Alternative investments with a strong start to the year, outlook stable
Since their introduction in 2016, alternative investments in Colin&Cie's mandates have fulfilled their function as a portfolio stabiliser and yield enhancer. Portfolio manager Florian Schindler, who invests in emerging technology companies, has seen a very positive return trend. In the current interview, he discusses his latest investments, the rigorous selection process and the megatrend of ‘artificial intelligence’.
Florian Schindler launched his first technology fund in 2012 and invited family and friends to invest in it. Among them was his brother Philipp, who had just moved to California to become Global Chief Business Officer at Google. Since then, Philipp Schindler has been deeply engaged with major technological trends and - driven by both personal conviction and interest - plays an active role in the technology investments managed by his brother Florian. This is also the case with the ‘June Fund’, which was set up in 2017 and opened to further investors from Florian and Philipp Schindler's network.
COLIN&CIE: Mr Schindler, let us start by looking at the successful development of the June Fund. Can you give us a little more detail on some of the investments you have made?
FLORIAN SCHINDLER: I am happy to present three companies in which the June Fund has invested, and which are developing very positively. One of them is Reebelo, a global marketplace for refurbished consumer electronics. The company was founded in 2019 to reduce the amount of waste generated by consumer electronics. Reebelo refurbishes electronic devices to a high standard and then sells them on its own website at a significantly reduced price compared to new devices.
Ada Health (Ada), on the other hand, is a digital health platform that combines medical expertise with artificial intelligence. Its app helps users better understand their symptoms and determine the next steps in their treatment. The app currently has over 13 million users who have completed more than 35 million health checks. Ada works with healthcare systems, insurers and organisations to further improve access to digital healthcare.
The third example is Statespace. This tech company, founded in 2017, specialises in developing data analysis platforms for measuring and optimising cognitive abilities. The company offers a training programme (Aimlabs) based on neuroscientific research that helps users improve their responsiveness, precision and decision-making. In the long term, Statespace aims to expand its technology to areas such as digital therapies, traditional sports and education.
COLIN&CIE: You are currently setting up your third fund, the ‘July Fund’. How do you keep finding promising companies with growth potential?
FLORIAN SCHINDLER: The ‘July’ Fund is the logical development of an investment approach that focuses on research. We frequently develop investment theses across various industries, validating them through expert discussions within our network to identify the most promising companies worldwide - often independent of specific financing rounds. This approach allows us to gain decision-relevant insights at an early stage, to evaluate business models, competitive environments and teams in a more informed way and to explore potential partnerships. Thanks to our high-calibre expert network, we have direct access to the most important decision-makers across industries. This enables us to enter relevant discussions at an early stage and often to invest on attractive terms in later financing rounds. We deliberately remain selective in our investment process: we invest in only four to five companies worldwide each year. However, we offer these companies our full support, ensuring a focused and strategic development of our portfolio.
COLIN&CIE: In which areas do you see the greatest growth potential in terms of technological progress?
FLORIAN SCHINDLER: We see enormous growth potential in the use of artificial intelligence (AI) to address the most pressing challenges of the physical world. Historically, progress in these areas has often been limited by isolated data, fragmented workflows and inefficient decision-making processes. Modern AI can break down these barriers and enables far-reaching transformations – from raw material extraction and industrial maintenance to energy efficiency and scientific research. By intelligently integrating data, processes and decision-making structures, AI unlocks new ways to optimise complex physical systems, making a substantial contribution to solving global challenges.
COLIN&CIE: Can you give us specific examples of how the potential in the identified growth areas can be realised?
FLORIAN SCHINDLER: One specific example is our portfolio company KoBold Metals. The company leverages machine learning and data-driven models to optimise the exploration of critical raw materials such as copper, nickel and cobalt. These metals are essential for the energy transition, particularly for battery technologies and renewable energy systems. Traditional exploration methods are often based on limited geological data and high levels of uncertainty. KoBold Metals uses AI to analyse vast geological datasets, identify patterns and significantly increase the probability of successful discoveries.
Another example is our investment in Gecko Robotics, a data-driven, AI-powered inspection and maintenance platform for industrial infrastructure such as power plants, pipelines and manufacturing facilities. Traditional inspection methods are often time-consuming, expensive and pose significant safety risks. Gecko Robotics' technology uses high-resolution sensors to detect structural weaknesses and material fatigue in real time. Thanks to artificial intelligence, this data is analysed immediately to identify early maintenance needs and prevent costly breakdowns. This innovative approach not only increases operational safety, but also significantly improves the efficiency of industrial plants.
COLIN&CIE: We thank you for the interview and wish you and your team continued success.
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This publication was produced by the Investment Office of the Colin&Cie Group. The information and opinions contained in this document are based on sources we believe to be reliable. However, we cannot guarantee the reliability, completeness or correctness of these sources. All information and quoted rates are only up-to-date at the time of this publication and are subject to change at any time without notice. The content is based on numerous assumptions made by the Colin & Cie Group. It should be noted that different assumptions can lead to materially different results. The forecasts and assessments are only current at the time this publication is prepared and can change at any time without prior notice. Past performance of an investment is not a guarantee of future results. Certain investments can experience sudden and substantial losses in value. This information and views do not constitute a solicitation, offer or recommendation to buy or sell investment instruments or to carry out any other transactions. We recommend interested investors to consult their personal advisor before making decisions on the basis of this document so that personal investment goals, financial situation, individual needs and risk profile as well as further information can be duly taken into account as part of a comprehensive consultation. The information contained in this publication is marketing material that is distributed for advertising purposes only.
