Myriad Optics Raises CHF 150’000 from Venture Kick

The EPFL spin-off develops new and disruptive bacterial contamination detection tools that can revolutionize food testing. Testing delays lasting hours to days cost companies millions and expose consumers to health risks. Myriad Optics’ technology targets faster detection to prevent costly recalls and protect public safety.

In the food, pharma, and medtech sectors, delays in bacterial testing allow contaminated products to reach markets. This results in preventable illness, costly recalls, and wasted inventory. Existing detection methods are slow, often requiring lab culturing and multi-day wait times, leaving producers without quick actionable answers.

Myriad Optics is crafting a portable device that delivers on-site, fully automated bacterial detection in a few hours. Its proprietary solution combines Raman spectroscopy—a technique that uses laser light to detect the unique molecular composition of a substance—microfluidics, and machine learning in a compact unit, replacing slow lab-based methods with rapid analysis. The integration of these three technologies sets the company apart, offering a scalable solution for a testing market worth over USD 10 billion. The system’s speed and portability open the door to same-day, on-site monitoring, minimizing  the risk of contaminated products reaching clients and reducing operational losses for the manufacturers.

Founded by EPFL graduates Marwan El Chazli and Fahradin Mujovi, the startup brings together expertise in biomedical technology and microengineering. The CHF150’000 funding from VentureKick will contribute to pushing forward the technology and product development.

“Venture Kick challenged us to go the extra mile on our product-market-fit and confirm solid customer interest,” highlighted Marwan El Chazli, Co-Founder and CEO of Myriad Optics. “Through cooperation with Venture Kick we have reached key milestones and formed partnerships that will shape the company’s future.”

➡️ Source: Venture Kick