A standout highlight was the Collective Gathering, an annual event uniting startups, industry leaders, and political figures to spotlight innovation in female entrepreneurship and femtech. This year's edition drew around 100 women and featured an impressive lineup of speakers, including Federal Councilor Guy Parmelin, who emphasized the importance of platforms like the Gathering in driving change. He reiterated government initiatives supporting women in business, underscoring a growing commitment to close gender gaps in this dynamic and often underfunded segment of the innovation ecosystem.
These conversations are gaining momentum at the same time as female founders are making tangible strides in biotech, femtech, and sustainability. ReproNovo, founded by Jean Marie Duvall, Joan-Carles Arce, and BingMei Hao, is rapidly advancing reproductive health with two Phase 2 clinical-stage assets. Backed by a $65 million Series A round, the startup is addressing fertility and adenomyosis with fresh urgency.
Also pushing the boundaries of medical science is MetaLead, founded by Michal Shoshan, which recently secured CHF 1 million from the UZH Life Sciences Fund to develop metal-binding therapies for treating toxic metal accumulation in the body. This preclinical leap aims to tackle diseases often overlooked. Across the border, French-Swiss startup Syrhatech, with Sandrine Laugerotte as CFO, raised CHF 4.5 million to boost its injectable hyaluronic-acid-based medical devices. The funds will scale production and grow its Geneva-based team. Meanwhile, Perivision, co-founded by Serife Kucur Ergunay, has become the first startup to use the new “Private+” fundraising format on OOMNIUM, enabling dual-track investment from registered users and the public.
Efforts to make healthcare more equitable are also making headlines. Axmed, a Swiss digital health startup, received a $5 million grant from the Gates Foundation to support government procurement of essential maternal and child health products through its digital marketplace platform. Also in Switzerland support for femtech solutions is growing – four Swiss startups were selected for the fifth edition of the Tech4Eva accelerator program to advance their solutions. Geneva-based spin-off HeroSupport, founded by Giovanna Dipasquale, has teamed up with Swiss Medical Network to bring its 3D-printed medical devices to radiation therapy—an important advancement in precision care.
Clinical progress also continues at Cutiss, a pioneer in personalized skin grafts, is now in Phase 3 trials for its DenovoSkin product to treat severe burns. The company has obtained Swissmedic approval and eight EU trial sites now underway.
New startup launched
Fresh energy is also entering the consumer sector. Camille Zingg and Maresa Tennigkeit, founders of Soully, have turned a master's side project into a startup with their new Matcha Soda, already available across major Swiss cities and with expansion on the horizon.
