CHF 10,000 for first-in-class peptide therapeutics, E. coli vaccine, cold chain logistics, a software for diplomats, and therapies for bone disease

Alterbiotix: First-in-class peptide therapeutics against pneumococcal disease
Alterbiotix is a spin-off company (to be incorporated) based on scientific discoveries by Prof. Lucy Hathaway, at the Institute for Infectious Diseases, Univ. of Bern. The company develops novel therapeutics against Streptococcus pneumoniae, a bacterial pathogen responsible for widespread diseases, including indications of high unmet medical need, such as meningitis and severe pneumonia (the 4th deadliest pathogen in terms of global deaths linked to antimicrobial resistance, with a mortality rate of 20-50%, and a market value of over USD 2B). Alterbiotix targets a new intervention point shown to provide therapeutic benefits and synergy with antibiotics in relevant preclinical models. Their current lead indication is meningitis. The company’s founders include Prof. Hathaway and 2 experienced business executives, Kostas Alevizopoulos and Greg Fotopoulos. The team is supported by leading key opinion leaders (KOLs) in the fields of meningitis and pneumonia.
The Venture Kick funds will be used for business-oriented activities contributing to the development of the project and the company.

Baxiva: First-in-class E. coli vaccine for the prevention of urinary tract infections
There are over 80,000 sepsis deaths per year associated with urinary tract infections (UTIs). UTIs are one of the most common infections in the world, and the vast majority are caused by the bacterium E. coli. There is no vaccine on the market for the prevention of E. coli infections. Baxiva is developing the first-in-class E. coli vaccine for the prevention of UTIs and sepsis.
The company was incorporated in 2025, spinning out from ETH Zurich. Founders and board members include CEO Dr. Giorgia Greter, CSO Dr. Tim Keys, and head of R&D Christoph Rutschmann. Together with a team of scientists, they are developing the platform technology of Baxiva for the future of glycoconjugate vaccine development, with the potential to scale up their technology for the development of a novel class of bacterial vaccines, targeting pathogens that have previously been impossible.
The Venture Kick funds will contribute towards the development of a proof-of-concept vaccine study that can progress towards clinical trials.

Cria Technologies: Redefining Cold Chain Logistics
Cria Technologies addresses a critical inefficiency in pharma/biotech cold chain logistics: today’s packaging is bulky, fragile, and requires excessive refrigerant. These legacy systems are ill-suited for emerging personalized therapies.
The startup’s founding team — Dr. Vittorio Palmieri (PhD, CERN physicist and serial entrepreneur), Giancarlo Mattiello (MEng, former Strategy &), and Andrea Festa (MEng, former Kearney) — developed Cria-Go, the world’s first shoulder-portable temperature-controlled container spanning –150°C to +8°C. Their patent-pending design, compatible with dry ice, liquid nitrogen, and Phase Change Materials (PCMs), eliminates the need for external crates or long conditioning time. With applications in pharmaceuticals, biotechnology, and fertility treatment transportation, Cria addresses a market growing at a 20% CAGR and expected to exceed USD 10B by 2030.
They will use the Venture Kick Stage I funding to accelerate pilot deployments with early customers, gather performance data, and prepare for certification.

DiploTools: Empowering diplomats with purpose-built technology
Diplomacy still runs on tech from the 90s: handwritten notes, scattered emails, and manual reporting. In today’s increasingly complex world, these outdated tools limit how diplomats collaborate, respond, and shape outcomes on the global stage.
DiploTools delivers software designed with and for diplomats, enabling better coordination, data-based decisions, and more time for strategy. Their mission: redefine diplomacy with human-centered technology that amplifies global impact. Founded in 2025, DiploTools is led by Jérôme Crettol, a former Swiss delegate, and Nico Isler, a seasoned tech entrepreneur. Their suite of AI-powered tools begins with UN election coordination and customized reporting for global conferences, already in use by several countries.
Venture Kick funding will fuel their next phase: expanding to more missions and refining high-impact features that directly support and empower today’s diplomats.

Nimverta: Developing safe and effective long-term therapies for bone disease
Age-related bone diseases, such as osteoporosis, osteoarthritis, and bone fragility, are major causes of morbidity and reduced quality of life in the elderly, where there are significant unmet clinical needs. Current therapies ignore the crucial vascular environment and lack safe, long-term anabolic options, leaving millions vulnerable to fragile bones, impaired healing, and low quality of life. 
Nimverta is developing a first-in-class peptide therapy that regenerates both bone and its supporting vasculature by leveraging natural physiological pathways, unlocking the potential for safe, long-term treatment. Dr Amit Singh is the founder and CEO. Rob Chisholm is the Chief Business Officer (CBO). Prof. Anjali Kusumbe is the chief scientific officer (CSO). Nimverta benefits from a strong international scientific advisory board. In 2024, the Hypophosphatasia Market was valued at around USD 4 Bn, with Paget’s Disease treatments valued at more like USD 1B, and the Osteoporosis market for drugs valued at USD 15B.  
Venture Kick funds will support market validation in terms of understanding which indication provides the best opportunity, i.e., the Hypophosphatasia market may be smaller than the Osteoporosis market, but the unmet need may command a higher price. The team will strengthen the regulatory and IP plans and prepare the foundation for early preclinical development.