Triple Startup Winners: 4i Labs, ELDICO Scientific, and Sympheny each win CHF 40,000
17.12.2019
The startup projects helping oncologists see the molecular structure of tumors, allowing researchers to understand substances on the nano-scale, and aiding local planners select the best energy sources each win 40,000 francs and the next level of entrepreneurial training from Venture Kick.
 4i Labs, Eldico Scientific, and Sympheny
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 4i Labs' co-founder Gabriele Gut
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 Eldico Scientific co-founders Nils Gebhardt, Gustavo Santiso-Quinones, and Eric-Hovestreydt
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 Sympheny co-founder Andrew Bollinger
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4i Labs: multiplex imaging for tumor boards
Co-founder Gabriele Gut's innovations help tumor boards' clinical decision-making. Together with Lucas Pelkmans, the BioEntrepreneur Fellow from the University of Zurich has invented 4i, to generate highly multiplexed images of biological samples that allow a deeper, more efficient molecular view of tumors than the current state-of-the-art. The patented iterative indirect immunofluorescence imaging technology promises to help scientists studying cellular processes for drug discovery, pathologists assessing cancers, and medtech companies implementing personalized treatment. Connections made pitching to a Venture Kick jury in August generated leads to Swiss angel investors and VCs, Gut said. The co-founders are currently seeking a commercially-savvy partner to join the team, as they prepare clinical trials and plan fundraising.
venturekick.ch/4i
venturekick.ch/eldico
ELDICO Scientific AG: electron diffractometer to explore nano-crystalline substances
Today's scientific methods can only measure crystalline substances to the micro-meter scale, meaning humankind only understands the full molecular structure of 10 percent of all substances. This limits our ability to discover new drugs. ELDICO Scientific has developed an electron diffractometer that can investigate such compounds to a scale a million times smaller in volume. Co-founders Gustavo Santiso-Quinones, Gunther Steinfeld, Eric Hovestreydt and Nils Gebhardt are confident their innovation will lead to new products in the pharmaceutical, chemical, agricultural and material science-industries. CFO Gebhardt sees a $10 billion market for ELDICO's patented machines that produce data in hours -- compared to the weeks need by modified electron microscopes -- and examine samples that would be otherwise be unmeasurable using existing x-ray diffraction techniques. The team has evaluated potential technology and manufacturing partners in Europe, in preparation to build their pilot machine for customer demonstrations and tests. ELDICO has opened a data room for business angels investors, as it looks to raise up to 1 million francs by the first-quarter of 2020.
Sympheny: Planning sustainable and resilient local energy systems
Power provision has become increasingly data-intensive and complex. Empa spin-off Sympheny co-founders Andrew Bollinger, Julien Marquant, Boran Morvaj and Matthias Sulzer aim to make it easier for local energy system planners -- engineering firms and local utilities -- to navigate all their options faster and more comprehensively, and to identify the cheapest and most-sustainable power supplies. The SaaS startup has validated its unique synthesis of intelligent analytics, intuitive interfaces and diverse data streams in eight planning projects, and secured four pilot customers. Venture Kick's support was used for recruitment, communication, and to accelerate the integration of customer requirements, Bollinger said. Sympheny plans to incorporate, expand its team, start international projects, and fundraise in the first-half of 2020.
Power provision has become increasingly data-intensive and complex. Empa spin-off Sympheny co-founders Andrew Bollinger, Julien Marquant, Boran Morvaj and Matthias Sulzer aim to make it easier for local energy system planners -- engineering firms and local utilities -- to navigate all their options faster and more comprehensively, and to identify the cheapest and most-sustainable power supplies. The SaaS startup has validated its unique synthesis of intelligent analytics, intuitive interfaces and diverse data streams in eight planning projects, and secured four pilot customers. Venture Kick's support was used for recruitment, communication, and to accelerate the integration of customer requirements, Bollinger said. Sympheny plans to incorporate, expand its team, start international projects, and fundraise in the first-half of 2020.
Additional Links
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