CHF 40,000 for biological drug production, next-gen cell therapy, and real-time implant data for continous orthopedic recovery
10.04.2025
Bioscibex, Inkocell Therapeutics, and OrthoSens were selected at Venture Kick's second financial and entrepreneurial support stage. Their projects transform biological drug development and manufacturing with their single-use bioreactor by reducing the number of process steps from 7 to just 2; bring a curative solution to cancer survivors who developed cardiac fibrosis due to their cancer treatment; and make implants talk for continuous orthopedic recovery.
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 Bioscibex: CEO Chloé Albietz & CTO François Carruzzo
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 Inkocell Therapeutics: CEO Mathieu Girardin & CSO Angela Madurga Alonso
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 OrthoSens: CEO Gwenael Hannema, Lead R&D Oleg Kotsur, Strategic Advisor Philippe Etter, and KOL Prof. Alex Alfieri
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Bioscibex: changing the way we make drugs forever
Biologics are remarkably effective in treating a variety of illnesses, ranging from autoimmune diseases to cancer but their high prices, mainly driven by high production cost, is limiting patient accessibility. Simplifying the production process is essential to lowering the cost of these treatments.
The company was incorporated in 2024 as a spin-off from EPFL. Drawing on their industry expertise, the two co-founders, Chloé Albietz (CEO) and Francois Carruzzo (CTO), are transforming biological drug development and manufacturing with their single-use bioreactor. By reducing the number of process steps from 7 to just 2, biopharmaceutical companies will significantly reduce their costs, contamination risks, and operational complexity. The estimated total addressable market is USD 4.5 million.
The Venture Kick funds will support the production of the beta prototype, which will be used for pilot trials with customers.
bioscibex.com
Inkocell Therapeutics: Redefining cell therapy to bring curative solutions to patients in need.
Cancer treatments lead to an increasing population of cancer survivors. 10% of them will be affected by long-term cardiovascular toxicities due to their treatment, leading to heart failure and death. This represents 4.17 million people in the US, and no curative option is available.
Inkocell Therapeutics is set to be incorporated as an EPFL spin-off by the end of 2025. Co-founders Mathieu Girardin and Angela Madurga Alonso are advancing their technology to bring their treatment to the clinic. Their innovation leverages genetically engineered Natural Killer (NK) cells enhanced with a patented synthetic receptor. Their innovation can bring a curative solution to cancer survivors who have developed cardiac fibrosis due to their cancer treatment. With a broad therapeutic potential, the technology can be adapted to reach additional markets such as other fibrotic or autoimmune diseases.
The Venture Kick funding will support the development of our intellectual property portfolio and regulatory strategy.
OrthoSens: Making Implants Talk for Continuous Orthopedic Recovery
Orthopedic surgeries typically rely on static X-rays and sporadic follow-ups, offering minimal real-time feedback. Surgeons often depend on subjective patient reports, which can lead to delayed interventions, reoperations, and suboptimal recovery outcomes.
OrthoSens solves this by embedding its battery-free Sens+ sensor implants. The companion SensApp transforms real-time implant data into a continuous “recovery movie,” enabling timely clinical decisions and boosting patient engagement. Driven by CEO Gwenael Hannema, R&D lead Dr. Oleg Kotsur, strategic advisor and board member Philippe Etter, and Prof. Alex Alfieri (Chairman of Neurosurgery at KSW), OrthoSens brings together deep medtech, sensor development, and clinical expertise. Tapping into a global orthopedic market exceeding USD 56B and USD 5.9B in remote patient monitoring, they aim to redefine post-surgical care.
They will use the Venture Kick funds to develop demonstrators and marketing materials, fostering partnerships with established legal manufacturers and surgeons. This support accelerates proof-of-concept and early market traction, paving the way for data-driven orthopedic innovation.
Biologics are remarkably effective in treating a variety of illnesses, ranging from autoimmune diseases to cancer but their high prices, mainly driven by high production cost, is limiting patient accessibility. Simplifying the production process is essential to lowering the cost of these treatments.
The company was incorporated in 2024 as a spin-off from EPFL. Drawing on their industry expertise, the two co-founders, Chloé Albietz (CEO) and Francois Carruzzo (CTO), are transforming biological drug development and manufacturing with their single-use bioreactor. By reducing the number of process steps from 7 to just 2, biopharmaceutical companies will significantly reduce their costs, contamination risks, and operational complexity. The estimated total addressable market is USD 4.5 million.
The Venture Kick funds will support the production of the beta prototype, which will be used for pilot trials with customers.
bioscibex.com
Inkocell Therapeutics: Redefining cell therapy to bring curative solutions to patients in need.
Cancer treatments lead to an increasing population of cancer survivors. 10% of them will be affected by long-term cardiovascular toxicities due to their treatment, leading to heart failure and death. This represents 4.17 million people in the US, and no curative option is available.
Inkocell Therapeutics is set to be incorporated as an EPFL spin-off by the end of 2025. Co-founders Mathieu Girardin and Angela Madurga Alonso are advancing their technology to bring their treatment to the clinic. Their innovation leverages genetically engineered Natural Killer (NK) cells enhanced with a patented synthetic receptor. Their innovation can bring a curative solution to cancer survivors who have developed cardiac fibrosis due to their cancer treatment. With a broad therapeutic potential, the technology can be adapted to reach additional markets such as other fibrotic or autoimmune diseases.
The Venture Kick funding will support the development of our intellectual property portfolio and regulatory strategy.
OrthoSens: Making Implants Talk for Continuous Orthopedic Recovery
Orthopedic surgeries typically rely on static X-rays and sporadic follow-ups, offering minimal real-time feedback. Surgeons often depend on subjective patient reports, which can lead to delayed interventions, reoperations, and suboptimal recovery outcomes.
OrthoSens solves this by embedding its battery-free Sens+ sensor implants. The companion SensApp transforms real-time implant data into a continuous “recovery movie,” enabling timely clinical decisions and boosting patient engagement. Driven by CEO Gwenael Hannema, R&D lead Dr. Oleg Kotsur, strategic advisor and board member Philippe Etter, and Prof. Alex Alfieri (Chairman of Neurosurgery at KSW), OrthoSens brings together deep medtech, sensor development, and clinical expertise. Tapping into a global orthopedic market exceeding USD 56B and USD 5.9B in remote patient monitoring, they aim to redefine post-surgical care.
They will use the Venture Kick funds to develop demonstrators and marketing materials, fostering partnerships with established legal manufacturers and surgeons. This support accelerates proof-of-concept and early market traction, paving the way for data-driven orthopedic innovation.