Western Switzerland healthcare start-ups Limula, Actival, and AirCurve secure FIT funding

Limula, Actival, and AirCurve have received funding from the FIT to advance groundbreaking solutions in cell therapy production, dental health, and tracheal intubation. Limula secured a CHF 500,000 Tech Growth loan, while Actival and AirCurve each received CHF 100,000 Tech Seed loans.

The Foundation for Innovation and Technology (FIT) has announced its latest round of funding, supporting three Western Switzerland start-ups that are driving advancements in healthcare and medical technology. These projects address critical challenges in cell therapy manufacturing, dental health, and airway management, further strengthening the region’s position as a hub for innovation.

Limula: making cell therapies more accessible

Limula aims to transform the production of cell and gene therapies, which are key to treating cancers and other incurable diseases. These therapies, made from a patient’s own blood, face challenges due to complex and costly production methods. Limula’s patented technology automates the process within a single machine, reducing manual steps and contamination risks, and enabling decentralized production.

With a CHF 500,000 Tech Growth loan from the FIT, Limula will develop four advanced prototypes for partner testing in 2025 and strengthen its team to support these early adopters. This marks the third FIT-backed milestone for Limula, following previous funding in 2019 and 2022.

Actival: active dental aligners for improved oral health

Actival has developed a new generation of dental aligners designed to combat common issues such as plaque buildup, white spots, and cavities caused by prolonged wear. Featuring patented microchannels, these aligners slowly release antibacterial agents, fluoride, and flavor over ten days, improving dental and gum health.

A CHF 100,000 Tech Seed loan from FIT will allow Actival to optimize its microchannel design and manufacture prototypes, moving closer to market entry.

AirCurve: AI-guided robotic intubation for safer procedures

AirCurve, in collaboration with EPFL and CHUV, is introducing an AI-guided robotic system for tracheal intubation to improve safety and precision in hospitals and emergency departments. With an estimated 15% complication rate in the 100 million intubations performed annually, AirCurve’s technology aims to reduce errors and ensure better outcomes. The CHF 100,000 Tech Seed loan will fund materials to advance the system beyond the prototype stage, incorporating feedback from medical professionals to refine its design.