SwissDeCode raises CHF 3.7 million to accelerate the technology for real-time certification of food authenticity and quality

28.01.2021 10:15, Isabelle Mitchell

SwissDeCode, a TOP 100 Startup and Venture Leader China, has closed its first venture round, raising CHF 3.7 million from VisVires New Protein (VVNP) and EIT Food (Europe’s leading food innovation initiative). The new funding comes after a recent award of EUR 2.5 million from the European Innovation Council and will be used to accelerate the development of a rapid on-site food testing and certification platform.

The SwissDeCode team

Food travels from farm to fork at an accelerated pace, and laboratory testing services are not keeping up. In addition, consumers are asking for more information and transparency about their food. Lausanne-based biotech company SwissDeCode has been present in the market with a variety of rapid, on-site testing solutions that are helping companies in different parts of the food supply chain to detect food contamination and adulteration, avoid food recalls, and improve the trust of customers in their products. This includes successful collaborations with two of the largest food companies in the world. SwissDeCode is now preparing to launch a fully automated system that will perform the same test as laboratories, including certification, in a fraction of the time and directly at the point of need. The aggregated test data can be used for predictive analytics to optimize processes and build consumer confidence. “Our solution will deliver a user experience equivalent to making an espresso coffee and a certificate equivalent to those issued by laboratories. We have good early traction with customers, and we know that there is an incredible untapped potential for our technology. We are honored and thrilled that VVNP and EIT Food share our vision and are able to see this potential as well,” said Brij Sahi, co-founder and CEO of SwissDeCode.  

SwissDeCode’s automated system, an on-site device that will be operated directly by the customer’s staff and does not require any laboratory equipment, analyzes food samples and aims to provide ISO certified results in just 30 minutes. This represents a great improvement for food companies that currently have to wait for labs to analyze their samples, a process that can take up to seven days. The versatility of the platform and the ability to detect adulterated food, GMOs, allergens, coronavirus, and other viruses means that it can be developed to meet companies’ specific testing needs.  


SwissDeCode was a Venture Leader China 2020 and one of the TOP 100 Swiss startups in 2019 and 2020. We asked SwissDeCode co-founder and CEO about his vision and how the Venture Leaders program and the TOP 100 ranking have influenced his startup’s success. 

Brij (photo: right), how will the CHF 3.7 million investment from VisVires and EIT FOOD help SwissDeCode achieve its vision?
Our ultimate objective is to develop the standard food industry technology for real-time certification of food authenticity and quality, as well as of supply chain processes and environments. This funding allows us to be one step closer to that, as we will be using it to focus on three different areas: The development of the BEAMitup platform (hardware and software) for new applications, proof of concepts and industrialization with customers, and sales and marketing to identify new partners, revenue streams, and execution.

How did participating in the Venture Leaders China program in 2020 and being one of the TOP 100 Swiss startups in 2019 and 2020 help you with your fundraising strategy?
Participating in these initiatives gave us the chance to present our work and technology to corporates and investors and to learn more about new applications and markets, particularly in the case of China. At the same time, being chosen for these activities is a distinction that helps build our credibility with investors, as it shows them the high potential of our technology and solutions.

What was your inspiration to found SwissDeCode?
The idea came from our co-founder and CTO, Gianpaolo Rando (photo: left), after the European horsemeat scandal in 2013, when the beef supply chain was intentionally compromised with horsemeat. DNA test results were taking too long, and we understood that serious issues such as adulteration, fraud, and contamination were present all over the food supply chain. It became obvious that a rapid onsite DNA test was needed.

What is your advice for the potential biotech entrepreneurs launching companies in Switzerland today?
Building a business around a technology is a fun but tough ride. Be prepared to face many challenges and to adapt to them quickly. And never, ever stop learning, growing, and building something!