People behind Swiss Innovation
The Inno-Swiss platform is dedicated to boost
Swiss innovation and the people behind

  • VK_BlogPic400x300511.jpg

    CDDS_VK1.jpg
    CDDS' interceptor drone

    CHF 40,000 for interceptor drones, next-gen quantum computers, and a breakthrough edible hydrogel platform

    Do. 27.11.2025, 16:41

    CDDS, Qendra, and TUUS were selected at the second financial and entrepreneurial support stage of Venture Kick. Their projects develop autonomous interceptor drones with real-time vision, reinforcement learning, and ultra-low-latency control to detect and neutralize threats; provide a dedicated control system that bridges the classical and quantum worlds; and build a breakthrough edible hydrogel platform for constant release of active compounds....Read more

    CDDS: Drones to protect life and infrastructure
    The rapid spread of small, fast, and affordable drones creates urgent security risks for critical infrastructure and crowded urban spaces. Existing counter-UAS measures are too slow or intrusive to protect people and assets reliably.
    CDDS AG, founded by experienced Swiss deep-tech entrepreneurs and robotics experts, develops autonomous, lightweight interceptor drones that detect, track, and kinetically neutralize hostile drones with real-time vision, reinforcement learning, and ultra-low-latency control. The global counter-UAS market is projected to exceed USD 3 billion within a few years, offering strong growth potential.
    The company will utilize the Venture Kick funding to enhance CDDS’s visibility and recruit top engineers with expertise in drones, PX4, and/or ROS, thereby accelerating product development and preparing for large-scale field deployments.

    QENDRA: Powering the next generation of quantum computers
    Quantum computers will revolutionize drug discovery, logistics, and climate modelling by harnessing quantum mechanics. Trapped-ion and neutral-atom quantum computers are among the most advanced, but they lack reliable, scalable control systems.
    QENDRA provides the missing link: a dedicated control system that bridges the classical and quantum worlds. Built from technology developed in the trapped ion quantum information group at ETH Zurich, their MVP offers unmatched efficiency and rapid setup times. CEO Dr. Martin Stadler, COO Dr. Ferdinand Felder, and lead developer Chidzahi Mabritto, together with a team of scientists and engineers, are bringing this innovation to market. With growing demand from research groups and startups, QENDRA is poised to serve a fast-expanding global quantum computing market.
    The Venture Kick funds will help QENDRA engage new customers, build a solid IP strategy, and advance CE certification of its MVP. qendratech.com

    Tuus: Enabling athletes to perform at their best today, and empowering broader health solutions tomorrow
    Endurance athletes often rely on energy gels that trigger sugar spikes, stomach distress, and uneven performance. Tuus addresses this by introducing a controlled-release hydrogel that ensures stable energy delivery without compromising health.
    Founded by chemists Pietro Nasturzio and Tiziano Caldara, Tuus combines expertise in materials science, nutrition, and drug delivery. Supported by advisors from academia, sports medicine, industry, and design, the team has built a breakthrough edible hydrogel platform for constant release of active compounds. The first application is a next-generation energy gel, now entering clinical trials with athletes, marking a decisive step toward healthier endurance fueling. Beyond sports, the same platform can be applied in nutraceuticals and pharmaceuticals, where controlled release has the potential to transform health and well-being.
    Tuus will use the Venture Kick funds to advance customer testing with precise glucose monitoring equipment, prototype for industrial integration with manufacturing partners, cover licensing contract negotiation fees with lawyers, and support investor networking.

  • 1165.jpg

    AskalonIndustriesSeverinCamy_VK.jpg
    Askalon Industries: CEO Severin Camy

    CHF 10,000 for acoustic AI for drone threat detection, streamlining early-stage drug discovery, an ultra-portable dental system, predicting tumor agression, and instantly generated 3D GIFs

    Do. 27.11.2025, 14:26

    Askalon Industries, Baio, Dental Robotics, Ninsun Biotech, and Roofless Labs were selected in the first stage of Venture Kick’s support program. Their innovative projects include developing an acoustic AI system to detect low-altitude airspace threats (Askalon Industries), using generative AI to expedite early-stage drug discovery and design novel drug candidates (Baio), creating a portable 3-in-1 dental hygiene system that connects patients, hygienists, and dentists for on-demand services (Dental Robotics), launching Ninstem Lung, a CE-marked prognostic test for detecting tumor aggressiveness (Ninsun Biotech), and producing a digital device that combines four lenses and an AI pipeline to instantly produce 3D GIFs without post-production (Roofless Labs)....Read more

