What we do
Mentoring
Mentoring business owners
Once you launch your own business, you no longer have a manager to turn to for advice or direction when you are in a pinch, or who would be the one to take the fall if the firm suffers a setback. You may not even have employees yet. Every leader needs wise and reliable board members, a second opinion, or sometimes just emotional support when times get tough – and they will.
Industry analysts, consultants, employees, and good networking contacts are critical supporters who can supply expert knowledge for particular situations that you may encounter. However, only a trustworthy mentor can truly share wisdom with you on an ongoing basis and have a direct, positive impact on the growth of your business over time. One of the most rewarding contributions PHafner can make is mentoring. We mentor founders, directors, and managers, and we eventually become a co-shareholder of the mentee.
Ventures
Seed Capital: Industry know-how and experience
Our primary focus is to help business owners with startups or companies that are in the growth stages and active mainly in the areas of foodtech, fintech, and greentech. For such companies, PHafner mobilizes not only capital but also knowledge and networks to facilitate impact investing to make businesses sustainable.
Co-shareholding: Smart capital for your business
PHafner also brings real solutions to businesses that are already sustainable and in the expansion or consolidation phase and ready for financial, social, and environmental returns. We expect our investees to be knowledgeable and ethical, with strong technological components, a solid business model, and sound management.
We offer the flexibility and advantages of a boutique studio and adapt to your needs
Family firms
Family Boards: Connecting the dots
Family-owned companies face unique challenges based on the nature and composition of the firm’s ownership. Lack of alignment among family members is the greatest destroyer of value in family firms, which ultimately can risk the firm’s continuity.
PHafner assists families in navigating the challenges of leadership and governance across generations. Based on our vast experience working with family business owners in Switzerland, PHafner helps family members define their values and align their interests. This process takes place within the firm’s board and allows families to define their family strategy. During this process, PHafner facilitates decision-making as a neutral member of the family board.
Supervisory Boards: Constructive membership
The family strategy needs to be translated into a sustainable business strategy, which is undertaken by the supervisory board. Establishing an efficient and effective supervisory board is one of the biggest challenges that family firms face. Supervisory boards in family firms need to be diverse, compact, and dynamic. They must have family representation as well as highly qualified external members. Each member’s integrity, independence, and accountability are key for a board’s success. Supervisory boards in family firms also need to follow the family strategy and respect it in all decisions. Board membership in companies that are seeking this level of excellence is part of PHafner’s portfolio.
We are a Swiss-based practice with international outreach
Management
Leadership in challenging moments
Many situations arise in which companies need to reinforce their management to implement a decisive change in direction, to face times of substantial instability, to redefine the business model and then implement it, or simply to execute an important transaction. PHafner offers significant experience to strengthen and support companies that need solid leadership when facing challenging moments.