Biopôle SA is pleased to announce that biped.ai is the latest beneficiary of the Biopôle Start-up Fund. A member of Biopôle’s vibrant life sciences community, the team will receive up to CHF 40,000 to help launch their innovative device.

After applying in March 2022, biped.ai will be the seventh promising start-up to receive support from the Biopôle Start-up Fund. Their device is an AI-powered harness for blind and severely visually impaired people that captures information about the surrounding environment and guides the wearer using sound. biped helps users to avoid obstacles and therefore reduces the number of stressful situations they encounter, allowing them to increase their confidence and independence. The start-up was previously selected for the Vanguard Accelerator in 2021.

Maël Fabien, CEO of biped.ai, commented: ‘This financial boost will really help with the next steps of our roadmap, specifically to support the set-up of our brand-new office. I would like to thank Biopôle, its Scientific Advisory Board and its Board of Directors for selecting us and supporting our mission.’

In addition, Genknowme will receive a second year of support from the fund, having already been selected in September 2021. They have developed a test (patent pending) that identifies key epigenetic markers to help adults track, maintain and improve their well-being and potential longevity. Another year of funding will enable them to pursue their goal of transforming cutting-edge research into epigenetic signatures to support healthcare professionals. Once chosen, all companies benefiting from the Star-up Fund have the opportunity to reapply for the funding for two more consecutive years.

Biopôle’s CEO, Nasri Nahas, says: ‘We are delighted that the Biopôle Start-up Fund initiative is able to support innovative organisations such as biped.ai and Genknowme. We look forward to observing their progress over the next 12 months.’

Biopôle SA has an annual budget of approximately CHF 500,000 dedicated to helping accelerate the innovation of start-ups established at Biopôle; they can be active in any area of the life sciences, be it biotech, medtech, pharma, digital health, nutrition — or any other related field. In addition, Biopôle SA supports the growth of companies located on site through various programmes, such as the Vanguard Accelerator, the fully equipped StartLab facilities and the Digital Health Hub.

Companies interested in applying for the Biopôle Start-up Fund can find all the information they need by clicking on the info box on the right.

The next application deadline is 13th September, 2022.