    Askalon Industries: Passive Acoustic AI for Drone Threat Detection
    The rapid rise of low-cost, autonomous, and RF-silent drones has outpaced today’s security tools. Airports, prisons, utilities, and government sites face growing operational and safety risks, while radar and RF systems remain either too expensive or ineffective against modern silent threats. The market urgently needs a scalable, passive, and reliable way to protect wide areas without military-grade budgets or detectable emissions.
    Askalon listens to the sky to detect threats that others can’t see, with the mission of building the acoustic AI backbone that secures Europe’s low-altitude airspace. Founded in Lausanne in 2025, Askalon’s team unites expertise in acoustics, embedded AI, and edge hardware. Their proprietary passive acoustic system detects and locates drones in real-time—even in high-noise environments—at a cost 10–50x lower than radar or optical alternatives. This affordability enables the deployment of dense sensor networks and addresses a multi-billion-euro global market across critical infrastructure, defense, and urban security. With a growing proprietary dataset and an MVP launching in Q1 2026, Askalon aims to become a core element of Europe’s low-altitude security architecture.
    Venture Kick funding will support the shift from validated prototypes to an industrial MVP, including hardware refinement, expanded field data acquisition, and early pilot deployments with strategic customers. These steps accelerate commercial readiness for 2026 and reinforce Askalon’s lead in passive drone detection.

    Baio: Streamlining early-stage drug discovery
    Traditional early-stage drug discovery depends on screening chemical libraries, a costly and time-consuming process that explores only a tiny fraction of the astronomically large chemical space. Depending on the therapeutic target, these workflows can take several years and cost millions of dollars.
    Baio reshapes early-stage drug discovery by exploring the entire chemical space with generative AI and designs novel drug candidates in a fraction of the time. Baio is an EPFL spin-off founded by PhD students Ilia Igashov and Arne Schneuing, together with Professor Bruno Correia. Over the past years, the team has pioneered the field of generative AI for structure-based drug discovery and developed a set of tools that have been widely adopted by the community. At Baio, they aim to help pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies accelerate their pre-clinical R&D pipelines.
    Venture Kick funding will enable Baio to gather experimental evidence to de-risk and further refine its core technology.

    Dental Robotics: Enabling preventive dental care anywhere with an ultra-portable dental system.
    Dental Robotics addresses the global burden of oral disease, which affects 3.5 billion people and is linked to chronic conditions such as Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, cardiovascular disease, and premature birth. Today, preventive dental care is constrained by bulky equipment and clinic-based workflows, limiting access for patients and restricting flexibility for hygienists.
    Founded by Dr. Arthur Sebesteny, a dentist with five years of clinical experience, and Kinga Ory, a former HR manager with eight years of expertise in PR, marketing, and project management, the startup develops a lightweight, portable 3-in-1 dental hygiene system paired with a digital platform that connects patients, hygienists, and dentists - creating an “on-demand dental hygiene” model. They target a USD 25B global market, with the U.S. as the largest opportunity, where 42 states allow hygienists to work independently. Market demand has been validated through a signed LOI for 100 units from JetDental, a major U.S. mobile dental service provider. 
    The Venture Kick funds will support product development and market validation.
    dentalrobotics.ch

    Ninsun Biotech: Predict tumor aggression regardless of stage, predict non-response to neoadjuvant treatments in lung cancer
    In early-stage lung cancer, many patients classified as Stage I actually harbor highly aggressive tumors that relapse soon after surgery. Clinicians currently lack a reliable tool to identify these high-risk patients or to know who will truly respond to neoadjuvant immunotherapy. Ineffective treatment delays surgery, increases complications, and wastes EUR 25–50k per patient.
    Ninsun Biotech was founded by Dr. Vincent Carré (PhD), Dr. Sylvain Gnaho, and Dr. Chandouri (PhD), supported by an international network of experts in thoracic oncology, pathology, and health economics. The company has developed Ninstem Lung, the first CE-marked and clinically validated prognostic test capable of detecting tumor aggressiveness at any operable stage. Ninsun is now validating its predictive use to select responders to neoadjuvant immunotherapy and targeted therapies — addressing a market of 260,000 operable NSCLC patients in Europe each year.
    Venture Kick funding will be used to expand the clinical cohort in Switzerland and France and to advance AI-assisted slide interpretation, boosting predictive performance and accelerating adoption toward commercialization.

