What is Tugboat?
Tugboat offers investment opportunities in high potential start-up companies, providing individuals unique access to high-risk/high-return investments. Investments are made on a case-by-case basis, allowing a high degree of identification of “trickle-investors” (our customers) with their investments.
FAQ
Legal
1Is tugboat somehow regulated by legal authorities?
tugboat’s investments run by our partner platform leva.pe, which is associated with a Swiss Self-Regulatory Organization (SRO) as per legal requirement.
2Who is the owner of shares if I invest through tugboat?
You are the owner of the shares. tugboat is the Deal Manager taking care of administrative and organizational tasks.
Misc
1How does tugboat perform due diligence?
Our business model does not permit us to perform diligence processes according to industry standards – these can easily cost CHF 40,000 and more. Instead, we mitigate our risk by following the principles set out in “What selection criteria do you apply to startups?”
2What selection criteria do you apply to startups?
- We co-invest with a lead investor we deem capable of performing an adequate due diligence.
- We, tugboat’s principals, are excited about the startup and willing to bet our own money on it.
- Is the business plan plausible? Could it deliver a high payoff as good high tech startups with proprietary IP can?
- Do we judge the team to be capable of delivering?
3What kind of startups does tugboat invest into?
tugboat is mainly focusing on Swiss high-tech startups, most of the times ETH spinoffs. The industries involved range from med-tech, reg-tech, wearables to security manufacturing.
4Do I need to have specific experience with investments?
No, you do not have to know much about start-up investments, but be aware that these are high-risk investments with potential loss of the full investment.
Money
1Would I lose my money if tugboat were to go out of business?
No. You are the owner of the shares.
2How likely is it that I will lose money?
On each single investment, the likelihood of losing money is higher than making a profit. Given that the potential loss is limited to the money you invest while the potential upside is unlimited, a diversified portfolio of trickle-investments is advisable if you are seeking to pursue an investment strategy with good odds of being profitable.
3Can you guarantee good performance of my investment?
Absolutely not. While your investment may deliver high returns, it is more likely that you will lose money. Do not invest if you are dependent on the funds you invest.
4What is the lowest amount I can invest into a startup with tugboat?
tugboat allows you to invest into a startup starting from CHF 10’000.- up to 100’000.-
5Do I have to pay some entry or management fee to participate?
There is no entry-, membership- or recurring fee but a success fee on your gains to cover the legal costs. The only up-front fee you’ll encounter is a one-off 1% of your invested amount to cover the costs charged by our digital partner platform. Apart from this, tugboat works with a success fee depending on the exit multiple (meaning the factor between purchase and sale of shares).
Money & Risk
1Would I lose my money if tugboat were to go out of business?
No. You are the owner of the shares.
2How likely is it that I will lose money?
On each single investment, the likelihood of losing money is higher than making a profit. Given that the potential loss is limited to the money you invest while the potential upside is unlimited, a diversified portfolio of trickle-investments is advisable if you are seeking to pursue an investment strategy with good odds of being profitable.
3Can you guarantee good performance of my investment?
Absolutely not. While your investment may deliver high returns, it is more likely that you will lose money. Do not invest if you are dependent on the funds you invest.
4What is the lowest amount I can invest into a startup with tugboat?
tugboat allows you to invest into a startup starting from CHF 10’000.- up to 100’000.-
5Do I have to pay some entry or management fee to participate?
There is no entry-, membership- or recurring fee but a success fee on your gains to cover the legal costs. The only up-front fee you’ll encounter is a one-off 1% of your invested amount to cover the costs charged by our digital partner platform. Apart from this, tugboat works with a success fee depending on the exit multiple (meaning the factor between purchase and sale of shares).
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