Every year, millions of people risk losing their eyesight due to glaucoma and other diseases that often go undetected for too long. Globally, vision loss is estimated to cost the economy more than USD 400B annually, a burden expected to rise sharply as populations age. Today’s standard eye testing methods are resource-intense, time-consuming, and inaccessible to many patients. Addressing this urgent challenge, PeriVision SA, a Swiss medtech and AI spin-off from the University of Bern, is re-imagining eye testing. Its eye testing platform, VisionOne combines commercial VR headsets with advanced AI algorithms to deliver faster, more reliable and patient-friendly visual field testing for 100 million glaucoma patients globally.
The company announced a CHF 2.4 million (USD 3 million) seed funding round to expand its platform with additional VR eye tests, including new tests for retina diseases, as well as advanced AI insights tools and systems integrations to provide a holistic solution for eye clinics, optometry practices and biopharma customers.
The funding round was led by ARYA VC with participation from a diverse group of new and existing investors, including DART Ventures, Zühlke Ventures, MEDKAP, SICTIC, Is Bank’s AI Factory, Venturekick, InaTec, Juchum Foundation, CADFEM and OOMNIUM. This strategic mix of investors, ranging from venture capital funds to family offices and business angel clubs, brings extensive expertise in technology, healthcare, and scaling startups.
Apart from this recent funding round, PeriVision has been recognized for its innovation and potential with numerous grants and prizes over the past three years. The company won the EIT Health Wild Card, received two Innosuisse project grants to develop its innovative technology, was recognized in the Switzerland TOP100 Startups, formed part of the Venture Leaders Medtech 2023 cohort and was accepted into the Innosuisse Scale-up Coaching and Biopôle Vanguard Accelerator programs. These grants and awards underscore the significant validation the company has received from industry and government bodies.