    Roofless labs: Bridging the gap between creators and 3D photography
    Stereoscopic images, also known as 3D gifs or  “wigglegrams,” are on the rise, but creating them currently requires buying expensive and rare vintage cameras, film development, and complex manual editing skills in Photoshop. The process is slow, costly, and unscalable for the digital age.
    Roofless Labs, incorporated in 2025 by CEO Maïkor Juvet and CTO Jean-Baptiste Michel, introduces K4MERA. This product is a digital "point-and-shoot" that combines four synchronized lenses and a custom AI pipeline to instantly generate 3D GIFs, removing all post-production complexity. They are primarily targeting the booming creator economy, starting with the confirmed  20k+ wigglegram enthusiasts and millions of creators seeking differentiation in a market anticipated to be worth nearly half a trillion dollars. This segment fits within the growing 3D camera market, which is projected to expand from USD 1.59 billion to USD 3.49 billion by 2030.
    Roofless Labs will use the Venture funds to finalize its prototype architecture with CSEM support. This capital will allow the company to produce high-quality demo content and conduct essential user testing.

  • VK_BlogPic400x300178.jpg

    Axy receives CHF 150,000 from Venture Kick to build a new AI platform for scientific collaboration

    Di. 25.11.2025, 15:31

    The ICT startup Axy has obtained CHF 150,000 from Venture Kick to develop an AI-powered platform that helps researchers get more out of scientific conferences, turning large academic meetings into more connected, accessible, and productive spaces for discovery....Read more

    Scientific conferences are designed to facilitate collaboration, but researchers often struggle with information overload and limited opportunities to connect. Important abstracts get buried in thousand-page booklets, key collaborators remain undiscovered, and much of the value created during a conference fades once the event ends. Beyond conferences, scientists also lack tools to effectively collaborate on research projects and manage their weekly lab meetings and journal clubs.

    The ICT startup Axy develops an AI-driven platform that transforms how scientists collaborate. Starting with conferences, Axy helps researchers discover relevant work, build personalized agendas, and connect with collaborators who share their interests. The platform extends beyond conferences with a Journal Club app for weekly scientific gatherings. And they’re building what the team calls “GitHub for Science”—a community-driven knowledge graph that helps researchers map scientific knowledge, identify gaps, and collaborate on long-term projects. With an intuitive interface and recommendation systems that learn user preferences, Axy makes research discovery more efficient and scientific collaboration more sustainable.

    Axy addresses two large markets: the $1B+ conference management sector and the $8B research collaboration and lab management market, serving over 30 million scientists worldwide.  Axy has already supported conferences with more than 1,000 participants and recorded adoption rates up to 80%, receiving strong feedback from the scientific community. With a validated pricing model and partnerships with major scientific societies, Axy is expanding from conferences into daily scientific workflows through journal clubs and collaborative research platforms.

    The CHF 150,000 from Venture Kick will accelerate Axy's expansion beyond conferences. The funding will support the growth of an international sales team, development of AI features for the Journal Club platform to reach over 1M weekly users, and the initial build-out of the “GitHub for Science” knowledge graph in partnership with leading researchers. This includes hiring key technical talent and launching marketing campaigns to establish Axy as a comprehensive collaboration ecosystem for scientists worldwide.

    The founding team brings together expertise in machine learning, software development, and business strategy. Nisheet Patel (CEO), Malav Patel (CFO), and Aarsh Patel (CTO) combine backgrounds in scientific research and machine learning with hands-on experience building scalable digital platforms. Their complementary skills equip the startup to deliver a new generation of conference and collaboration tools to the scientific community.

    “Venture Kick has been instrumental in Axy's journey—from a PhD lab project to a thriving startup. The structured three-stage process pushed us to validate our business model, secure our first paying customers, and scale from one conference per month to one per day," highlighted Axy's CEO Nisheet Patel. "Beyond the funding, the feedback from expert juries helped us refine our vision from a conference app into a complete scientific collaboration ecosystem. We’re grateful for the confidence Venture Kick has shown in our mission to democratize scientific knowledge globally.”

    Axy Axy CEO Nisheet Patel

  • VK_BlogPic400x300177.jpg

    Riverkin secures CHF 1.7M to expand pilots in priority watersheds

    Di. 25.11.2025, 10:01

    Riverkin, a Swiss startup focused on real-time freshwater monitoring, has closed a CHF 1.7 million funding round to expand deployments with early adopters and strengthen its Water Data Ecosystem. The company, an ETH Zürich spinoff, develops ultra-low power sensors and predictive software designed to help industries and public authorities better understand and manage water resources....Read more

    Founded by Jessica Droujko and her team, Riverkin is building a Water Data Ecosystem (WDE) that integrates Smart Sensors originally developed during Droujko’s PhD work at ETH Zürich. The sensors measure water flow, temperature, sediment, and conductivity to support dynamic freshwater monitoring, including in remote regions where traditional measurement systems are difficult to deploy. Combined with the company’s analytics platform, the technology provides a comprehensive view of water quality and quantity across watersheds, giving stakeholders information that supports more informed resource management, pollution reduction, and risk mitigation.

