New funding enables Microcaps to prepare for market

Microcaps has been able secure 5 million francs in a financing round, it was reported in a press release. The round was led by Zürcher Kantonalbank and Helvetica Capital. Other investors included the Lichtsteiner Foundation, the ETH Zurich Foundation and a group of Swiss entrepreneurs.

Microcaps was founded as a spin-off from the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Zurich (ETH). The company has developed a proprietary method to manufacture microcapsules. Microencapsulation is a process in which tiny particles or droplets are surrounded by a coating. These microcapsules can then be used to carry pharmaceutical agents, fragrances and aromas.

The problem until now has been manufacturing microcapsules with precision in identical sizes. Microcaps has solved this with its new method. Being able to ensure all capsules are identical means dosage and delivery rate of pharmaceuticals can be completely controlled, leading to fewer side effects. In addition, the startup’s method is 1,000 times faster than currently available production processes.

According to the press release, Microcaps will use the proceeds of the financing to launch its first product, a customized microcapsule production unit. It will also grow its team at the new corporate facilities in Zurich.