Venture Kick, a private philanthropic initiative, provides as much 150,000 Swiss francs in pre-seed funding to Swiss startups and offers structured, entrepreneurial training to build robust, winning businesses. Entrepreneurs pitch for finance as many as three times, as they compete for increasing amounts of funding at each stage. Founders gain direct feedback from the expert juries and access to an international network of successful entrepreneurs and investors. Venture Kick has supported 600 Swiss startup projects with 24.9 million francs to date. Supported projects have incorporated as 454 active companies, creating 6,033 jobs, and attracting 2.49 billion francs worth of subsequent investment. Companies founded by Venture Kick alums represented 55 percent of the TOP 100 Swiss Startup Award 2018.  In 2019 Venture Kick will support idea-stage startup projects with 4.35 million francs, to bring Swiss science to global markets.

Venture Kick

ETH Zurich Foundation is an independent, non-​profit-making foundation under private law for the promotion of education and research at ETH Zurich.

ETH Zurich Foundation

SpanSet manufactures and provides height safety, lifting, and load control solutions.

SpanSet

Serpentine Ventures (SERV) is the investment arm of the Swiss startup group. Serpentine refers to the meandering roads found across the Swiss Mountains. Unreachable mountain peaks become accessible by following the serpentine path.

Serpentine Ventures

Auxivo

Auxivo is develop wearable exoskeletons that support and protect workers during physically demanding jobs. Our products reduce the stress and strain workers are experiencing to ensure their wellbeing. This website is currently still under development and will be updated with more information soon. Don't hesitate to contact us if you are interested, or in case you have any questions.

Auxivo AG is a Swiss company specializing in the development and manufacturing of advanced occupational exoskeletons. These exoskeletons are designed to reduce physical workload and the risk of injuries for workers in industries such as logistics, manufacturing, construction, and healthcare. The systems are worn by workers, providing support to reduce strain on the body during tasks like repetitive lifting, forward leaning, and overhead work.

Auxivo Secures New Financing to Drive Exoskeleton Innovation

Auxivo AG Secures New Funding To Promote Exoskeleton Innovations

Exoskeleton

Auxivo Unleashes New Shoulder-Support Exoskeleton to Combat Work Injuries

Auxivo AG Secures New Financing to Drive Exoskeleton Innovation

How Exoskeletons Provide Support

Exoskeleton Auxivo DeltaSuit

From counting steps to saving lives and beyond

Wearable Tech

Auxivo EduExo Pro exoskeleton designed for students

Auxivo AG is a Swiss company specializing in the development and manufacturing of advanced occupational exoskeletons. These exoskeletons are designed to reduce physical workload and the risk of injuries for workers in industries such as logistics, manufacturing, construction, and healthcare. The systems are worn by workers, providing support to reduce strain on the body during tasks like repetitive lifting, forward leaning, and overhead work.
Auxivo's exoskeleton portfolio includes the LiftSuit, a textile back support exoskeleton launched in 2020 and updated in 2022. Weighing less than 1 kg, it offers significant back and hip muscle support during lifting activities and prolonged forward leaning, making it suitable for logistics, construction, agriculture, and healthcare applications. The CarrySuit, introduced in 2021, is designed for ergonomic carrying and handling of heavy loads, reducing strain on the arms, shoulders, and upper body in industries like construction and transportation.
The company's latest innovation, the DeltaSuit shoulder support exoskeleton, was launched in May 2023. It features a hybrid frame with dynamic misalignment compensation, combining a high level of support with maximum freedom of movement. The DeltaSuit is aimed at industries requiring frequent work at or above shoulder level, such as construction, manufacturing, maintenance, and logistics.
Auxivo's mission is to make exoskeletons accessible to everyone by developing user-friendly, high-performance systems at a fair price. The company envisions occupational exoskeletons becoming the new norm for sustainable and healthy physical labor. Auxivo has already launched multiple products used by thousands of customers worldwide as of 2023.

Biostrap is a company that provides scalable and customizable biosensor-based precision health monitoring solutions. Their innovative wearable devices, such as the Biostrap Kairos launched in July 2023, offer advanced autonomic nervous system analysis and quantification of the sympathetic and parasympathetic branches through wrist-worn devices. Kairos utilizes a high-sensitivity CMOS optical sensor to capture raw photoplethysmography (PPG) data, enabling accurate computation of biometrics like heart rate, heart rate variability (HRV), beat-to-beat intervals, respiratory rate, and sleep-related parameters.
Biostrap's key differentiator lies in its commitment to delivering clinically reliable nervous system analysis through detailed and transparent biometric measurements. The Spot Check feature provides real-time visualization of the underlying PPG signal, signal quality, and R-R intervals, granting untethered access to every data point captured. This configurability and data integrity attracted clients like the National Police Wellbeing Service (NPWS) in the UK for their sleep, fatigue, and recovery program.
Kairos underwent extensive testing by HRV experts and achieved impressive accuracy levels, comparable to ECG chest straps. The launch marked Biostrap's pivot from the consumer wearable market to offering configurable hardware and software solutions for enterprise and research purposes.

Biostrap

Caeden is a wearable technology company that develops smart bracelets focused on promoting mindfulness and reducing stress. Their flagship product, the Sona smart bracelet, combines fashion and technology by integrating an advanced heart rate sensor into a genuine leather bracelet design. Launched in May 2016, the Sona retailed for USD 200 and offered a unique "Resonance" program, consisting of various breathing exercises tailored for different moments throughout the user's day.
The Sona aimed to provide a reprieve from the fast-paced city life by enabling users to start their day with a moment of zen, find calm and focus before important meetings, and unwind after workouts through concentrated breathing exercises. Caeden's founders, Nora Levinson and David Watkins, believed that regular use of the Resonance program could help build the user's resistance to stress, addressing a significant health issue faced by many.
Differentiating itself from step-tracking devices like Fitbit and smartwatches acting as smartphone extensions, the Sona positioned itself as a luxury item powered by technology designed to improve the wearer's overall quality of life through mindfulness. With its discreet design concealing the technology, the Sona aimed to offer mindfulness without drawing attention to the wearer's use of a device for that purpose.