    Riverkin already has multiple sensors operating in the field across Switzerland, contributing to continuous data collection efforts. To date, the company has shipped 60 sensors globally to support organizations seeking more reliable information on freshwater conditions.

    The new CHF 1.7 million round is backed by Migros Pioneer Fund, Zürcher Kantonalbank, Fund F, Plug and Play Tech Center, Venture Kick, and several business angels, including Mathias Maurer, Philip Wels, and Aleksandar Boro.

    With the new capital, Riverkin plans to continue validating its technology and broadening deployments with early adopters. The roadmap includes expanding pilot projects in priority watersheds, strengthening the platform and integrations to streamline certification processes, and advancing intellectual property while establishing the foundations for repeatable sales.

    Riverkin team

  • VK_BlogPic400x300411.jpg

    ALPAI_CEOChristianVahlensieckPhDCTOAnatolEhrli_VK.jpg
    ALP AI: CEO Christian Vahlensieck, CTO Anatol Ehrli, CSO Lucas Schaus, and CBO Punit Mehra

    CHF 10,000 funding for immunogenicity intelligence, print-ready imaging, oral immune inhibitors, teen career AI, and underwater comms

    Mo. 24.11.2025, 17:57

    ALP AI, InfinityGen, Innunity Therapeutics, Stellenmatch, and Subatron were chosen at the first stage of Venture Kick’s financial and entrepreneurial support program. Their projects focus on designing biologics that align with the human immune system (ALP AI), creating a platform for generating high-resolution textures (InfinityGen), developing an oral innate immune inhibitor for progressive multiple sclerosis (Innunity Therapeutics), assisting teenagers in finding suitable careers through AI-guided conversations (Stellenmathc), and establishing a wireless underwater communication system for high-speed data transmission (Subatron)....Read more

    ALP AI: Redefining Biologics Through Immunogenicity Intelligence
    Biologic drugs hold enormous promise for chronic and complex diseases, yet their success depends on one unpredictable factor: the human immune system. Even highly potent antibodies can fail when the body mounts an unexpected anti-drug response, creating one of the costliest risks in modern drug development.
    ALP AI introduces a new way to design biologics that work with, not against, human immunity. The startup uses tonsil-derived immune organoids to recreate real human immune reactions ex vivo and pairs these insights with generative AI models that predict and prevent anti-drug antibody responses at the earliest stages of discovery. This combination enables developers to uncover hidden immunogenicity risks, redesign sequences with precision, and advance candidates built to last in patients, disrupting the 40B USD antibody drug development market. Founded by Christian Vahlensieck, Lucas Schaus, Anatol Ehrlich, and Punit Mehra, ALP AI unites expertise in immunology, protein design, and machine learning.
    Venture Kick funding will help ALP AI build a customer-facing front end for its beta model, making engagement and onboarding simpler for partners. It will also support early pilots and move the platform closer to full validation for ADA prediction and prevention.

    InfinityGen: Infinite High-Resolution Images for Printing on Surfaces
    Image acquisition from natural materials in the surface industry is currently slow, expensive, and environmentally impactful. While developing its solution, InfinityGen also discovered that the image upscaling field faces technical limits that its technology can surpass by more than 100x.
    Founded in 2025 by Gabriele Dominici (CEO) and Lorenzo Bellina (CTO), InfinityGen has developed the world’s first platform enabling companies to instantly generate high-resolution, natural-looking textures for any format. The technology breaks traditional design constraints, enabling infinite patterns and mass customization. Furthermore, the startup has adapted its upscaling technology to general-purpose images, resulting in the most powerful image upscaler in the world in order to approach a way bigger market valued at 2.5B in 2024.
    InfinityGen plans to use funds obtained through Venture Kick Stage 1 mainly to attend major trade fairs of the printing industry in order to do further market research and client acquisition on the upscaling and image enhancer market.

