Digitalization is transforming our lives, the economy, and capital markets at breathtaking speed. Technologies such as Artificial Intelligence, cloud infrastructure, and quantum computing are no longer niche topics – they are shaping business models and value chains across all industries. For investors, this creates enormous opportunities.
The Interview
Mr. Brühwiler, why is “Future Technology” such a decisive theme for investors right now?
Because technology today is no longer relevant to just one sector, but permeates all industries and affects companies of all types and sizes. Artificial intelligence, cloud infrastructure, cybersecurity, or quantum computing are fundamentally changing business models. As a result, those companies providing the necessary infrastructure and enabling other businesses are experiencing tremendous growth. For investors, this dynamic opens up exciting opportunities for above-average returns. The key, however, is distinguishing real trends from short-term hypes.
Where do you see Global Strategic Capital’s role in this environment of innovation leaders?
Our role is complementary: while other companies develop innovations, we translate them into attractive investment strategies. This way, we provide investors with access to the winners of transformation – with actively managed portfolios that are consistently focused on future technologies. Among others, we offer an “AI Infrastructure Portfolio,” a “Quantum Computing Portfolio,” and a “Green Tech Portfolio” (all portfolios including descriptions can be found in the info box Investing in Innovation).
How can one invest in these innovation themes in practice?
We democratize the field by offering digital investment platforms in cooperation with selected financial institutions. With an investment as low as CHF 200–300, investors can participate in our various portfolios. This approach ensures maximum transparency and agility – these products can even be traded intra-day.
You mentioned earlier the importance of distinguishing true trends from hypes. What criteria do you use to analyze companies?
We combine classic financial metrics such as growth, margins, and return on capital with innovation factors like patent quality, market share, and R&D ratios. Only companies that are technologically leading, demonstrate scalability, and show attractive growth dynamics are included in our portfolios. Added to this is our long-standing expertise in the field: I have been passionately involved with technology and innovation for around 30 years. For us, these areas and the companies active within them are not an abstract curiosity – we have been following them for decades and can truly “separate the wheat from the chaff.”
How do you translate this market expertise and research into portfolios?
We use a clear rulebook: factors such as momentum, quality, and degree of innovation determine weighting. Broad diversification across different future fields prevents concentration risks. With our proven risk management, we steer portfolio development using a “momentum approach” that incorporates both absolute and relative momentum.
Which technology fields do you currently find most exciting?
The “AI infrastructure” segment is undoubtedly the key driver right now, as it covers the enormous energy and hardware needs of AI applications. It is the clear number one, and companies active in this space will see tremendous growth. The parallel to the American gold rush of the 1850s is striking: it wasn’t necessarily the gold diggers who became rich – but the shovel and infrastructure providers. Accordingly, it’s not only the users of AI solutions who will benefit from digitalization – but especially those companies that make their use possible in the first place.
Another attractive field is quantum computing. While still in its early phase, it already holds enormous disruptive potential for industries such as pharmaceuticals, materials, and financial markets. Cybersecurity, of course, is indispensable for digital transformation. Green technologies also remain highly interesting, and we additionally invest in “NextGen Technologies” – companies that achieve at least 20% revenue growth.
Passive investments like ETFs have been very popular in the past. How do you differ from ETFs or standard funds?
The key difference lies in our active, highly specialized selection strategy: while passively managed ETFs merely replicate a broad market index, our expertise is in identifying and selecting the companies we believe will be the future leaders in growth. Our portfolios are not only focused but also built on a proprietary research approach that enables us to deliver value beyond the “broad mass.” We manage capital proactively rather than reactively, with the goal of deliberately bringing the innovators of tomorrow into the portfolio.
What role will technology play in the next five to ten years?
A central one! Technology will no longer be viewed as an isolated “sector” but as a cross-cutting theme that permeates all industries and companies. It thus becomes the foundation of any forward-looking and diversified portfolio. The ability to evaluate and integrate technological innovation across industries will become a core competency in investment management. Positioned at the critical intersection between innovation and capital markets, we believe we are optimally placed to actively shape this transformation.
What personally fascinates you about technological trends?
I am fascinated by the incredible speed with which technology revolutionizes entire industries. It is a continuous wave of transformation: a few decades ago, the digital era began with the Internet; today, artificial intelligence, quantum computing, and autonomous systems are shaping markets in ways that were unimaginable just recently. The opportunity to recognize these disruptive developments early and make their potential accessible for our investors is more than a profession for me – it is my declared mission.
Do you also offer solutions for banks or wealth managers who want to make technology investments accessible to their clients?
Indeed, we do. We recognized that demand for specialized technology investment strategies also exists on the institutional level. For this reason, we develop so-called “white-label solutions.” These allow banks and asset managers to offer our carefully designed strategies in future technologies under their own brand. For our partners, this represents an attractive way to give their clients access to highly innovative investments – without having to bear the considerable costs and effort of building their own research and portfolio infrastructure. A genuine win-win situation.
Further Reading on Investing at the Intersection of Innovation & Capital Markets
Book Recommendations
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Chip War: The Fight for the World’s Most Critical Technology by Chris Miller – explores the geopolitical importance of semiconductors and technological rivalries.
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Life 3.0: Being Human in the Age of Artificial Intelligence by Max Tegmark – a profound look at the opportunities and risks of AI.
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The Inevitable by Kevin Kelly – describes twelve technological forces shaping our future.
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The Secrets of Investing in Technology Stocks – focuses on strategies and principles for investing in tech companies.
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Coming into View: How AI and Other Megatrends Will Shape Your Investments – explores megatrends and how to address them in portfolios.
Articles & Reports
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Investing in Technology Stocks (DeGiro Blog) – a good overview of opportunities and risks in technology investments.
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How to Successfully Invest in Tech Stocks in 2025 (XTB) – focused on current trends such as AI, cloud, and semiconductors.
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Investing in the Future: Investment Funds for Technology – compares approaches with technology funds vs. individual stocks.
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Tech & Innovation on the FT Business Book List – a great source of inspiration for current titles.
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Reading the Future: Five Books for a New Age of Investing – recommendations linking capital markets, technology, politics, and societal trends.