MinWave : CHF 150'000 for ultra-compact microwave passive devices

Microwave passive devices are often the bulkiest part of communication systems. Weight and size are crucial considerations in system design in terms of cost—each additional kilogram in a satellite’s design can add hundreds of thousands of francs in launch and mission costs. MinWave's innovative use of electromagnetic metamaterials and additive manufacturing enables the fabrication of miniaturized micro- and millimeter-wave passive devices. Its solution can reduce the weight of a typical satellite's communication payload by several kilograms and its reduced size allows to implement other functionalities. For instance, for the newest satellite communication (SatCom) systems

The EPFL Spin-off is focusing on the SatCom market first: with an estimated 100,000 passive filters currently in orbit, the revenue potential is around USD 600 million. But there are additional markets for microwave devices and antenna feed technologies - total microwave device market is projected to be around USD 8 billion.

In collaboration with the École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, the startup applied for a patent for its novel metamaterial design and has produced various prototypes proving the capabilities of its technology. Its Ku band filter, for instance, demonstrates MinWave's competitive edge, being ten times lighter and smaller than a competitor's product with the same radio frequency specifications. MinWave will invest the CHF 150'000 awarded by Venture Kick in the production process as well as the expansion of marketing and business development.

MinWave was founded by Maliheh Khatibi (CTO) who invented the technology. She is a radio frequency design expert and postdoctoral researcher at the EPFL's Laboratory of Wave Engineering (LWE). Her co-founders are mechanics and materials expert Mostafa Khosrow (CEO) and Romain Fleury, a subwavelength wave engineering expert, and head of the EPFL's LWE. "The program's feedback and structure helped us move smoothly from the scientific to the business world. The support will also be crucial for us to pave our path to a healthy seed round" Maliheh Khatibi said.

(press release) 

On the picture: Maliheh Khatibi (CTO), Mostafa Khosrow (CEO), and Roman Fleury