ValTech Pre-Seed Round, September 2024

ValTech Lifesciences, a Swiss medtech company specializing in the development of prosthetic heart valves, recently secured £130,000 in seed funding through the Venture Kick initiative. The funding will be used to advance the development of ValTech’s innovative prosthetic heart valve, designed to address key issues faced by patients with valvular heart disease. The company’s goal is to create a durable, non-thrombogenic heart valve that eliminates the need for lifelong anticoagulation therapy, which is common with traditional valve replacements.

Founded by Dr. Shaokai Zheng and Prof. Dr. Dominik Obrist, ValTech Lifesciences has positioned itself at the cutting edge of cardiovascular prosthesis development. The company’s focus is on developing a new generation of heart valve prostheses that offer increased longevity, safety, and biocompatibility. Current prosthetic valves, while life-saving, often come with significant limitations. Mechanical valves typically require patients to undergo lifelong anticoagulation therapy to prevent blood clot formation, while biological valves, derived from animal tissue, are prone to wear and often require replacement after 10 to 15 years.

ValTech’s goal is to address these shortcomings by creating a prosthesis that can last longer and reduce the risk of complications. The heart valve they are developing uses a novel approach to improve blood flow dynamics and minimize the risk of thrombosis. The ultimate aim is to provide patients with a more reliable and safer solution that reduces the need for additional surgeries and medication.

The £130,000 funding from Venture Kick will enable the company to continue its research and development efforts, particularly in refining the design and testing of the valve in pre-clinical settings. This funding will also help support ongoing efforts to secure regulatory approvals and eventually bring the product to market. ValTech Lifesciences sees this funding as a critical step toward achieving its long-term vision of transforming heart valve replacement therapy.

The co-founders of ValTech Lifesciences expressed their gratitude for the funding and emphasized the importance of developing new solutions for patients suffering from valvular heart disease. In a statement, they acknowledged the limitations of existing prosthetic valves and highlighted the potential for their technology to improve the quality of life for millions of patients worldwide.

The Venture Kick initiative, which supports early-stage startups in Switzerland, plays a key role in fostering innovation in the country’s medtech sector. ValTech Lifesciences is one of several companies to benefit from the program’s financial support and mentorship, which aims to accelerate the development of high-potential technologies.

In conclusion, ValTech Lifesciences’ recent £130,000 seed funding round marks an important milestone in its mission to develop next-generation prosthetic heart valves. With the support of Venture Kick and its innovative approach to heart valve design, the company is well-positioned to advance its technology and bring a new solution to market, potentially transforming the landscape of heart valve replacement therapy.