Startups developing membrane-protecting therapies for degenerative diseases, a 3D-designed custom-made bra, energy storage solutions, and a novel molecular diagnostic assay each win CHF 10,000
26.10.2023
Amporin Pharmaceuticals, BRAva, BTRY, and Check Biosciences win Venture Kick's first stage of financial and entrepreneurial support. Their projects develop a breakthrough new class of small molecule drugs; eliminate the “bad feeling” or “body-shaming” when trying on a bra; produce a solid-state battery that can be recharged within one minute, is non-flammable, and works even in extreme temperatures; and fight drug-resistant infections with point-of-care tests.
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 Amporin Pharmaceuticals: CEO Dr. Kelvin Stott and Research Director Dr. Jinghui Luo
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 BRAva: CEO Kathrin Grossenbacher and COO Isabella Stoklossa
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 BTRY CTO Abdessalem Aribia and CEO Moritz Futscher
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 CheckBiosciences: CEO Carolina Paganini and CTO Jacob Lesinski
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Amporin Pharmaceuticals: Membrane-protecting therapies for degenerative diseases
Over 50 deadly degenerative diseases, including Alzheimer’s, diabetes, Parkinson’s, and many rare diseases, are now associated with protein aggregation. In each case, a specific protein or peptide aggregates to form toxic oligomers and pores which puncture holes in cell membranes, causing loss of homeostasis, oxidative stress, and progressive cell death in a particular part of the brain or body. Together, these diseases affect over half a billion people and cost the global economy around USD 3 trillion each year, yet there are still no effective treatments that can stop or reverse the underlying process of degeneration.
Amporin Pharmaceuticals is being formed in Basel to develop a breakthrough new class of small molecule drugs that can specifically block and eliminate these toxic oligomers and pores from within cell membranes, thus protecting our cells from their deadly effects. Founders include CEO Dr. Kelvin Stott, with over 20 years of R&D leadership experience in Big Pharma, biotech, business consulting, and venture capital, and Research Director Dr. Jinghui Luo, who published the first-ever molecular structure of an amyloid pore in his labs at the Paul Scherrer Institute.
The Venture Kick funds will contribute to validating the company’s technology and selecting a lead candidate that can progress toward human clinical trials. amporin.com
BRAva: custom-made bra created by 3D technology
Eight out of ten women wear the wrong bra size. Thanks to 3D technologies we provide comfortable, fitting bras with the highest wearing comfort. The customer scans him/herself, a pattern based on body measurements will be generated and a bra will be visualized. The ordered product is knitted with a circular yarn and will be delivered at home.
BRAva was founded in 2022 by Kathrin Grossenbacher and Isabella Stoklossa. The vision of BRAva is that in 10 years, no one will be talking about cup sizes anymore. Their technology totally eliminates the “bad feeling” or “body-shaming” as there is no frame their customers have to “fit in”. Fashion is the largest global B2C e-commerce market segment, totaling USD 528 billion in 2019. However, fashion buyers return more than 30% of online purchases due to misfits and items not fulfilling expectations. Most of the returned products end up in the trash.
The Venture Kick funds will contribute to manufacturing an improved prototype and will cover the cost for the first pop-up which is planned for the end of March 2024. BRAva will use the first stage as a big opportunity to gain a lot of improvements during the Kickers Camp for the second step. bravathebra.com
BTRY: Redefining energy storage solutions
Lithium-ion batteries are everywhere, but they have their limitations: They charge relatively slowly and are temperature-sensitive. BTRY has developed a solid-state battery that solves these problems: It can be recharged within one minute, is non-flammable, and works even in extreme temperatures.
CEO Dr. Moritz Futscher and CTO Dr. Abdessalem Aribia founded the company together with Dr. Yaroslav Romanyuk as a scientific advisor in 2023 as a spin-off of EMPA and ETH Zurich. Their thin-film solid-state battery is made of thin-film cells that are stacked on top of each other to increase their capacity. This distinctive high-precision semiconductor manufacturing method enhances the battery’s promise for commercial applications and is also entirely solvent-free, making it a more environmentally friendly choice. The company initially focuses on aerospace applications, with potential expansions into consumer electronics and robotics. These areas represent a battery market size in the billions of USD.
The team plans to use the VentureKick funds to kick-start their transition from a spin-off in a research environment to a VC-funded company.
Check Biosciences: Fighting drug-resistant infections with point-of-care tests
Antimicrobial resistance (AMR), fed by the overprescription of antibiotics, is fast becoming a global emergency. Key to limiting the formation and spread of resistant bacteria and the misuse of antibiotics is the development of reliable, effective, rapid, and accessible diagnostic technologies.
