materialise late in a company’s life cycle. In addition, large pharmaceutical companies currently have considerable liquidity at their disposal. They are under pressure to fill their product pipelines with innovative active ingredients. There is also a technological driver: artificial intelligence is accelerating research and clinical development while reducing costs – this is substantially changing the efficiency profiles of many programmes Although IPO activity is still subdued, we are already seeing a few successful IPOs with stable share prices. At the same time, valuations in the life sciences sector are still well below the highs of the last cycle, opening up attractive entry opportunities. Overall, there are a number of good reasons to believe that the upturn will be sustainable. However, for this positive trend to continue, reliable financing, regulatory predictability, convincing clinical data, and sustained transaction momentum are needed. As long as the current geopolitical conflicts do not escalate over a prolonged period, their overall impact on the biotech sector should remain limited.
VC Magazin: In Germany, equity investments in biotech have not yet managed to reverse the trend back to positive growth. Do you see any structural location advantages in Switzerland?
Lauber: In my view, the decisive factor is above all the attitude towards risk. Switzerland shows how a strong pharmaceutical ecosystem – with global anchors such as Roche and Novartis in Basel, complemented by companies such as Bausch + Lomb, Debiopharm and Moderna in strategic partnership with Lonza – shapes an entire country and creates a broad understanding of biotech and innovation. Added to this are excellent universities, high quality standards and a population that is more willing to take entrepreneurial risks and often participates in the success of the industry through share ownership. Europe sure does not lack talent, but structural incentives for greater risk appetite of investors. If we mobilise capital in a more targeted manner, overcome the European fragmentation of markets and develop a stronger ‚Europe first mentality, we should be able to unleash our innovative power much more effectively.
VC Magazin: Thank you for your insights.
About the interviewee:
Robin Lauber is an entrepreneur at heart. He leverages his skills and network to built a global community of investors, founders, and thought leaders. His family office Infinitas Capital invests to create paradigm-shifting companies that will shape the future of our planet and society.
