MoleSens Wins The EPFL Startup Champion Seed Night
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On April 10th, 2025, the Startup Champions Seed Night once again confirmed its place as a cornerstone event in Western Switzerland’s innovation landscape. Co-organized by EPFL Alumni, the EPFL Vice Presidency for Innovation, and Venturelab, the 14th edition brought together nearly 500 attendees—both in person at the Rolex Forum and online—to celebrate the next generation of entrepreneurial talent.
A total of 20 early-stage startups pitched their groundbreaking ideas across fields including cleantech, medtech, ICT, and even space technology. The evening’s energy peaked as four standout startups advanced to the grand finale:
- SaisiR, offering AI-powered, non-invasive stroke rehabilitation.
- Roofscapes, transforming urban rooftops into green, climate-resilient spaces.
- PAVE Space, aiming to revolutionize orbital logistics with autonomous spacecrafts.
- MoleSense, developing the first molecular maternity management wearable.
After a dynamic round of final pitches, the jury crowned MoleSense as the 2025 winner. Led by EPFL PhD graduate Gian Luca Barbruni, MoleSense addresses the $45B maternal care market with a platform designed to improve outcomes in high-risk pregnancies through real-time molecular insights. A true game-changer in femtech and maternal health.
Celebrating Women in Tech: The Isabelle Musy Award
This year’s event also shone a spotlight on female innovation leaders. The Isabelle Musy Award, created to support women entrepreneurs in the Swiss Romande and Italian regions, was awarded to Manon Rolland and Claire Bourmaud, co-founders of Koatin’G. Their sustainability-focused technology replaces toxic petroleum-based substances in receipt paper with safer, bio-based alternatives—offering a healthier and eco-friendly option for daily consumer interactions.
Keynote Inspiration: ONWARD Medical’s Journey
The evening featured an inspiring keynote from Vincent Delattre, co-founder of ONWARD Medical and EPFL alum. Since its founding in 2014, ONWARD has become a global leader in neurotechnology, developing therapies to restore movement and independence in people with spinal cord injuries. Now listed on Euronext Amsterdam, the company stands as a testament to EPFL’s global innovation impact.
➡️ Source text and photo: EPFL Alumni