MOMM Diagnostics: The Venture Leader Medtech developing high-sensitivity rapid diagnostic tests

31.05.2022 14:00, Tracy Woodley

For the second consecutive year, the Venture Leaders Medtech will represent Swiss innovation in the United States. To select the 10 featured startups, a jury of professional investors and medtech experts reviewed 60 applications. These startups improve diagnostics, treatments, and well-being with innovative solutions that cover artificial intelligence, sensors, smart devices, and robotics. Allow us to introduce you to each of the Venture Leaders Medtech 2022 ahead of the June 2022 roadshow in Boston and Cambridge: Meet Mathias Wipf, the CEO and co-founder of MOMM Diagnostics.

MOMM develops high-sensitivity rapid diagnostic tests. The startup’s technology combines the commercial advantage of lateral flow immunoassays with reader simplicity, expanding previously laboratory-based markets to office and self-testing. MOMM’s first test in development is a rapid test for preeclampsia, offering unprecedented sensitivity at the point-of-care. Preeclampsia is a significant health problem and cost burden that affects 3-8% of all pregnancies and can lead to severe short- and long-term complications. Immediate information during pregnancy check-ups helps doctors to optimize treatment, reduce stress and anxiety for expectant mothers, save lives, and reduce costs.

Name: Mathias Wipf
Location: Basel, Switzerland
Nationality: Swiss/American
Graduated from: University of Basel, PhD in Physics (2014)
Job title: CEO and Co-founder of MOMM Diagnostics GmbH
Number of employees: 6
Money raised: CHF 1.2 million
First touchpoint with Venturelab: Venture Kick in 2018



Explain in one or two short sentences what your startup does and why. 
MOMM Diagnostics' Rapid Preeclampsia Test identifies or rules out preeclampsia— a life-threatening pregnancy condition— in minutes using a single drop of the mother’s blood from a finger prick.

How and where did you come up with the idea for your startup? 
As a postdoctoral researcher at Yale University, I was studying electrical biosensors for the readout of immunoassays. In a collaboration between the U.S. startup Avails Medical and Empa in Dübendorf, I was developing a system to simplify the manufacturing of these biosensors and identified the potential to readout high-sensitivity immunoassays. Looking into potential applications, we quickly identified preeclampsia as the ideal first application for this technology. This was the groundwork that led to MOMM Diagnostics. 

What do you expect from the Venture Leaders Medtech roadshow, and how will it help you achieve your vision?
The Venture Leaders roadshow is the perfect platform for meeting investors and key players in U.S. medtech and diagnostics scene— In particular, U.S.-based diagnostic test developers and distributors. The timing could not be better for our technology, as the COVID pandemic has revealed the need for more sensitive and accurate rapid diagnostic tests (RDT). The potential of RDTs for point-of-care and at-home testing, as well as the drawbacks of today’s technologies, has become obvious to everyone. Established diagnostics providers have a need for high-sensitivity RDT platforms, as well as robust cash reserves thanks to the sale of COVID tests. MOMM’s technology can certainly meet their need!

How did you come up with the name of your startup? 
MOMM stands for mother and the initials of the founders.

What was your dream job when you were a child? 
Musician.

What is the one talent you wish you had? 
Remembering names— and everything else.

What are you most proud of?  
My persistence. Founding a startup out of nothing more than an idea and having convinced experts of the invention's potential.

How and where do you clear your mind? 
On my bicycle commute.

What is the most rewarding aspect of being a founder? 
You can pursue your own ambitions and (almost) nobody tells you what to do.

For more information and updates on MOMM Diagnostics and the Venture Leaders Medtech 2022, follow #VLeadersMedtech on Twitter or on www.venture-leaders.ch/medtech.

The Venture Leaders Medtech program is organized by Venturelab and supported by EPF Lausanne, ETH Zurich, Hansjörg Wyss, Helbling Technik, Kellerhals Carrard, Paul Scherrer Institut, Swissnex Boston, Canton of Vaud, Canton of Zurich, and Venture Leader alumnus Dominik Lysek.