Four new CTI Start-up label companies

Two biotech-companies, an IT / cleantech start-up and a B2B software company are the new holders of the CTI Start-up label. The achievements of the four companies are remarkable:

Amal Therapeutics focuses on the development of therapeutic cancer vaccines. The spin-off of the University of Geneva develops a novel cancer vaccine platform that is able to simultaneously (i) stimulate multi-epitopic cytotoxic T cell-mediated immunity, (ii) induce helper T (Th) cells and (iii) promote immunological memory. These 3 parameters are essential to generate potent anti-tumor immunity. The platform is very versatile and can be developed for any cancer indications with defined tumor associated antigens.

Amal closed a seed founding round earlier this year, led by Boehringer Ingelheim Venture Fund (BIVF) and joined by the High-Tech Gründerfonds (HTGF). The funds will be used to consolidate the cell-penetrating peptide based technology platform and progress the first vaccine candidate up to preclinical development.

Ben Energy develops software that combines data mining with psychology to redefine how people experience energy and how utility companies engage their customers. On the side of the consumers innovative ideas from behavioural psychology are used in order to motivate people individually to grapple with their energy consumption and change their energy behaviour. On the other side the Ben Energy platform enables energy providers to find new ways to interact with their customers either via the Internet, on their smart phones or by post.

Ben Energy works with more than 20 energy providers in Switzerland and Germany. In Switzerland alone, the start-up reaches more than 25% of all households through its clients. In Germany BEN Energy has entered into a partnership with ASEW to offer energy utilities its solution. The German Association of Municipal Utilities Supporting Sustainable Resource Management (ASEW) is a trade association for energy efficiency and renewable energy, composed of more than 270 municipal utilities nationwide.

Decodio AG is a technology company, specialized in the areas of digital signal processing, signals intelligence and radio monitoring, with its offices located in Zurich, Switzerland. Decodio develops solutions in radio technology including spectrum monitoring systems. The company founded in 2012 delivers innovative applications for spectrum management, for quality assurance of wireless communication systems and for signals intelligence (SIGINT-COMINT). The products are developed for both system integrators and end-users such as public utilities, airports, transportation, air traffic control, regulation authorities or government agencies.

Sompharmaceuticals S.A. is a biopharmaceutical company based at the Biopôle in Epalinges-Lausanne, Switzerland focused on developing novel anti-tumour somatostatin analogue peptide medicines and diagnostics for patients with rare diseases, who have unmet medical needs and whose treatments represent major market opportunities. The company anticipates initiating a Phase I/IIa clinical study of its lead candidate therapy G02113 in 2015.

The company is founded and led by a highly experienced team. Chairman and Founder Alan G. Harris is a R&D professional with strong foundation in clinical design, planning and execution; with extensive experience Phase I though IV clinical programs for pivotal regulatory and marketing trials (conducted and oversaw hundreds of trials in over 30 countries) and with a strong network of colleagues among key opinion leaders.

CTI Start-up enables creative entrepreneurs to realize their innovative business ideas quickly and professionally. Through a three-phase, firmly guided process lasting 6 to 24 months, a dedicated expert will help the venture’s project evolve sufficiently to apply for the CTI Start-up Label. The Start-up Label is a seal of quality, a certificate of achievement, and a sign of credibility and readiness for sustainable growth. It is awarded by the CTI Certification Board that is composed of seasoned entrepreneurs and experts.