Caeden

MyKronoz is a Swiss company that specializes in producing innovative hybrid smartwatches. Their flagship product, the ZeTime, was first launched in 2017 after a successful crowdfunding campaign on Kickstarter. The ZeTime features a unique design that combines traditional mechanical watch hands with a full-color touchscreen display, allowing it to function as both an analog watch and a smartwatch.
The watch offers activity tracking capabilities, including monitoring steps, calories burned, and sleep patterns using built-in sensors such as an accelerometer and optical heart rate monitor. It also provides smartwatch functionalities like displaying notifications, controlling music playback, and viewing incoming calls. The ZeTime's mechanical hands intelligently adjust their position to avoid obstructing the touchscreen display when interacting with the device.
One of the key advantages of the ZeTime is its impressive battery life. In watch mode, the battery can last up to 30 days on a single charge, while the smartwatch mode offers around 3-4 days of usage. The device also allows users to customize watch faces, either by selecting from pre-set options or creating their own designs using templates or personal photos.
The ZeTime received praise for its innovative concept and strong battery life. Some reviews, however, criticized its half-baked operating system, unresponsive touchscreen, and inconsistent activity tracking. Despite these drawbacks, MyKronoz's hybrid smartwatches garnered global recognition for their unique approach to wearable technology.

MyKronoz

Ringly is a company that produces fashionable smart jewelry, primarily rings and bracelets, aimed at the female market. Their devices are designed to discreetly notify wearers of incoming calls, messages, and app notifications through vibrations and LED lights. The rings are made from materials like 14k gold, sterling silver, and semi-precious gemstones like onyx, labradorite, and moonstone.
Ringly's core product is a smart ring that connects to the user's smartphone via Bluetooth. Through the Ringly app, users can customize which notifications trigger the ring's vibrations and colored LED lights. The app supports over 100 apps like calls, texts, emails, calendar alerts, and social media platforms. The rings are water-resistant and have a battery life of 2-3 days.
While technologically simple, Ringly's rings prioritize a fashionable and discreet design over advanced features. The idea is to provide a stylish alternative to smartwatches that seamlessly blends into the user's wardrobe and lifestyle without being obtrusive. Ringly has focused on creating fashionable jewelry pieces that also offer practical notification capabilities.

Ringly

Healbe Corporation is a technology company that develops wearable devices and associated software for health and wellness monitoring. The company's flagship product is the Healbe GoBe, a smart band that utilizes proprietary FLOW Technology to automatically track various body parameters. The GoBe device employs a combination of sensors, including an accelerometer, piezo pressure sensor, and impedance sensor, along with advanced algorithms to provide insights into users' overall health.
The GoBe smart band is designed to automatically measure calorie intake through the skin, eliminating the need for manual food logging. It also tracks calories burned, hydration levels, stress levels, sleep quality, heart rate, blood pressure, and physical activity. In November 2015, Healbe introduced automatic hydration level monitoring to the GoBe device, making it the first wearable to offer this feature without requiring manual input of fluid consumption.
Healbe's technology adapts to individual body characteristics, providing personalized insights and recommendations. The device monitors hydration levels continuously and alerts users when they need to drink more water. It also tracks emotional stress and helps users correlate it with their body's physical responses. The GoBe smart band measures energy expenditure throughout the day, including basal metabolism, regardless of physical activity levels.
The company's latest model, the GoBe3, incorporates additional features such as EDA-based Neuroactivity tracking and physiological stress estimation. It also offers improved sleep tracking capabilities, including detailed analysis of sleep phases and smart alarm functions designed to wake users during optimal sleep stages.
Healbe has developed a companion mobile application that synchronizes with the GoBe device in real-time, allowing users to view and analyze their data. The app provides detailed information on various health parameters and offers integration with Google Fit for a more comprehensive health data ecosystem.

Healbe

Wearable devices in form factors, such as wristwear and rings, designed to monitor and track various aspects of a person's physical activity, health, and wellness

Wearable entertainment devices designed primarily for entertainment and leisure purposes. These come in the form of hearables, wearable cameras, personalized smart devices, etc.

Apparel that incorporate electronic components, sensors, and connectivity features to provide functionalities beyond traditional clothing and accessories

Specialized wearable devices designed for use in industrial and work settings. These include safety wearables that come in the form of head-mounted devices, smart gloves, exoskeletons, etc.

Wearable devices, which are designed to monitor, collect, and transmit various health-related data, and wearable assistive devices. These come in the form of cardiac monitoring devices, glucose monitors, wearable pulse oximeters, hearing impairment aids, visual aids, etc.

Enhances the user experience by enabling language translation, contextual awareness, and personalized recommendations, making wearables more versatile and user-centric

Leveraging technology to collect data about the user's activities, preferences, and health metrics before using this information to provide personalized experiences

Industrial wearables contribute to increased efficiency, safety, and productivity in industrial settings by providing real-time data and connectivity solutions for workers and equipment

Empowers wearable devices to continuously improve and adapt to user preferences, offering personalized insights and recommendations based on user data

Enhances the functionality of wearables and allows users to access and interact with data through various devices and services in the broader IoT ecosystem

Auxivo

Sources

About EDGE

Contact Us

Resources

Area of Focus

Technology Research Made Effortless