Startups Glycemicon and Koring receive 130‘000 Swiss Francs
29.01.2013
Saint Gallen/Zurich/Lausanne, January 28, 2013. – Two innovative pharmaceutical startups have won 130’000 CHF each in Start capital. Glycemicon, from the Zurich canton, has developed a medication for the prevention and treatment of type 2 diabetes. Koring, a company from Basel, created an implant capable of preventing the formation of a Hernia in patients equipped with a stoma (artificial intestinal exit). venture kick, who initiated this enterprise fostering model has already paid out more than 9.6 million CHF to encourage University based Startup projects.
 The Glycemicon Team
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 The Koring Team
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Obesity and subsequent diabetes are becoming increasingly prevalent issues. Researchers are even predicting an actual diabetes epidemic in the near future. Glycemicon has developed an active substance which could fight the disease in a new way. The Schwerzenbach (Zurich area) based Startup has actually engineered a naturally occurring bilious acid capable of regulating the levels of sugar in the blood.
Bringing an end to type 2 diabetes
Overweight patients with large fat cells have an especially high risk of developing type 2 diabetes. The substance developed by Glycemicon has the potential to convert big fat cells resistant to insulin into small fat cells. However, the product is not meant to be introduced to the market as a new drug but as a dietary supplement. The project which originated at the Zurich Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (ETH) was initiated by Christian Wolfrum, Professor of Translational Nutrition and Erick Carreira, Professor of Organic Chemistry. Business administration for the venture is led by COO, Nadja Mrosek. The company’s upcoming goal is to raise one million in capital. Product launch is planned for 2017.
Innovative implants for Stoma patients
300’000 patients annually require a colostomy. A third of these patients suffer from subsequent expansion of their abdominal wall with a loss of stability and bulging of the abdomen (Hernia). This leads to pain, cosmetic issues and often re-intervention. To prevent such complications, Dr. Philipp Kirchhoff, a surgeon at the University of Basel, has developed a ring implant that prevents Hernias. This ring, called Koring, will be available in all major hospitals throughout Switzerland after the end of the pilot study currently taking place at the Basel University Hospital.
The venture kick experience: A rewarding challenge
“Our experience with Venture Kick was extremely stimulating and challenging. The most important thing this project brought to our company was the feedback and input from experts” says Christian Wolfrum. Philipp Kirchhoff adds: “It’s not only about financial support; it’s also about the sharing of expertise and motivation that occurs during the “kickers camps” after you showcase your project. This allows a sophisticated idea to become a reality.”
More about venture kick
Since the launch of venture kick on September 26, 2007, 255 project teams have benefited from CHF 9.67 million. It contributed to the creation of more than 2000 newly created jobs and a financing volume about CHF 365 million. These results show that this approach offers a great return for the Swiss economy and its enterprises. Thanks to venture kick, start-ups learned how to win customers and convince investors more rapidly. The program is open to all young talents with innovative ideas, which have not yet founded their company and are enrolled or employed at a Swiss University: students, postgraduates, researchers and professors.
The private initiative venture kick is financed by the Gebert Rüf Stiftung, ERNST GÖHNER STIFTUNG, OPO-Stiftung, AVINA STIFTUNG, Fondation Lombard Odier und DEBIOPHARM GROUP. The project is managed by the IFJ Institut für Jungunternehmen in St. Gall. The objective of the initiative is to double the amount of startups originating from Swiss universities and technical colleges. Each month, eight projects get the chance to present themselves to a jury. The four most promising receive CHF 10'000 and automatically qualify for the second round held three months later, where the two best teams receive another CHF 20'000. In the third and final round, taking place six months later, the winner is granted CHF 100'000.
www.venturekick.ch
Bringing an end to type 2 diabetes
Overweight patients with large fat cells have an especially high risk of developing type 2 diabetes. The substance developed by Glycemicon has the potential to convert big fat cells resistant to insulin into small fat cells. However, the product is not meant to be introduced to the market as a new drug but as a dietary supplement. The project which originated at the Zurich Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (ETH) was initiated by Christian Wolfrum, Professor of Translational Nutrition and Erick Carreira, Professor of Organic Chemistry. Business administration for the venture is led by COO, Nadja Mrosek. The company’s upcoming goal is to raise one million in capital. Product launch is planned for 2017.
Innovative implants for Stoma patients
300’000 patients annually require a colostomy. A third of these patients suffer from subsequent expansion of their abdominal wall with a loss of stability and bulging of the abdomen (Hernia). This leads to pain, cosmetic issues and often re-intervention. To prevent such complications, Dr. Philipp Kirchhoff, a surgeon at the University of Basel, has developed a ring implant that prevents Hernias. This ring, called Koring, will be available in all major hospitals throughout Switzerland after the end of the pilot study currently taking place at the Basel University Hospital.
The venture kick experience: A rewarding challenge
“Our experience with Venture Kick was extremely stimulating and challenging. The most important thing this project brought to our company was the feedback and input from experts” says Christian Wolfrum. Philipp Kirchhoff adds: “It’s not only about financial support; it’s also about the sharing of expertise and motivation that occurs during the “kickers camps” after you showcase your project. This allows a sophisticated idea to become a reality.”
More about venture kick
Since the launch of venture kick on September 26, 2007, 255 project teams have benefited from CHF 9.67 million. It contributed to the creation of more than 2000 newly created jobs and a financing volume about CHF 365 million. These results show that this approach offers a great return for the Swiss economy and its enterprises. Thanks to venture kick, start-ups learned how to win customers and convince investors more rapidly. The program is open to all young talents with innovative ideas, which have not yet founded their company and are enrolled or employed at a Swiss University: students, postgraduates, researchers and professors.
The private initiative venture kick is financed by the Gebert Rüf Stiftung, ERNST GÖHNER STIFTUNG, OPO-Stiftung, AVINA STIFTUNG, Fondation Lombard Odier und DEBIOPHARM GROUP. The project is managed by the IFJ Institut für Jungunternehmen in St. Gall. The objective of the initiative is to double the amount of startups originating from Swiss universities and technical colleges. Each month, eight projects get the chance to present themselves to a jury. The four most promising receive CHF 10'000 and automatically qualify for the second round held three months later, where the two best teams receive another CHF 20'000. In the third and final round, taking place six months later, the winner is granted CHF 100'000.
www.venturekick.ch