IMD Startup Competition

WattAnyWhere has secured a new €400,000 loan from Banque Publique d’Investissement (BPI) under the Prêt Innovation R&D (PIRD) program. Earlier in July, the startup annouced a partnership with E.Leclerc Valdahon, a franchise of the renowned french retail chain.

Aspivix has just added Tia, the US network of women’s health clinics that is revolutionizing care through a more empathetic approach, to its ambassador program. With 26 centers of excellence around the world, once each site has been trained by the end of the week, the program is bringing together experts ranging from private gynecological practices to major teaching hospitals such as the HUG in Switzerland.

Menhir Photonics, a Swiss-based ultrafast laser solutions provider, has secured a seven-figure growth loan to fuel its ambitious expansion plans, including the construction of its new production facility in Dübendorf. The bootstrapped deep tech company has been generating revenue since its creation and has now reached a pivotal moment in its growth trajectory.

Summa Equity, a Stockholm-based private equity firm has acquired NetGuardians, a Swiss-based pioneer in AI-driven fraud prevention and anti-money laundering solutions. This opens an opportunity for a collaboration between NetGuardians and Intix, another Summa portfolio company specializing in Know Your Transaction data management.

Felix Porsche, a notable figure in the automotive and railway sectors, and member of the Porsche family automobile company, has joined Swisspod’s Board of Directors, bringing deep expertise in mobility innovation to help Swisspod launch the hyperloop and turbocharge its growth trajectory. His support comes with a strategic investment, contributing to the startups fundraising efforts.

MIT Technology Review selected Apheros’ co-founder and CEO Julia Carpenter for their “35 innovators under 35” list, while Jaipur Robotics joins Techstars Berlin, securing a USD120k investment, coaching and more. Winning spots in other programs, Niatsu and Rhovica will, too, get access to expert and financial support to accelerate their development.

Perovskia Solar AG, a spin-off from the Swiss Federal Laboratories for Materials Science and Technology (Empa), has secured 10+ Internet-of-Things (IoT) industry leaders as clients and $2.4M in funding from a global coalition of angels and early-stage funds. The award-winning startup has launched the first ready-to-adopt perovskite solar cells on the market for edge devices, scaling up its Swiss manufacturing capacity.

Zurich-based startup Apheros is developing cooling solutions for data centers and the high-power computing industry. Its high-performance metal foams maximize heat dissipation, optimize fluid flow, and reduce energy consumption. The company has raised $1.85m in its pre-seed funding round to accelerate the development and deployment of its solution.

Founded in 2021, Bottneuro is developing a non-invasive neuromodulation therapy that utilizes patient-specific MRI data to deliver precise electrical stimulation to affected brain regions. Following the successful closing of its first clinical study, the startup has launched a Priority Access Program and started treating patients with Alzheimer’s Disease in Switzerland.

Calingo Insurance, a Zurich-based pet insurance provider has closed its Pre-Series A funding round, securing CHF 3.2 M. With emma Ventures as the lead investor, the startup is now set to strengthen its market position and spread its footprint across Switzerland.

Following the successful start in Switzerland, Irmos Technologies, a solution provider for maintenance decision intelligence of buildings and bridges, has signed its first customer deal in Greece and started a large-scale pilot in New York.

Scientific Visual, a Swiss provider of solutions for the quality control of industrial crystals, has entered a strategic partnership with PVA TePla. Besides the acquisition of a 25 percent equity stake, this partnership allows the latter to expand its existing expertise in metrology and bulk material characterization. The first results of the pilot project are expected in 2025.