Rqmicro successfully closes debut financing round

Rqmicro is carrying out two Series B financing rounds in 2021. In a first round, the Schlieren-based start-up has secured investment to the tune of 6 million Swiss francs, according to a press release. The capital has been pledged by an industrial holding group based in Switzerland in addition to previous investors. “In order to further accelerate the international market development, we are planning to conclude the Series B growth round with a second closing of eight million Swiss francs in the first half of 2021”, explains Tobias Schaad, CFO/COO of rqmicro, the press release. The company targets investors seeking to participate in the Life Sciences sector – and more specifically in water safety innovations.

The fresh finding should contribute to accelerating the market development of the new rapid detection platform for Legionella bacteria developed by rqmicro. The company has also developed new water testing methods that aim to uncover bacterial contamination. The new mobile device can detect the presence of dangerous Legionella bacteria in water within a maximum of two hours. By contrast, conventional methods can take up to several days for this.

“Today’s standard method for Legionella detection is still based on cultivating cells on petri dishes. Our industry needs to adopt a more quantitative approach towards managing water safety. Rqmicro’s upcoming launch of the new instrument series is great news and we are looking forward to being one of the first users”, comments Kristina Scharenberg, Managing Director of the accredited environmental lab HBICON GmbH in Bielefeld, Germany, in the press release.

We are at the start of a revolution in water microbiology”, according to Hans-Anton Keserue, CEO von rqmicro. He goes on to explain how the innovative rapid detection platform will facilitate the routine analysis of specific bacteria on a single-cell level, while also generating usable data to maintain and improve water safety.

Rqmicro is a spin-off from the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Zurich (ETH) and a member of the Start Smart Schlieren association of entrepreneurs.