Updated:
Matter Group
Thomas Matter founded the Matter Group in 2005 following a career that included co-founding the Swissfirst Group in 1994 and later Helvetische Bank in 2011.
Matter Group
Thomas Matter founded the Matter Group in 2005 following a career that included co-founding the Swissfirst Group in 1994 and later Helvetische Bank in 2011. He is the sole shareholder and chairman of the board, while his wife Marion Cécile Matter also serves as a board member. The family's wealth originates from Matter's banking and entrepreneurial ventures, particularly the Swissfirst Group — now known as Bellevue Group — where he was CEO until 2006. Matter Group pursues a dual investment approach: active participations where it takes a role in strategic management, and passive financial holdings. The firm prioritizes the quality of management and the potential of a company's products and services when making commitments, targeting sectors that include Media & Entertainment, PropTech, Digital Health, ClimateTech, and Industrial Tech across Europe, North America, and Asia. Matter Group is entirely self-financed and does not accept outside capital, executing direct deals and occasionally using SPV structures. The firm's chairman also presides over Helvetische Bank, reflecting a broader network that feeds deal flow. The office operates from its headquarters in Meilen and includes a small team of family-office assistants. Beyond corporate holdings, the firm owns physical gold, a mixed-use headquarters building, a residential sustainable-housing project in Meilen, and a Spanish real estate portfolio. Thomas Matter has served in the Swiss National Council since 2014, and the firm maintains advisory council memberships with Swiss Family Business and the Zurich Banking Association, placing it inside the Swiss entrepreneurial and political establishment. Unlike multi-family offices or third-party wealth managers, Matter Group functions as a closed, internally funded vehicle that ties investment decisions directly to the founder's own operational expertise and governance participation — every active holding is an extension of Thomas Matter's direct involvement and reputation within Swiss industry.
General information
Firm type
Single Family Office
Year founded
2005
Location
Region
Europe
Country
Switzerland
City
Meilen
Corporate office
Toggwilerstrasse 96, 8706 Meilen, Switzerland
Principals
Thomas Matter
Founder, Sole Shareholder, and Chairman of the Board
Marion Cécile Matter
Member of the Board of Directors
Sector focus
Frequently asked questions
Who runs investment decisions at Matter Group?
Thomas Matter, as the sole shareholder and chairman, makes central investment decisions. He often takes a board seat or provides strategic guidance to portfolio companies, applying the operational experience he gained as CEO of Swissfirst Group and chairman of Helvetische Bank.
How does Matter Group source its deals?
Deal flow is driven by Thomas Matter's deep network within Swiss banking and industry. His role as chairman of Helvetische Bank, membership in the Swiss National Council since 2014, and advisory positions with Swiss Family Business and the Zurich Banking Association provide direct access to entrepreneurs and corporate opportunities in Switzerland and neighboring regions.
Is Matter Group a single-family office or does it manage outside money?
It is a single-family office that is entirely self-financed. The firm states on its website that it does not accept outside investors and operates exclusively for the Matter family's own assets.
Does Matter Group participate in fund commitments or only direct deals?
The firm focuses on direct active and passive participations in companies rather than committing to third-party funds. Active participations involve taking a strategic management role, which distinguishes its style from a passive fund-of-funds or LP approach.
Where does the underlying wealth come from?
Thomas Matter's wealth was primarily generated through his co-founding of the Swissfirst Group in 1994 and his tenure as its CEO until 2006. The firm, now called Bellevue Group, was a notable Swiss financial institution. He later co-founded Helvetische Bank in 2011.
What role does real estate play in the portfolio?
Real estate is a meaningful component. Known holdings include the company's mixed-use headquarters in Meilen, a sustainable-housing project also in Meilen, and a residential portfolio in Spain. Physical gold is also held as part of the family's asset base.
How is Matter Group related to Helvetische Bank?
Helvetische Bank is a separate entity co-founded by Thomas Matter in 2011, where he serves as chairman. It is a bank for entrepreneurs, and the relationship provides potential co-investment opportunities and strategic overlap, but Matter Group and the bank are distinct organizations.
Profile maintained by Altss using OSINT (open-source intelligence), regulatory filings, licensed data partners, and verified direct submissions. Read the methodology. Last updated: . Continuous refresh with full update cycles at least every 30 days.
Need institutional-grade insight on family offices?
Altss delivers:
Prefer a guided tour?
We’ll walk you through: