Startups developing a 3D printed dental aligner, a gamified tech for unhealthy consumption behaviors, next-gen light analysis sensors, a 360-degree visible bike light system, and an app for early skin cancer detection each get CHF 10,000
26.03.2024
Actival, Neuria Digital Therapeutics, SecondWave Photonics, SideLights, and SkinMind were selected at Venture Kick's first financial and entrepreneurial support stage. Their projects develop a patented solution for 3D printing a novel generation of Active dental aligners with integrated microfluidic channels; a patented digital platform designed to revolutionize how we address overconsumption behaviors; a compact, novel sensor that can analyze light with high accuracy at low cost; a 360-degree visible lighting system that makes the bike as visible as a car; and an AI-powered app to facilitate self-check of skin lesions.
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 Actival: Nikola Kalentics
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 Neuria Digital Therapeutics: CSO Prof. Lucas Spierer and CEO M.Sc Frédérik Plourde
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 SecondWave Photonics: CEO Andrea Morandi and CTO Alfonso Nardi
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 SideLights: Founder Arthur Claessens
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 SkinMind: CEO Sepehr Beheshti and CTO Reza Kakooee
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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.
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 Stage 1 funds will be used in software development to personalize their interventions.
SecondWave Photonics: The Next Generation of Light Analysis Sensors
Near-infrared light analysis offers non-invasive insights into health and environments, driving innovations in healthcare and industry. However, the cost and complexity of infrared light detectors have been a limiting factor in the widespread adoption of infrared technologies.
SecondWave Photonics tackles this challenge by offering a compact, novel sensor that can analyze light with high accuracy at low cost. CEO Andrea Morandi and CTO Alfonso Nardi have developed a patented solution based on a nanostructure that upgrades a conventional camera into a visible and infrared sensor. Combining a simple design and the absence of moving parts, the SecondWave sensor is a game-changer for infrared laser sources and detectors, targeting applications ranging from glucose analysis to CO2 monitoring.
The Venture Kick funds will help to conduct customer outreach and purchase prototyping materials to test the product-market fit. In addition, the funds can support the expansion of the company's IP portfolio.
SideLights: Visionary bike light system for cyclists’ safety
Bicycle commuting is increasingly popular. Unfortunately, commuting in the traffic is dangerous. Nearly half of accidents could be avoided with just one extra second of visibility (BFU). Cyclists lack visibility at different angles. By identifying these problems, SideLights was born, developing a 360-degree visible lighting system that makes the bike as visible as a car.
SideLights was founded by Arthur Claessens, a passionate cyclist and high-level BMX racing Athlete. The project is supported by Gebert Rüf Stiftung and is currently incubated in HEIG-VD, Engineering and Management University of Applied Sciences. The team is developing a patent-pending lightning system inserted inside the bicycle’s handlebar, compatible with most bikes. With over a billion cyclists in circulation worldwide, and 60 million bicycle commuters traveling to work daily in Europe, SideLights is entering a growing market.
The Venture Kick funds will contribute to setting up a user test to find the fit with its potential customers. Il will also be used to develop the corporate identity of SideLights.
SkinMind: AI-powered app for easy, reliable, and fast resulting early skin cancer detection
Skin cancer, a potentially curable disease, is commonly detected at an advanced stage, resulting in high mortality, morbidity, and healthcare costs. 2 out of 3 melanomas are detected in late stages resulting in the loss of 1 out of every 2 patients.
Sepehr Beheshti is the founder and CEO, with an MSc in AI from USI. Reza Kakooee is CIO/CTO. He is finishing his PhD in AI at ETH. He has a solid experience in ML/AI research.
The team is developing an AI-powered app to facilitate self-check of skin lesions. Their product, with a fully scalable and Hybrid AI system, can converge to >95% accuracy in diagnosis.
Skin lesion-affected people, 233M in the EU and 700M worldwide can benefit from their product for easy and reliable control of their lesions.
The Venture Kick Stage 1 funds will help accelerate the development of the prototype, by using a more powerful workstation for faster training of the AI-system, performing more market analysis, and expanding the community of dermatologists to other cantons and Italy.
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.
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 Stage 1 funds will be used in software development to personalize their interventions.
SecondWave Photonics: The Next Generation of Light Analysis Sensors
Near-infrared light analysis offers non-invasive insights into health and environments, driving innovations in healthcare and industry. However, the cost and complexity of infrared light detectors have been a limiting factor in the widespread adoption of infrared technologies.
SecondWave Photonics tackles this challenge by offering a compact, novel sensor that can analyze light with high accuracy at low cost. CEO Andrea Morandi and CTO Alfonso Nardi have developed a patented solution based on a nanostructure that upgrades a conventional camera into a visible and infrared sensor. Combining a simple design and the absence of moving parts, the SecondWave sensor is a game-changer for infrared laser sources and detectors, targeting applications ranging from glucose analysis to CO2 monitoring.
The Venture Kick funds will help to conduct customer outreach and purchase prototyping materials to test the product-market fit. In addition, the funds can support the expansion of the company's IP portfolio.
SideLights: Visionary bike light system for cyclists’ safety
Bicycle commuting is increasingly popular. Unfortunately, commuting in the traffic is dangerous. Nearly half of accidents could be avoided with just one extra second of visibility (BFU). Cyclists lack visibility at different angles. By identifying these problems, SideLights was born, developing a 360-degree visible lighting system that makes the bike as visible as a car.
SideLights was founded by Arthur Claessens, a passionate cyclist and high-level BMX racing Athlete. The project is supported by Gebert Rüf Stiftung and is currently incubated in HEIG-VD, Engineering and Management University of Applied Sciences. The team is developing a patent-pending lightning system inserted inside the bicycle’s handlebar, compatible with most bikes. With over a billion cyclists in circulation worldwide, and 60 million bicycle commuters traveling to work daily in Europe, SideLights is entering a growing market.
The Venture Kick funds will contribute to setting up a user test to find the fit with its potential customers. Il will also be used to develop the corporate identity of SideLights.
SkinMind: AI-powered app for easy, reliable, and fast resulting early skin cancer detection
Skin cancer, a potentially curable disease, is commonly detected at an advanced stage, resulting in high mortality, morbidity, and healthcare costs. 2 out of 3 melanomas are detected in late stages resulting in the loss of 1 out of every 2 patients.
Sepehr Beheshti is the founder and CEO, with an MSc in AI from USI. Reza Kakooee is CIO/CTO. He is finishing his PhD in AI at ETH. He has a solid experience in ML/AI research.
The team is developing an AI-powered app to facilitate self-check of skin lesions. Their product, with a fully scalable and Hybrid AI system, can converge to >95% accuracy in diagnosis.
Skin lesion-affected people, 233M in the EU and 700M worldwide can benefit from their product for easy and reliable control of their lesions.
The Venture Kick Stage 1 funds will help accelerate the development of the prototype, by using a more powerful workstation for faster training of the AI-system, performing more market analysis, and expanding the community of dermatologists to other cantons and Italy.