FIT grants Tech Seed loans to three innovative Vaud start-ups

The Foundation for Innovation and Technology (FIT) has granted CHF 100,000 Tech Seed loans to three start-ups from the canton of Vaud: Detectra, TUUS Solutions and Anyway Systems.

Detectra, which arose from a research project at the Lausanne University Hospital (CHUV), is developing a platform for the remote monitoring of joint inflammation in patients with inflammatory arthritis. Using smartphone photos of the hands, an AI algorithm calculates a Finger Fold Index that reflects the degree of swelling, allowing rheumatologists to detect flare-ups earlier between appointments. The technology is undergoing clinical validation in European trials, and the loan will help prepare its market entry in Switzerland.

TUUS Solutions is developing a food-grade hydrogel that delivers a constant, “zero-order” gastric release to improve nutrient absorption. Composed of natural and inexpensive ingredients, it offers an accessible alternative to existing controlled-release technologies, which are often costly and difficult to formulate with food ingredients. The loan will finance pilot production of its gel and further validation with industrial partners.

Anyway Systems, born at EPFL’s Distributed Computing Laboratory, offers a platform that allows organizations to deploy AI directly within their own infrastructure. The software combines new and legacy GPU machines into an optimized in-house cluster, extending hardware lifecycles while offering an alternative to cloud solutions that expose data. The loan will help the company deploy its solution with its first clients.