We invest in the software companies that make the modern enterprise indispensable.
Northstone Invest is a Zurich-based investment firm focused on software companies. We invest in businesses with scalable models, recurring revenue and durable competitive advantages. Our emphasis is on software that is business-critical to the enterprises that run it and that creates long-term value. Learn more about Northstone, our investment philosophy and our long-term approach as an investment firm.
Great software businesses compound. We invest where that demand is most durable.
Enterprise software creates lasting value when it becomes indispensable to day-to-day operations. Companies renew that software not out of habit, but because it underpins business-critical processes. These are precisely the business models we look for: recurring revenue, high retention and durable competitive advantages.
We favour businesses where the customer renews because the software is woven into daily operations — not because switching is merely inconvenient, but because the software creates genuine value.
We invest in companies with durable competitive advantages — through deep integration, proprietary data or business-critical workflows. What matters is not the short-term head start, but the long-term defensibility of the business model.
We favour software whose use is business-critical to the enterprise. Such solutions stay relevant even in demanding economic conditions, because they underpin ongoing operations and cannot easily be replaced.
Our investment decisions are guided not by particular software categories, but by the quality of the business. We look for scalable models with durable competitive advantages and long-term value-creation potential.
We back operators, then build alongside them.
Operating partnership
We work alongside founders on the decisions that create long-term enterprise value — and stay out of day-to-day operations.
Buy-and-build
We build integrated platforms from complementary products, turning them into scalable software solutions.
Commercial engine
We professionalise go-to-market: pricing, partnerships and disciplined expansion into new markets.
Governance & talent
Professional reporting, effective governance and the right key people lay the foundation for sustainable growth.
A repeatable method, applied the same way to every opportunity — discipline we can describe before any outcome is in.
Before any investment, we test that the demand is long-term, recurring and structural — not short-lived or cyclical.
The first hundred days lay the foundation for everything that follows. Together with management, we define the measures with the greatest value-creation potential — from pricing strategy and the product roadmap to key hires, reporting and governance.
We screen complementary products against a shared data model, integrating what fits the suite and only bringing in companies that strategically strengthen the overall offering.
We treat governance, information security and data protection not as a later stage of maturity, but as an integral part of a professionally run company — from day one.
B2B software platform
A modular software platform for regulated organisations, adopted one module at a time or as a single integrated suite. The kind of durable, recurring-revenue software business our thesis is built around. We will share details in due course.
Mid-market firms juggle fragmented tools and manual processes under tightening regulation — paying in audit findings, duplicated effort and risk they cannot see.
A modular architecture that maps to how obligations actually accumulate — land with one module, expand naturally across the suite as needs grow.
Deepen the platform, expand across regulated verticals and geographies, and pursue complementary acquisitions to build the category standard.
The rest of the portfolio
The portfolio is being assembled. Further investments will be announced as they close.
Good governance is the standard we hold ourselves to.
For us, responsible investing begins with professional company leadership. That is why, even when selecting new investments, we look closely at governance, information security and sustainable corporate structures. Together with management teams, we create the conditions for long-term growth and responsible entrepreneurship.
Governance, data protection and security factors are assessed in every decision — integrated, not bolted on after.
After investing, we support our portfolio companies in building professional governance structures, transparent reporting and sustainable company leadership.
Our aim is to develop companies sustainably and to create long-term enterprise value — for customers, employees and shareholders alike.
Founder, investor or partner. Every route is open.
Northstone sees itself as a long-term partner to founders, investors and strategic partners. If you would like to learn more about our investment philosophy, our investment strategy or ways of working together, we welcome a personal conversation. Further information is provided on request and in line with the applicable regulatory requirements.
We look for software companies with scalable business models and long-term growth potential, and we welcome the conversation with founding teams and entrepreneurs.
Interested qualified investors receive further information on Northstone and possible participation opportunities on request.
We work with co-investors, family offices and other strategic partners who share our long-term investment philosophy.
Our perspective on developments in the software market — and why we are convinced of long-term growth.
What makes software revenue durable.
Recurring revenue alone does not make a good software company. What matters is why customers stay for the long term — whether through business-critical processes, deep integration or a clear economic benefit. These are precisely the factors we analyse before every investment.
Why artificial intelligence is reshaping software.
Artificial intelligence is changing not only products but entire business models. Companies that integrate AI meaningfully into their software unlock new efficiency gains and strengthen their competitiveness. We watch this development closely and continually assess new investment opportunities.
The software that survives the budget review.
Software revenue is only as safe as the budget it draws on. We look for spend that has migrated out of the discretionary tier into the part of the cost base a finance function defends — because that, not delight, underwrites retention and pricing power.
Questions, answered.
What is the track record?
Northstone Invest is in the process of building its investment portfolio. As a young investment firm, we do not yet have a long realised track record. Our investment approach rests on a clearly defined strategy, a disciplined selection process and a long-term value-creation philosophy.
How many portfolio companies are there?
The portfolio is being built selectively. We publish information on investments once the respective transactions have closed.
How can I invest alongside Northstone?
If you would like to learn more about Northstone, our investment philosophy or ways of working together, we welcome your enquiry. Further information is provided on request and in line with the applicable regulatory requirements.
Who can invest?
Investments are open to qualified investors — including institutions, family offices and eligible private investors; access follows the eligibility rules of the relevant jurisdiction. For further information about Northstone and possible forms of working together, we welcome your enquiry — in line with the applicable regulatory requirements.
What do you invest in?
Software companies with durable, recurring revenue and defensible positions, across Europe and North America — with particular conviction in the software that regulated industries depend on, where demand is structural rather than cyclical.
What is the typical hold period?
We invest for the long term. The typical hold period for an investment is five to seven years, and may extend beyond that depending on how the company develops.
Where are you based?
Northstone Invest is headquartered in Zurich, Switzerland, and operates under Swiss law with independent administration, external audit and legal counsel. Further information about Northstone is provided on request.
How do I get in touch?
Complete the form on our contact page and we will follow up to answer your enquiry and, where of interest, arrange a call. Further information is provided on request and in line with the applicable regulatory requirements.
Get in touch.
Northstone Invest · Zurich, Switzerland
Would you like to learn more about Northstone, our investment philosophy or possible forms of working together? We welcome a personal conversation and are glad to provide further information on request.
Get in touch →Are you building a software company with a scalable business model and long-term growth potential? We look for ambitious founding teams and back companies as a long-term entrepreneurial partner.
Tell us what you're buildingFurther information on Northstone and on possible participation opportunities is provided on request and in compliance with the applicable legal and regulatory requirements.