The case of gonorrhea is particularly dire, only a single drug remains broadly effective against the disease. At Check Biosciences we are using our novel molecular diagnostic assay to create an accessible diagnostic test that can detect multiple strains of gonorrhea, and associated antimicrobial resistances, within 15 minutes. We are a team of scientists and engineers with startup experience collaborating with partners worldwide and aiming to enter a rapidly growing market worth over $7 billion. Founders include Carolina Paganini and Jake Lesinski.
The Venture Kick funds will contribute to strengthening our company image, network, and business case.
Over 50 deadly degenerative diseases, including Alzheimer’s, diabetes, Parkinson’s, and many rare diseases, are now associated with protein aggregation. In each case, a specific protein or peptide aggregates to form toxic oligomers and pores which puncture holes in cell membranes, causing loss of homeostasis, oxidative stress, and progressive cell death in a particular part of the brain or body. Together, these diseases affect over half a billion people and cost the global economy around USD 3 trillion each year, yet there are still no effective treatments that can stop or reverse the underlying process of degeneration.
Amporin Pharmaceuticals is being formed in Basel to develop a breakthrough new class of small molecule drugs that can specifically block and eliminate these toxic oligomers and pores from within cell membranes, thus protecting our cells from their deadly effects. Founders include CEO Dr. Kelvin Stott, with over 20 years of R&D leadership experience in Big Pharma, biotech, business consulting, and venture capital, and Research Director Dr. Jinghui Luo, who published the first-ever molecular structure of an amyloid pore in his labs at the Paul Scherrer Institute.
The Venture Kick funds will contribute to validating the company’s technology and selecting a lead candidate that can progress toward human clinical trials. amporin.com
BRAva: custom-made bra created by 3D technology
Eight out of ten women wear the wrong bra size. Thanks to 3D technologies we provide comfortable, fitting bras with the highest wearing comfort. The customer scans him/herself, a pattern based on body measurements will be generated and a bra will be visualized. The ordered product is knitted with a circular yarn and will be delivered at home.
BRAva was founded in 2022 by Kathrin Grossenbacher and Isabella Stoklossa. The vision of BRAva is that in 10 years, no one will be talking about cup sizes anymore. Their technology totally eliminates the “bad feeling” or “body-shaming” as there is no frame their customers have to “fit in”. Fashion is the largest global B2C e-commerce market segment, totaling USD 528 billion in 2019. However, fashion buyers return more than 30% of online purchases due to misfits and items not fulfilling expectations. Most of the returned products end up in the trash.
The Venture Kick funds will contribute to manufacturing an improved prototype and will cover the cost for the first pop-up which is planned for the end of March 2024. BRAva will use the first stage as a big opportunity to gain a lot of improvements during the Kickers Camp for the second step. bravathebra.com
BTRY: Redefining energy storage solutions
Lithium-ion batteries are everywhere, but they have their limitations: They charge relatively slowly and are temperature-sensitive. BTRY has developed a solid-state battery that solves these problems: It can be recharged within one minute, is non-flammable, and works even in extreme temperatures.
CEO Dr. Moritz Futscher and CTO Dr. Abdessalem Aribia founded the company together with Dr. Yaroslav Romanyuk as a scientific advisor in 2023 as a spin-off of EMPA and ETH Zurich. Their thin-film solid-state battery is made of thin-film cells that are stacked on top of each other to increase their capacity. This distinctive high-precision semiconductor manufacturing method enhances the battery’s promise for commercial applications and is also entirely solvent-free, making it a more environmentally friendly choice. The company initially focuses on aerospace applications, with potential expansions into consumer electronics and robotics. These areas represent a battery market size in the billions of USD.
The team plans to use the VentureKick funds to kick-start their transition from a spin-off in a research environment to a VC-funded company.
Check Biosciences: Fighting drug-resistant infections with point-of-care tests
Antimicrobial resistance (AMR), fed by the overprescription of antibiotics, is fast becoming a global emergency. Key to limiting the formation and spread of resistant bacteria and the misuse of antibiotics is the development of reliable, effective, rapid, and accessible diagnostic technologies.
The case of gonorrhea is particularly dire, only a single drug remains broadly effective against the disease. At Check Biosciences we are using our novel molecular diagnostic assay to create an accessible diagnostic test that can detect multiple strains of gonorrhea, and associated antimicrobial resistances, within 15 minutes. We are a team of scientists and engineers with startup experience collaborating with partners worldwide and aiming to enter a rapidly growing market worth over $7 billion. Founders include Carolina Paganini and Jake Lesinski.
The Venture Kick funds will contribute to strengthening our company image, network, and business case.