Based at Technopark Winterthur, Aseptuva is a Medtech startup aiming to combat Hospital Acquired Infections (HAI). The startup has raised CHF 500’000 in a pre-seed round to support its research and development activities. Valuemaker AG and Fortyone AG participated in the round.
Hospital Acquired Infections (HAI) are a burden to patients, to the hospital and to the medical staff. Aseptuva targets first to prevent infections associated with the use of central venous catheters, which are inserted into the body to facilitate transfusions. Every year, more than 350’000 of such infections are diagnosed in the combined markets of the US and Europe, leading to more than 40’000 annual casualties and CHF 9 billion healthcare costs.
Aseptuva’s goal is to circumvent this situation with a novel disinfection technology based on a non-harmful UVC illumination on skin. This way, the startup also brings a new line of defence against the proliferation of antimicrobial resistance (AMR), which is projected by the World Health Organisation (WHO) to be the leading cause of annual mortality (>10 million) worldwide by 2050.
The investors of the pre-seed round consist of Valuemaker AG from Biel/Bern and Fortyone AG from St.Gallen, both structured as a consortium of innovative-driven entrepreneurs. Ernst Thomke, Board member of Valuemaker and renowned Medtech expert supports the young entrepreneurs. He says: “Aseptuva’s technology and pragmatism convinced us to join the team on their challenging journey early on. By preventing hospital infections, they share our goal at Valuemaker to improve the healthcare sector with great impact solutions.”
The three co-founders, Henry Twerenbold (CEO), Eashan Saikia (CTO) and R. S. Lima (CSO) met in 2019 at an Innosuisse Startup Campus course. After receiving support from several medical doctors and winning entrepreneurial competitions, they incorporated as GmbH, filed their first patents, conceptualized their product and validated a proof-of-concept of their technology.
The growing evidence of its large potential was the trigger to get external equity and transform the company into an AG. “The moment was ideal for moving a step further and benefiting from our investor’s Medtech expertise, their network and the prospect of potential follow-up investments. They are the right partners to support us in our vision to save thousands of lives and healthcare costs around the world”, says Twerenbold.
The funds will allow the company to accelerate its R&D tasks in prototyping and clinical research, enlarge the team and set up subsidiaries abroad close to their research partners.
