Three Geneva-based startups receive funding from the FONGIT Innovation Fund (FIF)

Three life sciences projects from Geneva have been awarded funding through the FONGIT Innovation Fund (FIF), underscoring the canton’s strong commitment to driving innovation and advancing sustainable solutions.

CHF 100,000 FIF Seed Loan awarded to BrainScape Medical: Creating Solutions for Optimised Brain Health Management

BrainScape Medical, a Geneva-based life sciences startup supported by the Wyss Center and led by CEO & co-founder Laura Johnson, PhD, has been granted a FIF Seed Loan of CHF 100,000. The company is developing an end-to-end solution to solve the many problems of current brain disorder management and care. Their technology focuses on providing brain monitoring options designed for easy, patient-friendly, and long-term use outside the clinic. This funding will support the further development and clinical validation of their innovative solutions.

CHF 50,000 FIF Grant awarded to AnimalCare Engineering: Revolutionizing Pet Health Monitoring

AnimalCare Engineering has received a FIF Grant of CHF 50,000 to advance its mission of enhancing pet health through innovative monitoring technologies. This life sciences project, supported by CERN Venture Connect and led by co-founders Anna Kolano, PhD and Katarzyna Stachyra, MEng, is developing cutting-edge devices that provide real-time health insights for pets, empowering veterinarians and pet owners to ensure optimal care. This grant will facilitate the refinement and testing of their health monitoring systems, notably for diabetes diagnosis in pets.

CHF 400,000 FIF Growth Loan awarded to EarlySight: Advancing Retinal Disease Diagnostics

EarlySight, an EPFL spin-off based in Geneva led by CEO Timothé Laforest, has been granted a FIF Growth Loan of CHF 400,000 after having previously been awarded a CHF 100,000 FIF Seed Loan in 2023. This life sciences startup is pioneering a novel imaging technology that enables single-cell level visualization of the retina, facilitating early detection and monitoring of retinal diseases such as age-related macular degeneration and glaucoma. This funding will support the scaling of their technology and expansion into new markets.

About the FONGIT Innovation Fund (FIF)

The FIF supports innovative startups and scale-ups in the Canton of Geneva that are actively working towards the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Entrepreneurs can apply for three types of financing: the FIF Grant (up to CHF 50,000), the FIF Seed Loan (up to CHF 100,000), and the FIF Growth Loan (up to CHF 400,000).

The next FIF application deadline is 21 May. Learn more and apply at.

Source: press release
📸:EarlySight: Mathieu Kunzi, CTO & Co-founder, and Timothé Laforest, CEO & Co-founder