Venture Leaders Life Sciences – Meet Simon Bachmann of IDUN Technologies AG
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The newest Swiss National Startup Team for the Life Sciences is in Boston this week, meeting industry leaders and pitching to keen investors. Among them is Simon Bachmann of IDUN Technologies – a developer of soft, conductive biopotential electrodes with a focus on user experience.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and your project?I am Simon Bachmann, co-founder and CEO of IDUN Technologies. I graduated from ETH Zurich with an MSc in Health Science & Technology, with focus on Medical Technologies. During my studies I discovered my passion for health monitoring and tech entrepreneurship. My vision is to enable the Internet of Humans (IoH) with the best electrodes for wearable devices.
IDUN develops and produces soft and dry conductive electrodes for biopotential monitoring (ECG, EEG, EMG). With a unique and patented surface structure, these electrodes provide high-quality signals with skin-friendly materials, without electrolyte gel or glue.
Why do you choose Boston as your business development destination?
Boston is the hotspot for life science startups, companies and institutions. With two top-tier universities (MIT and Harvard), Boston and Cambridge are optimally positioned to not only invent novel technologies but also commercialize them and apply them in the field. Additionally, Boston is a crucible for wearable technologies and highly innovative applications, such as brain-computer interfaces and body monitoring.
Why is the Venture Leaders Life Sciences experience beneficial for your company?
The benefit for IDUN Technologies is threefold. Firstly, it will give us a chance to connect to the US life science ecosystem, meet potential customers, collaborators and KOLs. Secondly, it will give us the chance to prepare for our international Series A by connecting with US and international investors in good time. Thirdly, it will give us the chance to meet like-minded Swiss and US entrepreneurs to exchange experiences and ideas.
What is pushing you towards international expansion?
The US is, together with China, the biggest market for wearable devices. The market acceptance from users and stakeholders for new technologies is higher and more direct than in Europe. Both the consumer and the medical market are more directly focused on novel health monitoring approaches in terms of telemonitoring and telemetry. Additionally, the scene for brain-computer interfaces and EEG monitoring is bigger and more advanced.
What do you foresee as the largest hurdles towards expansion into the Boston area?
Different customer behavior, regulatory frameworks and company culture mean extra effort and expense for marketing, customer relationship and market analysis. Geographically, the expansion means large efforts in logistics and supply chain management.
What makes you most nervous or excited about the trip?
I have never been to the US and I expect it to be a rewarding and enriching experience. I am looking forward to a challenging week with opportunities and possibilities.
Follow the Venture Leaders Life Sciences roadshow on Twitter and Facebook using the hashtag #vleadearsLifeScience.
Venture Leaders Life Sciences is co-organized by Venturelab and swissnex Boston, and supported by Kellerhals Carrard, digitalswitzerland, Canton de Vaud, Canton of Zurich, Wyss Foundation, EY entreprenenur of the year, EPF Lausanne, ETH Zurich, Paul Scherrer Institute and University of Zurich.