    Innunity Therapeutics: A first-in-class oral innate immune inhibitor for progressive multiple sclerosis
    Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic autoimmune disease of the central nervous system (CNS) that causes progressive, irreversible disability, often requiring wheelchairs, home modifications, caregiver support, and leading to substantial loss of productivity. In contrast to the relapsing form of MS, where more than 20 approved therapies are available, no existing treatments effectively halt the slow, chronic “smoldering” inflammation in the CNS that drives progression, particularly in secondary and primary progressive MS. Innunity Therapeutics aims to address this critical gap by targeting the innate immune system, a fundamental driver of this persistent CNS inflammation.
    Currently in the pre-incorporation stage, Innunity Therapeutics is a translational program emerging from the University of Zurich, founded on research conducted under the guidance of Prof. Thorsten Buch at the Institute of Laboratory Animal Science. Since its inception, the project has been led by Dr. Antonios Katsoulas, with development supported by his team. He is a neuroimmunologist with extensive MS research experience and a BioEntrepreneur Fellow, serving as CEO and scientific lead. In addition, Barna Gal, MD, a biotech entrepreneur with clinical and business expertise, serves as COO. The team is advancing first-in-class small molecules that modulate a key pathway in innate immune activation. This approach has demonstrated strong in vivo and in vitro efficacy and targets a global MS market exceeding USD 20 billion.
    The Venture Kick funding will support business development efforts, compound optimization, and human validation studies. These activities will reinforce the scientific foundation and advance the asset to a stage where it is ready to initiate IND-enabling studies.

    Stellenmatch: Guiding the youth to their dream job
    In Switzerland, one in three apprenticeship contracts end early, causing more than CHF 40 million in annual societal costs. At 14, teenagers must choose from over 250 professions under pressure, often without self-reflection or work experience. 
    Stellenmatch helps teenagers find the career that truly fits them through a 45-minute AI-guided voice conversation that uncovers their traits and recommends suitable apprenticeships with personalized explanations. Founders Osaze Osa (CEO), Florian Zumbühl (CPO), and Ray Klauck (CTO) combine expertise in digital business, user experience, and software engineering. With the current solution addressing 40,000+ new apprentices yearly, the concept can be expanded across age groups and countries.
    First sales to parents have been achieved. The Venture Kick funds will be used mainly to grow initial revenue and run smoke tests in a new vertical, helping adults and students reorient themselves in a fast-changing job market.

    Subatron: Next-generation underwater communication systems
    Existing underwater communication technologies face major limitations. Cable-based systems restrict mobility and range, optical systems only work over very short distances, and acoustic systems suffer from low data rates. These constraints hinder the performance and coordination of unmanned underwater vehicles (UUVs), robots, and divers in critical applications such as search and rescue, inspection, and environmental monitoring.
    Founded by a multidisciplinary team with strong expertise in physics, engineering, and business, Subatron develops a next-generation wireless underwater communication system that enables high data rate transmission over long distances. The founding team includes CEO Samira Baumann, CTO Mathias Werder, and CFO Alissa Wyss, who combine technical excellence and strategic experience to bring this innovation to market. With a working prototype already built, the startup is advancing its technology to serve markets such as UUVs, search and rescue units, and environmental monitoring.
    The Venture Kick funds will be used to further develop and validate the prototype, conduct marketing activities and prepare for company incorporation.

  • VK_BlogPic400x300163.jpg
    K2 Photonics founding team: Justinas Pupeikis, Benjamin Willenberg, Prof. Ursula Keller, and Lukas Lang

    K2 Photonics secures Seed Funding to simplify frequency comb technology for global industries

    Mo. 24.11.2025, 09:00

    K2 Photonics, an ETH Zurich spin-off, has closed its seed funding round, paving the way for broader deployment of its laser and frequency comb technology across industrial and scientific sectors. The company aims to make this advanced technology more practical and accessible for a range of applications worldwide....Read more

    The seed round was led by Paeonia Group, a Singapore-based investment holding company providing strategic support for global expansion and access to international markets. The funding will accelerate the development and scaling of K2 Photonics’ laser systems, which leverage advances in laser physics and noise optimization within femtosecond oscillators. These innovations allow passive stability, reducing reliance on complex control systems and simplifying integration for industrial users.

    Frequency combs—precise tools for measuring time and frequency—are critical in applications such as environmental monitoring, semiconductor characterization, metrology, and quantum timing systems. Historically, frequency comb solutions were large, expensive, and difficult to deploy. K2 Photonics addresses these challenges by offering compact laser modules and measurement sub-systems that maintain high-quality light properties while lowering barriers to integration.

    The company has already established installations across four continents and completed proof-of-concept demonstrations in multiple application areas. Its core laser technology is well-established and designed for efficient scaling, supporting rapid adoption across diverse industries.

