Four Geneva Trailblazers win FIF Financing

This Summer, four Geneva-based startup projects have been thoroughly evaluated by FIF selection commitee on factors such as their potential societal and economic impact, technical feasibility, intellectual property, business model, and other key criteria.

• Alpes-éco Suisse SA produces cutting-edge autonomous connected devices and digital solutions for free-range farming.
• Adjust Medical SA aims to fill the treatment gap in primary mitral regurgitation (MR) by offering a first-line therapy that preserves future treatment options, mimics proven surgical techniques, and simplifies patient screening.
• Clee Medical, a project supported by the Wyss Center, is advancing neurosurgery by developing AI-powered visualization technologies that improve the safety and ease of accessing the brain during procedures.
• Neurovia Bioelectronics, an EPFL project based at Campus Biotech in Geneva, is pioneering personalized blood pressure regulation on-demand. 

Seed Loan of CHF 100,000 awarded to Alpes-éco Suisse SA
 
Free-range farming, an adaptive and resilient approach present on every continent, supports vital ecosystems powered by solar energy captured by grazing vegetation, which is essential for numerous plant and animal species. It also contributes to feeding over 2.5 billion people worldwide, with more than 30,000 pastoral farms in Switzerland and over 1 million across Europe.
 
Alpes-éco Suisse SA, the first company to develop connected devices for smart herd management created by farmers for farmers, is making a positive environmental impact by enhancing the sustainability and efficiency of these crucial ecosystems. Recognizing the importance of their work, the FIF has awarded a Seed Loan of CHF 100,000 to Alpes-éco Suisse SA to support the further development and expansion of their innovative solutions.
 
Seed Loan of CHF 100,000 awarded to Adjust Medical SA
 
Primary mitral regurgitation (MR) affects nearly 2% of the population and is associated with reduced survival rates, with 2 million sufferers in the U.S. alone—a figure expected to double by 2030. Current treatments primarily target symptomatic patients with medium to high surgical risk, leaving a gap for earlier, more effective interventions.
 
Adjust Medical SA aims to fill this gap by offering a first-line therapy for MR that preserves future treatment options, mimics proven surgical techniques, and simplifies patient screening. This project closely collaborates with the Geneva University Hospitals (HUG). The FIF has awarded a Seed Loan of CHF 100,000 to Adjust Medical SA, providing crucial support to advance their mission of stopping disease progression and improving long-term outcomes for patients with MR.
 
Seed Loan of CHF 100,000 awarded to Clee Medical
 
Clee Medical, a project supported by the Wyss Center, has introduced the first and only live, ultra-high resolution, AI-guided navigation system for brain surgery, designed to make procedures faster, safer, and more effective. This scalable, multi-use technology aims to enhance patient safety by virtually eliminating the costs and complications associated with hemorrhage. Having recently won Stage 1 of VentureKick, Clee Medical is now set to accelerate its mission with the support of a FIF Seed Loan, enabling further development and broader deployment of their innovation in neurosurgery.
 
Grant of CHF 50,000 awarded to Neurovia Bioelectronics
 
Neurovia Bioelectronics, an EPFL project at Campus Biotech in Geneva, is transforming blood pressure management with its innovative, on-demand solution. Effective blood pressure management is crucial in preventing serious health issues such as fainting, falls, dementia, heart failure, and strokes. Neurovia Bioelectronics’ solution addresses a significant treatment gap by offering a stimulating stent for renal nerves that is both reversible and deployable through a minimally-invasive implant.
 
This groundbreaking technology is particularly aimed at the 30% of people aged 70 and above, with the potential to save approximately 20,000 lives each year and significantly improve the quality of life for those suffering from postural hypotension. Additionally, it offers promising applications for other autonomic dysfunctions and neurological diseases.
 
Next deadline for application is September 15th
 
The FIF meets several times a year to evaluate and award startups with funding, supporting local innovation that has a far-reaching impact on both the market and society. The next deadline to apply for the FIF is September 15, 2024. Entrepreneurs may learn more and apply on the FIF homepage.

(Press release )