The European direct investment market has long been difficult to enter. It has traditionally been a closed environment, characterised by high entry thresholds and extensive paperwork.
Nykyta Izmaylov, founder of the N1 Investment Company, notes that success in finance today depends on the speed of decision-making and data security, making such outdated practices increasingly unacceptable to investors.
One solution to this problem is Invest Direct, a Swiss platform established in May 2020 with the involvement of leading industry experts. The platform brings together qualified investors, family offices, private banks, wealth managers and companies seeking growth capital within a single secure environment.
What Is Invest Direct?
Invest Direct specialises in independent company valuations, due diligence (the assessment of a company before an investment is made) and matching private companies with suitable investors. Following an independent assessment, the team arranges direct meetings between companies, professional investors and wealth management firms.
The platform operates on a subscription basis and is designed for investors seeking to invest directly in selected privately held companies. Traditionally, private investments have been accessible mainly through expensive funds offering limited liquidity. Invest Direct aims to make this asset class accessible to a wider range of investors.
Nykyta Izmaylov, founder of the N1 Investment Company, believes that success in finance today rests on two essential factors: security and speed of access to investment opportunities.
“Platforms such as Invest Direct are breaking down the outdated barriers of the Swiss private equity market. When you can gain access to verified companies, secure data rooms with bank-grade encryption and automated processes within 24 hours, venture investing is transformed from a bureaucratic obstacle course into a precisely calibrated business tool,” he says.
How the Subscription Model Works
The model operates on an all-inclusive basis, regardless of the amount invested. This means the platform’s revenue is not dependent on deal size, helping to align the interests of companies and investors.
Developed in Switzerland, the platform was designed to meet the highest standards of regulatory compliance and cybersecurity. Its model is built around three key advantages.
First, secure infrastructure. All data and transaction records are stored on servers in Geneva and Zurich, while documents are held in virtual data rooms protected by bank-grade encryption.
Second, automated verification. Investor identity checks and the signing of non-disclosure agreements are completed without unnecessary paperwork, allowing the entire onboarding process to be completed in just 24 hours.
Third, rigorous project selection. Each company is assessed against several criteria, including its stage of development, valuation, industry and up-to-date financial reports. This enables investors to conduct a thorough assessment of a company before committing capital.
The Team and Partnership with SIX Digital Exchange
The platform was founded by experienced European finance and legal professionals.
Chief Executive Officer Frank Levy has nearly 30 years of experience in corporate finance and private equity. He previously worked at Rödl & Partner and has been involved in developing fintech ventures.
Co-founder Bernard Schachter specialises in working with European family offices.
Swiss lawyer Amiel Feldman, an expert in mergers and acquisitions (M&A) and corporate law, is responsible for ensuring the legal integrity of each transaction.
Nykyta Izmaylov believes that combining the team’s extensive experience with modern technology is establishing a new standard for the European investment ecosystem.
“When experienced professionals with decades of expertise in private finance come together with modern fintech solutions, the market gains the transparency it has lacked for so long. Investors and funds gain ready-to-use tools for portfolio diversification and liquidity management, while ambitious companies gain direct access to European capital without unnecessary intermediaries,” he emphasises.
Switzerland’s private investment market is gradually becoming more digital, and Invest Direct is part of this transformation.
Previously, SIX Digital Exchange (SDX) announced that it had entered into detailed discussions with Invest Direct regarding a potential partnership. SDX is the fully regulated infrastructure for the issuance, trading, settlement and custody of digital assets.
The concept behind the proposed collaboration is simple: Invest Direct’s expertise in company due diligence and investor matching would complement SDX’s regulated digital platform. Together, they aim to simplify and standardise private placements.
For companies, this would provide a route to capital through a clear and verified process. For investors, it would offer greater confidence in each transaction.
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