Four new startups win the first stage of Venture Kick and benefit from the program's cash support of 3 million in 2017

Ligentech (EPFL) - IT: Ligentec is an expert in offering silicon nitride thickness above 600nm maintaining very low waveguide propagation loss. The main application areas include coherent telecommunication, filters, supercontinuum generation, pulse generation, spectroscopy as well as sensing and microwave photonics. Ligentech was among the first three startups to win the ESA BIC program in November 2016.

IDUN HealthTech (ETHZ) – Medtech: The startup develops a wearable ECG device with clinical grade quality and lifestyle comfort in all environments. Based on a novel dry-stretchable electrode design from ETH Zurich, this device outperforms current electrodes in quality and usability. It allows field-condition monitoring for athletes and patients.

Komp-ACT (EPFL) - Aerospace: Komp-ACT aims to develop breakthrough electric motors for aircrafts, helicopters and UAVs actuation systems as well as for electric aircrafts propulsion systems. Their lightweight and smart electric motors can reduce aircrafts weight, maintenance costs, prevent electric and mechanical failures as well as reduce fuel consumption and CO2 emissions.

certus molecular diagnostics (Uni Bern) - Biotech: The startup provides a novel molecular method for the rapid, reliable and cost-effective point-of-care detection of specific microorganisms such as Herpes or Influenza virus. It can be extended for the diagnosis of any other infectious disease. The technology contributes to the improvement of infectious disease control by significantly shortening the diagnostic procedure and expanding the accessibility to high-quality diagnostics.