Healthcare start-ups get off to a quick start

Bernese startup LEM Surgical has closed an oversubscribed series B round, raising CHF 22 million from new Swiss and US investors. The funds will propel the development of its robotic spinal cord surgery system and preparation for FDA submission.

The annual Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas is just days away. Like every year, Swiss startups will line up their outstanding solutions for the global audience and get access to potential customers, partners and investors. With Innosuisse supporting 18 of the 30 attending startups, the delegation will be flagbearers of Switzerland’s innovation prowess.

Since it was founded in 2021, MycoSense Spotlight technology has made huge strides, now delivering products to customers around the world. Developing tools to improve yields in agriculture using artificial intelligence, the Swiss startup led by Stéphane Doutriaux is enjoying growing success with industrial mushroom growers.

Das HealthTech-Startup Ocumeda hat seine Augen-Check-up-Lösung mittlerweile in über 125 Optiker-Filialen in der Schweiz und Deutschland lanciert. Zum starken Wachstum trägt unter anderem die strategische Partnerschaft mit dem europäischen Marktführer Fielmann bei, welcher den Check-up nach und nach in weiteren seiner rund 650 Filialen anbieten will. Zudem laufen Gespräche mit weiteren Optikern aus dem In- und Ausland.

During the RADAR-AD consortium study, the Altoida AR app achieved a level of performance in preclinical Alzheimer’s disease that is currently unattainable with standard cognitive tests. The results, published in Nature Digital Medicine, unveiled the potential of machine learning and augmented reality-based digital biomarkers in Alzheimer’s detection.

The strategic collaboration between Visa Inc. and TECH5 focuses on developing and enhancing digital government ecosystems globally. For Sulzer and cleantech startup Crosstown H2R, the partnership will see the companies build advanced hydrogen combustion systems.

US-based Hera Biotech has reached an agreement to acquire the endometriosis diagnostic assets and associated IP of single-cell and AI-driven biomarker discovery company Scailyte, creating an important consolidation of the only two tissue-based diagnostic programs for endometriosis. Hera intends to launch a first product into the US fertility market in late 2024. 

Tokenized shares are offering a fresh approach to how startups and investors interact. Fintech startup Aktionariat has had its private shares tokenized by SIX Digital Exchange on its regulated blockchain-based Central Securities Depository, with Berner Kantonalbank serving as the issuer agent and custodian.

Founded by the ceramics pioneer Karl Ulrich Volz in 2013 and based in Kreuzlingen (TG), Swiss Dental Solutions has organically grown to become the innovative global market leader in ceramic dental implants. This new partnership is reinforcing the leadership position and growth prospects of SDS globally.

Following the closing of its first equity funding in Q4 2023, LimmaTech Biologics has acquired an exclusive clinical development license from AbVacc for LBT-SA7, a multivalent, toxoid vaccine candidate to prevent infections caused by Staphylococcus aureus, a bacterial pathogen, affecting approximately 30% of the human population. The company will initiate the Phase 1 clinical study in 2024 with an option to acquire full worldwide rights after the trial read-out.

Das St. Galler Startup matriq hat in einer weiteren Late Seed-Runde gut eine Million Franken an frischem Kapital eingesammelt. An der Runde beteiligt haben sich bestehende und drei neue Investoren.

A framework collaboration agreement has been signed between the USI Startup Centre and Camera di Commercio, dell’industria, dell’artigianato e dei servizi del Cantone Ticino. The goal is to increase the economic impact of start-ups and strengthen the network between young and established organisations.  

Ectica and Nordic Bioscience collaborate to provide an innovative tool for compound screening, which will accelerate and enhance the success of drug development. Ectica will license and provide Nordic Bioscience access to its proprietary cell culture platform for pre-clinical drug discovery services in fibrosis.

With its leasing software, LeaseTeq enriches the Swiss market with the first completely digital, bank-independent leasing offer. The Schwyz-based company raised CHF 8 million in a first closing of its Series A financing round.

Es wurden schweizweit noch nie so viele Firmen wie dieses Jahr gegründet. Dies zeigt eine Analyse des IFJ. Gesamthaft wurden 51'637 Unternehmen neu in das Handelsregister eingetragen – fast 150 pro Tag.

AC Immune, a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company pioneering precision medicine for neurodegenerative diseases, closed an equity offering of 14.3 million of its common shares at a price of USD 3.50 per share successfully.

VIO Chemicals is specialized in the custom design and production of specialty chemicals, intermediates and Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients (APIs). KKR-backed Biosynth has acquired the company to offer complex chemistry solutions at greater scale.

An efficient heating system,  a bug bounty platform, a medtech device to treat strokes and a new therapy for lead-related diseases. These new solutions impressed juries in different award competitions, winning themselves cash and tickets to further programs to boost them. 

Distalmotion, the pioneer in surgical robots, has welcomed its new Chief Executive Officer, while Open Mineral appointed a Chief Financial Officer. Both executives are experienced industry leaders with several years of experience to support the companies in their next growth phase.

Based in Zurich, Procavea Biotech is developing a first-in-class protein-based delivery platform for RNA therapeutics. This approach promises higher stability, engineerability, and easier manufacturing. The CHF 150,000 from Venture Kick will allow the startup to validate the platform for siRNA applications.

The United States market provides immense opportunities for Swiss startups. Daphne technology, Neopredix and Flybotix are some of the most recent showcases, aiming to gain proximity to customers and expand their footprint in the continent.

Scewo AG, a pioneering Swiss technology company known for its stair-climbing electric wheelchair Scewo BRO, secured an investment led by Germany-based RSBG Ventures. The Series A extension funding will be strategically deployed to drive Scewo AG towards profitability and pave the way for the US entry.

Venture Kick is an initiative from private donors. Potential entrepreneurs from Swiss colleges and universities present their business ideas to the jury of Venture Kick, with the chance to win seed capital of up to CHF 150,000 over three stages. The first stage is the Venture Pitch: eight project teams compete against each other, with five teams receiving CHF 10,000 each and continuing further in the competition.

Venture Kick is an initiative from private donors. Potential entrepreneurs from Swiss colleges and universities present their business ideas to the jury of Venture Kick, with the chance to win seed capital of up to CHF 150,000 over three stages. The second stage is the Venture Case: five project teams compete against each other, with three teams receiving CHF 40,000 each and continuing further in the competition.

Learn more about KAPSLY Ventures and its venture studio model.

Join the Sustainability Leaders Think Tank #21 on Cybersecurity, adding digital trust to your agenda. This promising event coming on January 11st 2024 at EPFL Innovation Park will feature Trust Valley's CEO Lennig Pedron, 

The Entrepreneurs Club is the place where innovators, startups, supporters and researchers get together, exchange and network.

Venture Kick is an initiative from private donors. Potential entrepreneurs from Swiss colleges and universities present their business ideas to the jury of Venture Kick, with the chance to win seed capital of up to CHF 150,000 over three stages. The third and last stage is the Venture Kick: four project teams compete against each other, with two teams receiving the final kick of CHF 100,000 each.

Meet the Venture Leaders Mobile 2024 - Online Pitch SessionThe Venture Leaders—members of the Swiss National Startup Team—have a clear-cut goal: They envision themselves as global players and want to fuel their global expansion.