ETH spin-offs sweep the board at Venture Awards
Six spin-offs of ETH Zurich were among the 18 finalists in this year’s Venture Awards. Three of them won in their respective categories, and three came in second. The Grand Prize went to spin-off MyNerva.
The MedTech company MyNerva clinched the Grand Prize worth CHF 150,000 at the Venture Awards on 23 June 2025. The ETH spin-off also scooped first prize in the Health & Nutrition category.
external page MyNerva has developed a sock with sensors that helps diabetics walk without problems. The neuroprosthetic is non-invasive, meaning it works from the outside, and alleviates the pain associated with diabetic neuropathy, a widespread nerve disorder. The sock restores sensation to those affected, thereby improving mobility, reducing the risk of falls and restoring quality of life.
Founder Greta Preatoni explains exactly how the sock works in this external page video from the Falling Walls Foundation.
The start-up is supported by Wyss Zurich.
Two other ETH spin-offs awarded prizes
Alongside MyNerva, two other start-ups that bring ETH technologies to market won first prizes in their respective categories: Rrreefs AG (in the Social & Environmental Impact category) and BTRY AG (in the Industrials & Engineering category).
Spin-off external page Rrreefs builds artificial coral reefs from clay bricks. The start-up prints the bricks in a 3D process and uses them to build modular structures in the sea. These artificial reefs provide a permanent and natural substrate for the settlement and growth of coral and marine life. The first pilot reef created by a 3D printer has been providing a new home for marine life off a Caribbean island for several years.
ETH spin-off external page BTRY develops fast-charging solid-state batteries that are resistant to temperature fluctuations. This allows them to be used at very high temperatures, for example, in sensors that detect vapour leaks, as well as at very low temperatures, such as in the transport of medicines.
These companies also impressed the jury
- Terensis (2nd place in the Finance & Insurance category)
ETH spin-off external page Terensis combines satellite images from space with plant models to create a digital twin of crops. This virtual image of reality illustrates crop condition in real time and combines the information with local weather data. This allows for the prediction of crop yields and climate risks such as drought or frost. - Chiral Nano AG (2nd place in the Industrials & Engineering category)
The rapid advancement of chip-making technology in recent years has been primarily driven by the continuous scaling of silicon technology. However, as we approach the physical limitations of silicon, the industry is shifting its focus to nanomaterials, which promise unprecedented chip functionality for electronic devices such as high-performance transistors and quantum devices. ETH spin-off external page Chiral Nano AG integrates nanomaterials into devices using automated high-speed robotic machines. These machines can place materials measuring micrometres or even nanometres onto chips with unparalleled precision and control, overcoming the limitations of conventional methods. - DNAir AG (2nd place in the Social & Environmental Impact category)
The air filtration technology developed by spin-off external page DNAir captures airborne environmental DNA. This enables the large-scale, continuous collection and preservation of bioaerosols, which are then analysed for various genetic markers. These markers offer critical insights into ecosystem health, biodiversity levels and the presence of specific species. In this way, important data can be obtained for nature, agriculture and land use.
About Venture
Venture is Switzerland's leading start-up competition and is organised by the not-for-profit Venture Foundation in collaboration with ETH Zurich, McKinsey & Company, Knecht Holding, Innosuisse and EPFL. It was started in 1997 with the purpose of promoting innovation and entrepreneurship in Switzerland. Each year, participants can submit entries in one of the following five industry categories: Finance & Insurance, Health & Nutrition, ICT, Industrials & Engineering, Retail & Customer Services and Social & Environmental Impact.