Alivion: The Venture Leader Mobile developing handheld devices for personalized weight management

24.01.2025 09:30, Rita Longobardi

Meet Christian Zwicky, CEO of Alivion. The Medtech startup designs handheld devices to measure breath biomarkers for personalized fat-burning. In March, Christian will join nine other innovators on a business development and investor roadshow in Barcelona.

Name: Christian Zwicky
Location: Zurich
Nationality: Swiss
Graduated from: ETH
Job title: CEO
Number of employees: 9
Money raised: CHF 3.8M (currently in 3rd financing round)
 
Can you tell us who your product or solution helps, and how?
At Alivion, we have developed a handheld device that measures breath acetone–a direct biomarker of fat burn–within 2 minutes. Measured data is transferred via an App to our cloud and from there transferred to a Web App. Our product Nutrion is for dieticians, endocrinologists and sports coaches to monitor the individual fat burn rate of their clients online via a Web App for personalized weight management for a healthier lifestyle. Our solution supports healthcare professionals by providing a monitoring tool and data for personalizing weight loss plans and individuals on a weight loss journey by providing real-time feedback and motivation.

What market are you addressing and what is your startup in that market?
Our target markets are obesity, overweight, fitness, and longevity. Obesity data monitoring and longevity are USD 70 billion markets growing double digits per year. We apply a non-medical, B2B approach.

How and where did you come up with the idea for your startup?
The SmartSelectTM platform was developed at ETH over 10 years ago. It works like a gas chromatography system, allowing measurements of different gases with high accuracy and selectivity. However, our products are easy to use, low maintenance, and portable.

What do you expect from the Venture Leaders roadshow, and how do you think it will help you achieve your vision?
I am looking forward to meeting other stakeholders in HealthTech, other startups, and investors and talking to potential customers and distributors. It is of utmost importance to have a professional network in place for accelerating business.
 
What are your team's key achievements to date?
The first product we produced and launched was the first handheld methanol detection device, the Spark M-20, which has been sold already to over 35 countries with no quality issues. Additionally, we have received Innosuisse grants for CHF 3M for studies at the University Hospital of Zurich for clinical trials on diets. Currently, we are finalizing our Nutrion product development consisting of a new handheld device/Cloud and App Solution. This will be released in February 2025, and we have received more than 30 pre-orders already.

Is there a key principle or value that guides you as you build your company?
Yes. Focus, focus, focus. If you have developed a platform which allows you to develop many different applications, it is very dangerous to get distracted.
 
What is the most important lesson you have learned as a founder?
Never give up, work closely with trustworthy partners, and have a great team you enjoy laughing with!

What is your favorite productivity hack or tool and why?
Classical methods:
1. System Engineering (ETH): Guides systematic problem-solving with options and risk evaluation.
2. Circle of Influence: Encourages focusing on controllable factors, and stepping outside comfort zones.
3. Eisenhower Matrix: Prioritizes urgent and important tasks.
4. Stagile Method (ALEAS): Simple digital project management tool with self-defined team responsibilities.

AI-based tools:
1. Productivity: Rewind AI - Records and makes your computer history searchable.
2. Meetings: Otter.ai - Transcribes, summarizes, and organizes meeting content.
3. Analytics: Rize - Tracks time and provides real-time productivity tips.
4. Feedback: UserTesting AI - Speeds up user research with AI insights.
5. General AI: Perplexity AI - Research assistant offering instant, sourced answers.

What was your dream job when you were a child?
I always enjoyed outdoor sports and nature and am still fascinated by the human body's performance and human's metabolism. Being a sports pro or coach certainly was of high interest to me.