Innovation begins with imagining what lies beyond.

Nicole Herzog

"Pillars of Creation" Credits: NASA, ESA, CSA, STScI; Joseph DePasquale (STScI), Anton M. Koekemoer (STScI), Alyssa Pagan (STScI).

I am drawn to what does not yet exist.
I turn vision into action.

I’m Nicole Herzog, an entrepreneur.

I have built and scaled technology companies to successful exits. I back ambitious founders, chair boards, and keep building.

Curiosity drives me. So does the conviction that ambitious people can achieve extraordinary things when they have the right resources, connections, and freedom to build.

My path began in law. I chose entrepreneurship and have been building ever since. Today, I dedicate my time and resources to building something that will matter for generations to come.

Portrait of Nicole Herzog from Remo Neuhaus

From New Horizons to Early Beginnings

My Entrepreneurial Timeline

  • New Horizons

    Building beyond Earth

    I’m building a global mission rooted in Switzerland to help shape the infrastructure of the emerging space economy to secure a lasting role for Switzerland in what comes next.

  • Today

    Building, Leading & Backing

    I chair and serve on the boards of scale-ups and SMEs, back ambitious founders, and help shape Switzerland’s innovation landscape as a member of the Innovation Council at Innosuisse. I also share what I have learned as an entrepreneur, investor, and board member through speeches and university sessions.

    Currently involved with:
    VIU Eyewear | Inyova | Maestrani | Innosuisse

  • 2013 – Scaling Impact

    Angel Investing & Chairing with Purpose

    In 2013, I became Chairwoman and investor at Sherpany, guiding the company through its growth journey and successful exit to Datasite in 2024. Subsequently, I stepped into the Chair role at VIU Eyewear, where I’ve been involved since 2015.

    Sherpany | VIU Eyewear

  • 2010 – Closing as a Choice

    Finishing Unfinished Business

    After stepping back from my role at umantis, I completed the Swiss bar exam not to practice law, but to finish what I started. A reminder that finishing can matter as much as starting.

  • 2000 – First Ventures

    Building from Scratch

    In 2000, I co-founded BrainsToVentures (now b2venture), one of Switzerland’s early venture capital firms, and launched umantis, a talent management software company. As COO, I scaled umantis to a successful exit, learning when to lead and when to let go.

    b2venture | Abacus Umantis

  • 1998 – A Shift

    Stepping into the Unknown

    Studying law at the University of St.Gallen taught me structural thinking and problem-solving skills, but I realized that practicing law wasn’t for me. Instead, I followed the call for curiosity and entrepreneurship, a choice that would shape everything that followed.

Nicole Herzog visiting Intuitive Machines in Houston
At Intuitive Machines in Houston, in front of a lunar lander. With thanks to founder and CEO Steve Altemus for the tour. Reflections from my visit.

Curious to follow along?

The visible part of my journey continues through conversations, writing, and the occasional step in front of the camera, always grounded in entrepreneurship, innovation, and building what hasn’t yet been built.

Here are a few glimpses of my work and thinking:

For more thoughts and updates, you're welcome to follow along on LinkedIn. You’ll also find a few reflections there, like this one from a recent event for private investors where I shared the stage to talk about the opportunities of the New Space Economy.

If you'd like to connect directly, you can reach me at nicole@nicoleherzog.me