    Venture Kick supported us in shaping a solid business case during the early days and provided access to a strong network that helped us navigate the Swiss startup ecosystem effectively,” highlighted CEO Justinas Pupeikis.


    K2 Photonics team: CEO Justinas Pupeikis, CTO Benjamin Willenberg, Scientific Advisor Professor Ursula Keller, and Head of Hardware Lukas Lang

  • VK_BlogPic400x300176.jpg

    Novaccess' NovaLight technology acquired by Tridonic

    Do. 20.11.2025, 19:00

    Novaccess has entered a new chapter with the acquisition of its NovaLight smart lighting division by Tridonic, the Austrian specialist in professional lighting control systems. Since August 2025, the NovaLight team and its cloud-based technology have been operating under Tridonic, which has also taken over the associated IP rights and begun offering the solutions directly to the market....Read more

    Tridonic, a leading global provider of lighting control systems, is expanding its outdoor lighting portfolio with the acquisition of NovaLight, a smart lighting solution developed by Swiss ICT company Novaccess, boosted by Venture Kick in 2012. Already controlling around 30,000 lighting points in Switzerland, the technology brings proven expertise in intelligent, cloud-based systems and forms a core part of Tridonic’s strategy. Its integration lays the foundation for a new generation of outdoor lighting control based on open industry standards, supporting the digitalization of cities and transport infrastructure while giving users greater flexibility in managing their installations.

    Tridonic will continue to support existing NovaLight customers while developing a new system architecture compatible with current and future technologies. Features will include integrated gateways for direct Internet connectivity, scalable networks from small installations to city-wide systems, and support for modern DALI modules and stable sub-GHz radio connections.

    By bringing NovaLight into its portfolio, Tridonic strengthens its offering of flexible, interoperable, and future-oriented solutions for operating and monitoring outdoor lighting systems.

    Novaccess co-founder Yannick Iseli

  • USD 150 million to scale DEXTER the surgical sobot across the US

    Mi. 19.11.2025, 12:19

    Distalmotion, the Swiss developer of the surgical robot DEXTER, has secured USD 150 million in a Series G financing round to expand its footprint across the United States. The funding, led by Revival Healthcare Capital and supported by existing investors, will accelerate the commercial adoption of DEXTER, particularly in the rapidly growing Ambulatory Surgery Center (ASC) market, and support ongoing clinical and product development initiatives....Read more

    DEXTER is a soft tissue robotic surgery system designed to simplify operations and extend the benefits of wristed robotics to any operating room (OR). Its compact, mobile design allows integration into ORs of all sizes without modifications, and it can easily move between rooms, maximizing efficiency. The sterile console supports flexible surgical workflows, facilitates seamless transitions between laparoscopic and robotic techniques, and enhances communication among surgical teams. Since its introduction, DEXTER has been successfully used in clinical settings across Europe and the US, with nearly 3,000 patients treated to date.

    The USD 150 million Series G round positions Distalmotion to scale its US operations, with a particular focus on outpatient surgical sites. The ASC market continues to grow rapidly, driven by a shift toward efficient, cost-effective outpatient procedures, making it a strategic priority for the company.

    Alongside the financing announcement, Distalmotion named Chas McKhann as Executive Chairman of the Board of Directors. With over 25 years of experience in MedTech and life sciences, McKhann has a proven track record in scaling medical device companies and driving commercial growth. He previously led Apollo Endosurgery and Silk Road Medical, achieving significant sales growth and successful exits for both publicly traded companies. His appointment reinforces Distalmotion’s commitment to establishing DEXTER as a leading robotic surgery solution in the ASC sector.

    With this latest funding and leadership reinforcement, Distalmotion is ready to expand DEXTER’s presence in the US, offering hospitals and outpatient centers greater access to advanced robotic surgical capabilities.

    The company was ranked among the Top100 Swiss Startups and Top100 Scale-ups, participated in Venture Leaders, and won the final stage of Venture Kick.

    Distalmotion co-founder Michael Friedrich at the Venture Leaders China kick-off in 2018

  • VK_BlogPic400x300166.jpg

    Tasteomics receives CHF 150,000 from Venture Kick to make healthy food tasty and tasty food healthier

    Mi. 19.11.2025, 09:00

    Tasteomics has obtained CHF 150,000 from Venture Kick to develop Peakaroma, a natural ingredient that boosts flavor intensity without adding salt, sugar, or off-flavours. The University of Bern spin-off is pioneering a new approach to taste modulation that enables food producers to create healthier, great-tasting products while reducing production costs....Read more

    Food producers face growing pressure to meet health and sustainability goals while maintaining the taste and appeal of their products. Reducing salt, sugar, or fat often compromises flavor, and existing flavor enhancers can introduce unwanted notes, come with high cost-in-use, or rely on synthetic additives. This creates a strong demand for natural, effective solutions that enhance taste while supporting better nutrition and cleaner ingredient labels.

