IMD Startup Competition

KOA secures additional capital to expand production capacity

Until now, more than 75% of the cocoa fruit, including the cocoa pulp, was discarded. Together with experts from Swiss and Ghanaian universities, Koa developed a process to upcycle the entire fruit to create food products, increase farmers’ income, and reduce food waste by 40%. The working capital facility from responsAbility allows Koa to grow its current production capacities and work with more farmers.

Genknowme on the expansion course

For the third consecutive and final year, Genknowme has won the support of the Biôpole Start-up Fund. Since 2021, the Swiss startup co-founded by Semira and Sébastien Nusslé has been gaining market traction and attracting prestigious clients such as La Prairie Clinique in Clarens. Committed to sustain constant innovation, the startup is expanding in the Swiss German part of Switzerland, and internationally, in Spain and the UK.

USD 52 million to power Ecorobotix rapid expansion

Ecorobotix completed a USD 52 million funding round. Co-lead investor is AQTON PE, a holding company wholly owned by the German entrepreneur Stefan Quandt, the largest single shareholder of BMW. The funding will accelerate Ecorobotix’s geographic expansion across new and existing markets and accelerate new product development.

Biotech startups turn gear into Phase 2 clinical trials

The dozing of their first patient marks the start of phase II clinical trials for BioVersys ‘ BV100. With the granted approval and completion of the first studies, Aurealius, Alentis and Anokion are preparing to enter the new phase.

CompPair Second Product Line sparks momentum

CompPair expanded its HealTech Standard product family by introducing CS02, its second product line tailored to enable faster production manufacturing for the sports, leisure, and industrial sectors. More than 20 customers are already implementing its products, with clear roadmaps for series productions in the coming years. The EPFL startup showcased last week at JEC World 2023 some of these exciting collaborations.

Klepsydra raises over one million Swiss Francs to accelerate growth

Klepsydra, the provider of onboard software for edge computers, has secured CHF 1.05M in a funding round led by Spicehaus Partners. The new investment will allow Klepsydra to accelerate its growth and expand its product offerings to meet the increasing global demand for innovative solutions on the edge.

US company acquires Flisom’s thin-film solar manufacturing equipment

ETH Spinoff Flisom, which produces photovoltaic thin-film solar modules has found a buyer for its manufacturing asset: Ascent Solar Technologies, Inc. Established as a US innovator in the design and manufacture of featherweight, flexible, and durable CIGS thin-film photovoltaic (PV) solutions, Ascent Solar will immediately start manufacturing from its new site in Zurich.

RetinAI joins forces with Boehringer Ingelheim

Boehringer Ingelheim has become a partner and customer of RetinAI Medical AG, a leader in clinical and imaging data management software and advanced analytics using artificial intelligence (AI) for ophthalmology. The companies aim to improve patient outcomes in geographic atrophy by combining RetinAI’s Discovery platform and AI tools with Boehringer Ingelheim’s research in retinal diseases. RetinAI will be receiving compensation for providing access to its services and products.