Lunaphore Technologies SA, a Swiss life-sciences company that develops innovative next-generation equipment for cancer research and tissue diagnostics, announces the second closing of its Series C round, totaling CHF 25 million. The funds will be used to expand markets and products.
Lunaphore was a Venture Kick winner in 2015, a Venture Leader in 2014, and a Venture Leader China in 2017, as well as one of the TOP 100 Swiss Startups for the last six consecutive years (2014-2019).
The CHF 2 million Series C2 financing was provided by the Swiss Entrepreneurs Fund, who invested a total of CHF 5 million in the company. The fund is linked to the Swiss Entrepreneurs Foundation, whose main focus is to invest in Swiss startups and SMEs in the growth phase (internationalization) with the goal of bridging the financing gap in Swiss innovation.
Didier Denat, Member of the Decision Committee for direct investments of the Swiss Entrepreneurs Fund and Head of Corporate Banking at Credit Suisse (Switzerland) Ltd. said: “With its outstanding management team and technological USPs, Lunaphore is able to show significant market traction, combined with a high degree of customer satisfaction. We are fully convinced in both the business model and strategy of Lunaphore, and we are happy to contribute in taking the company to the next level.”
The proceeds of the overall CHF 25 million Series C closing — with the first closing announced on February 6, 2020, and led by the Japanese strategic investor PHC Holdings Corporation (PHCHD) — will be dedicated to market and product expansion, including a US market entry, the ramp-up of activities in Europe, and the development of the next generation of instruments.
“We are very happy to add the Swiss Entrepreneurs Fund, which focuses on high-growth companies with global ambitions, to our investors’ base. Together with the strategic investment from PHCHD that we recently closed, Lunaphore is now backed by very strong institutions to achieve its vision.”
Lunaphore founders: CTO Dr. Diego Gabriel Dupouy; COO Déborah Heintze; and CEO Dr. Ata Tuna Ciftlik
Source: Lunaphore press release
Lunaphore Technologies SA: Tumor analysis platform
Lunaphore is disrupting tissue diagnostics field by fundamentally changing the time and resource driven nature of diagnostic assays on tumor sections. Just like the fast sequencing technologies have m... Read more