CHF 40,000 for a 3D printed dental aligner, next-gen photonic devices, and a gamified tech for unhealthy consumption behaviors

Actival: 3D printing a novel generation of active dental aligners
Clear dental aligners have recently caused one of the biggest disruptions in the dental industry. They are a transparent and removable alternative to traditional metal braces and have already created a USD6.3bn market share with a 28% y-o-y growth rate.
But, since dental aligners cover the full surface of the teeth, they block access to saliva and oxygen, which leads to bacterial buildup, caries lesions, and bad mouth odor.
Actival has a patented solution for 3D printing a novel generation of Active aligners with integrated microfluidic channels. These channels act as reservoirs that gradually release antibacterial fluid, fluoride, and flavor. This innovation eliminates bacterial buildup, strengthens teeth through enamel remineralization, and contributes to a more pleasant mouth odor.

Lightium – Enabling the next generation of photonic devices
Like silicon chips decades ago, Photonic Integrated Circuits (PIC) are poised to play a central and long-lasting role in several industries, from Telecom to AI, Datacom, and Space. Yet, no single photonic platform can provide all essential photonic functions on a single chip, creating significant assembly complexity and cost for manufacturers of photonic devices.
Incorporated in 2023, Lightium is a pioneering Swiss startup offering PIC foundry and design services based on its proprietary Thin-Film Lithium Niobate (TFLN) platform. Lightium's solution addresses the complex challenges faced by photonic device manufacturers, offering them unmatched photonic performance, a simplified and cost-effective supply chain, and rapid scale-up capabilities. Today, PICs represent a 13B USD market fueled by our exponential need for higher bandwidth, with TFLN being the fastest-growing platform at 49% CAGR.
Lightium will use the Venture Kick funds to attend relevant tradeshows, improve its online visibility, and strengthen its IP portfolio. www.lightium.co

Neuria Digital Therapeutics: Transforming unhealthy consumption behaviors effortlessly with gamified technology
In an era where unhealthy eating and lifestyle choices predominate, leading to widespread health issues like obesity and diabetes, Neuria introduces a new digital intervention to reduce cravings and unwanted consumption behaviors. This new approach aims to mitigate the global health crisis by targeting the brain's automatic motivational responses to unhealthy food cues. By leveraging gamified digital therapeutics, Neuria offers a “digital clinic environment” that engages users in a transformative journey towards healthier habits, while they enjoy arcade games on their smartphones.
Neuria, led by Frederik Plourde, CEO, and Prof. Dr. Lucas Spierer, CSO, is breaking new ground in digital therapeutics and is protected by a patent. Alongside game developers and neuroscientists, Dr. Maurizio Rigamonti, Dr. Hugo Najberg, and MSc Malika Taparel, Neuria’s team bringing to life a patented digital platform designed to revolutionize how we address overconsumption behaviours. Rare are the digital health companies with such a solid track record on scientific evidence, their interventions are backed by 10 years of research in behavioral and brain plasticity and more than 20 publications. 
Their mission is to empower patients to benefit from the latest discoveries in the neuroscience field.
Digital therapeutics, especially in diabetes management, is a rapidly growing market, representing 18.9Bn in 2022 and growing at a CAGR of 20,1%. Neuria aims to penetrate the diabetes management market as an initial go-to-market strategy based on the strength of its scientific evidence in this space.
The Venture Kick funds will be used in software development to personalize their interventions.