130,000 Swiss francs go to the ETH Spin-off Haelixa
15.02.2017
The startup Haelixa, led by Michela Puddu, PhD at ETH, conquers the oil industry with its brand new technology. The use of specially modified DNA particles enable the oil drilling companies to come up with very specific 3D visualizing of the underground reservoirs. This innovative startup won CHF 130’000 of pre-seed capital at the Venture Kick final.
 Team of Haelixa: Gediminas Mikutis, co-founder and CTO, and Michela Puddu, co-founder and CEO
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 Haelixa has won the Venture Kick final with another startup, the EPFL spin-off SensArs: Francesco Petrini, co-founder, and Stanisa Raspopovic, co-founder (from left to right)
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So far toxic or radioactive liquids are used for the underground assessment of oil reservoirs. Although this leads to high costs and unspecific results, up to now, these processes are still being applied. In order to avoid unnecessary drilling and field development, oil companies make every effort to enhance their knowledge about the underground.
Swiss startup goes global with its innovation for the oil industry
Haelixa develops patent pending DNA based particles that are non-toxic and environment-friendly. With this innovation they enable sustainable and cost-effective field operations and production. Haelixa has made first sales and started working in the first oilfield. Haelixa has been approached already by several key players of the industry and are planning their global expansion. With key opinion leaders in the oil business supporting the Swiss startup, everything is ready for the rollout. “Venture Kick is an incredible program for startups, not just in terms of early stage funding, but also from a business development perspective, providing valuable inputs to convert your idea into a scalable and successful business. We are extremely grateful to them for believing in us and supporting us”, says Michela Puddu, co-founder and CEO of Haelixa. In 2016, she presented her technology to US investors with the Swiss National Startup team, and led the team as captain.