Sherpa Asset Management

Sherpa Asset Management

Sherpa Asset Management AG was founded in 2008 to manage the core assets of the Plaquet family, Belgian entrepreneurs who remain deeply embedded in the firm's daily operations. Gilles Plaquet serves as Chairman on the investment side, while Vanessa W. Büsser oversees corporate strategy as CEO from the Zurich headquarters. The firm also maintains an office in Brussels and operates under dual regulatory oversight from FINMA in Switzerland and the CSSF in Luxembourg. Investment activity runs through two independent but complementary strategies. The Liquid Strategy deploys capital across public markets through hedge funds and flexible, benchmark-agnostic mandates. Private Enterprises — executed via Sherpa Entrepreneurs Advisor under Olivier Morali — pursues direct co-investments, SPVs, and fund commitments spanning buyout, growth, and venture stages. Portfolio construction draws from a mix of private equity fund commitments and targeted direct deals, including a confirmed co-investment in data.world alongside Chicago Ventures, Shasta Ventures, and Pat Ryan's family investment group (per Altss research). Geographic coverage extends to Europe, North America, Asia, and South America, with sector focuses that include enterprise software, healthcare services, biotech, edtech, and data analytics. Morali's advisory board seats — spanning TR Capital IV and V, KLAR Partners I, Impilo II, DC Capital Partners III, and Bregal Milestone II — give Sherpa a flow of fund-level intelligence that feeds the direct side of the Private Enterprises book. The CIO of the liquid book, Vassilis Kourmpetis, leads the internal investment team alongside Investment Analyst Samuel de Montmollin, a CFA charterholder. On the board, Braymont founder Jan Unverhau and Pestalozzi partner Oliver Widmer contribute legal and private equity advisory muscle. The firm has not disclosed total AUM or aggregate deployment figures. What separates Sherpa from standard multi-family offices is the unusual structure: a dual-track firm where a single family of entrepreneurs shares governance and co-investment opportunities with a closed group of like-minded principals rather than opening to a broad client base. The board includes an interim risk manager alongside the founding chairman, suggesting a deliberate regulatory posture that extends beyond the typical family office. There is no indication of traditional wealth management or tax advisory services — the organization operates as an investment engine with institutional controls, not a service platform.