    Tasteomics is addressing this challenge with Peakaroma, a novel botanical ingredient that interacts with the body’s taste receptors responsible for the “kokumi“ sensation—the perception of depth and richness in food. While traditional additives only activate this receptor, Peakaroma is the world’s first kokumi modulator that prolongs its active state. As a result, it amplifies the body’s natural taste response, making flavors feel fuller and more balanced without altering their original profile. This innovation allows food producers to reduce ingredient costs while achieving salt, sugar, and fat reduction targets, preserving both taste and profitability.

    The University of Bern spin-off aims to launch Peakaroma in two strategic market segments, condiments and plant-based alternatives, valued at USD 174 and 3.1 billion, respectively. These segments show high adoption rates for flavorings, driven by strong consumer expectations for clean taste and ease of implementation for cost-reduction benefits. Tasteomics’ unique value proposition helps customers meet sodium-reduction goals while maintaining margins, paving the way for broad market adoption. Continued R&D investment will expand Peakaroma-based formulations into additional categories such as snacks, ready meals, and soups. 

    The CHF 150,000 from Venture Kick will enable the biotech startup to reach food-grade production capabilities of 10 metric tons per year, which can service up to 10’000 tons of food products. The funding will further allow Tasteomics to expand its team and finalize ongoing industry projects with major food producers and distributors to prepare for a succesful market launch in the DACH region.

    The company was founded by Dr. Daniel Batora and Prof. Dr. Jürg Gertsch, biochemists with deep expertise in taste receptor biology and natural product chemistry. After an extensive market validation program, the team identified the most promising applications for their ingredients and successfully tested them in industrial food production settings. Their combined scientific and entrepreneurial experience equips the startup to introduce a new, natural approach to improving taste in the food industry.

    “Venture Kick kicked us in a good sense. The demanding feedback we received during the bootcamps were necessary to establish a coherent business mentality, an essential shift in balance from scientific excellence to the realities of the market,” highlights CEO Daniel Batora. “I strongly recommend Venture Kick to all founders coming from an academic background, the program will greatly benefit them in their implementation strategy.” 


    Research Lead Juerg Gertsch and CEO Daniel Batora

  • VK_BlogPic400x300175.jpg

    Forgis secures USD 4.5 million to bring AI-powered intelligence to European factories

    Di. 18.11.2025, 17:38

    Swiss ICT startup Forgis, modernizing traditional factories into intelligent, adaptive production hubs, has raised USD 4.5 million in a pre-seed funding round. The funding will accelerate the development of Forgis’ AI-powered software platform, designed to connect, optimize, and orchestrate machines and production lines for smarter, more efficient factories. The startup also recently received CHF 150,000 from Venture Kick III in its final phase, supporting the advancement of its industrial automation technology....Read more

    For years, European manufacturers have relied on outsourcing production, prioritizing cost reduction over long-term innovation. Today, they face mounting pressure: China dominates in price competitiveness, while the US leads in technological innovation. Reshoring is emerging as the only viable strategy to regain industrial autonomy, but high labor and automation costs have slowed progress.

    Founded in 2025 in Zurich by Federico Martelli (CEO), Camilla Mazzolena (CPO), and Riccardo Maggioni (CTO), Forgis—formerly known as Xelerit—addresses the challenge of fragmented factory systems, aging infrastructure, and global competition by making factories smarter, more flexible, and ready for Industry 5.0. The startup’s AI-driven software provides an intelligent layer that allows machines, robots, and production lines to interact with their physical environment, coordinate processes autonomously, and adapt to changing conditions.

    By connecting existing equipment rather than requiring costly replacements, Forgis enables European manufacturers to improve efficiency, reduce downtime, automate decision-making, and increase operational flexibility, helping them compete globally.

    The Swiss startup, which has already established a strategic partnership with IBM, completed pilot projects, and secured commitments from Fortune 500 companies, recently closed a USD 4.5 million pre-seed funding round led by redalpine. The company also received CHF 150,000 from Venture Kick, in its final phase, supporting the development and scaling of its AI-powered industrial software. With this new funding and support, Forgis will accelerate the modernization of European factories, equipping them for a smarter, more adaptive future.

    “Venture Kick was instrumental in giving us that milestone-driven external push to close the deal now, develop that feature now, and get things done now,” highlights CEO Federico Martelli.

    From left to right: CTO Riccardo Maggioni, CPO Camilla Mazzoleni, and CEO Federico Martelli

Angezeigt: 1 bis 10 von 1648 1 2 3 4 5 6

Watch videos from success stories

TOP 100 Startups

Powered by startup.ch and Handelszeitung

60 venture kickers made it to the TOP 100 startups

Each year, startup.ch launches the TOP 100 STARTUP AWARD in cooperation with the Handelszeitung. From over 100,000 young companies, the 100 most innovative and promising Swiss startups are picked by top startup experts.

Check out the TOP 100

venture leaders

venture leaders program – ten intense days in USA or China

Swiss startups ready to take over the World.

The venture leaders - the members of the Swiss national startup team- have a clear-cut goal. They envision themselves as global players and want to take the first step to their global expansion. The ten-day business development program is specifically structured to help them achieve this goal.

More

venture kick

Kick your startup idea to success with venture kick

venture kick helps potential entrepreneurs by giving them the opportunity to win up to CHF 130,000. Moreover, startups can also use the know-how of experienced experts and entrepreneurs and be granted access to a national network of investors.

Apply

venturelab workshops

Powered by industry professionals

Learn from entrepreneurs and industry leaders

In the last 10 years venturelab alumni have raised several 100 millions from investors and built successful businesses. Now they are ready to share with the next generation of talented hightech startups.

Learn more about the program

Directory of active investors

Powered by startup.ch

The investors in early stage Swiss startups

In the last 5 years the venture kick startups raised more than 365 millions. Following all these transactions we compiled and update the list of active startup investors in different fields and stages.

Filter your potential investors

Institut für Jungunternehmen

The first address for Startups in Switzerland

More than 50.000 startups were accompanied by the IFJ. A little more then 25 years ago, we have made it our mission to guide these entrepreneurs on their way to successful businesses. So they can develop their role as a part of the Swiss economy.

More

Connecting the dots between Switzlerand and the world

Gioia Vichis Deutscher is the director of swissnex Brazil. After spending four years as the Haed of Startup and Innovation Services for swissnex San Francisco, Gioia Deutscher is now taking the lead in opening a new swissnex office in Brazil.

More on Swissnex Brazil

Suzanne Hraba-Renevey is the director of swissnex Singapore. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetuer adipiscing elit, sed diam nonummy nibh euismod tincidunt ut laoree. Ut wisi enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exerci tation.

More on Swissnex Singapore

Pascal Marmier is the director of swissnex China. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetuer adipiscing elit, sed diam nonummy nibh euismod tincidunt ut laoree. Ut wisi enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exerci tation.

More on Swissnex China

Felix Moesner is the director of swissnex Boston. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetuer adipiscing elit, sed diam nonummy nibh euismod tincidunt ut laoree. Ut wisi enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exerci tation.

More on Swissnex Boston

Chistian Simm is the director of swissnex San Francisco. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetuer adipiscing elit, sed diam nonummy nibh euismod tincidunt ut laoree. Ut wisi enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exerci tation.

More on Swissnex San Francisco

Balz Strasser is the director of swissnex India. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetuer adipiscing elit, sed diam nonummy nibh euismod tincidunt ut laoree. Ut wisi enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exerci tation.

More on Swissnex India

  • 66 Venture Kickers made it to the TOP 100 Swiss Startups 2024

    Each year, startup.ch launches the TOP 100 SWISS STARTUP AWARD. From over 100,000 young companies, the 100 most innovative and promising Swiss startups are picked by top startup experts.

    Check out the TOP 100
  • Kick your startup idea to success with venture kick

    Venture Kick is a philanthropic three-stage funding model supporting Swiss startups with up to CHF 150,000. Winning startups can secure additional CHF 850,000 in equity funding from Kickfund plus an InnoBooster grant of CHF 150,000.

    More
  • Swiss startups ready to take over the World.

    The venture leaders have a clear-cut goal. They envision themselves as global players and want to take the first step to their global expansion. The ten-day business development program is specifically structured to help them achieve this goal.

    More
  • The first address for Startups in Switzerland

    More than 50.000 startups were accompanied by the IFJ. A little more then 25 years ago, we have made it our mission to guide these entrepreneurs on their way to successful businesses. So they can develop their role as a part of the Swiss economy.

    More