Rute Fernandes

Carvolix is a French medical technologies company, commercial and clinical stage, founded by Truffle Capital, that aims to become a global leader in the treatment of structural heart diseases and strokes, worlds leading causes of mortality and disability. Carvolix develops novel AI and imaging driven mini-robots that make complex procedures doble by interventional cardiologists, as well as biomimetics heart valves.

As a group of experienced, diverse, and inclusive professionals we have been investing in healthcare startups across Europe over the last 8 years. We have built, and continue to grow, a diverse portfolio of investments across the various fields of therapeutics, diagnostics and digital health. Through our broad presence in the European Healthcare field, we are also able to facilitate investment activities for institutional investors with our curated healthcare deals. We value close personal dialogue with diverse startup teams and bring smart money to the table. Startups have access to a large group of experts in all areas and regions, and if we invest, to a longterm engagement and commitment from us.

Conscience is turning drug discovery into a team sport. Were building an open science network to collaborate across industry, academia, and the public sector; stewarding the AI-enabled computational drug discovery competition CACHE; and providing support to advance promising preclinical drug development targets in areas of market failure like rare disease, antimicrobial resistance, and pandemic preparedness.

Carvolix is a French medical technologies company, commercial and clinical stage, founded by Truffle Capital, that aims to become a global leader in the treatment of structural heart diseases and strokes, worlds leading causes of mortality and disability. Carvolix develops novel AI and imaging driven mini-robots that make complex procedures doble by interventional cardiologists, as well as biomimetics heart valves.

Flow Pharma engineers and manufactures state-of-the-art biomedicines. Our unique patented delivery systems and biotechnology are ideally suited for curative intervention in COVID-19, Ebola, and treatment-resistant cancers.

The Venture Kick philanthropic initiative provides up to CHF 150,000 in seed funding to Swiss startups and offers a well-structured entrepreneurial path toward building a winning business. Startups pitch to expert juries at three stages to obtain funding and gain direct feedback and access to an international network of 200 successful entrepreneurs and investors. Winners of Venture Kick are eligible for a CHF 850,000 investment from the Kickfund and an InnoBooster grant of an additional CHF 150,000. Since its launch in 2007, Venture Kick has supported 1,234+ Swiss startup projects with CHF100+ million. Thanks to financial support, coaching and networking with investors, this initiative has led to the emergence of 980+ incorporated startups and the creation of 16,100+ jobs. Venture Kick counts a portfolio of 730 active high-tech companies and 99 exits. Venture Kick alumni companies have attracted a total of CHF 10+ billion and represent 66 companies ranked in the latest Top100 Swiss Startups. In 2025, Venture Kick paid out 8.3 million Swiss francs to startup projects from Swiss universities to bring science-based innovations to global markets. The Venture Kick Foundation is supported by Gebert Rüf Stiftung, Ernst Göhner Stiftung, Hauser-Stiftung, Fondation ALCEA, André Hoffmann, Hansjörg Wyss, Martin Haefner, Fondation ProTechno, ESA BIC Switzerland, Swisscom, Lichtsteiner Fondation, and Deep Tech Nation Switzerland. Apply now: https://www.venturekick.ch/apply

As a group of experienced, diverse, and inclusive professionals we have been investing in healthcare startups across Europe over the last 8 years. We have built, and continue to grow, a diverse portfolio of investments across the various fields of therapeutics, diagnostics and digital health. Through our broad presence in the European Healthcare field, we are also able to facilitate investment activities for institutional investors with our curated healthcare deals. We value close personal dialogue with diverse startup teams and bring smart money to the table. Startups have access to a large group of experts in all areas and regions, and if we invest, to a longterm engagement and commitment from us.

Conscience is turning drug discovery into a team sport. Were building an open science network to collaborate across industry, academia, and the public sector; stewarding the AI-enabled computational drug discovery competition CACHE; and providing support to advance promising preclinical drug development targets in areas of market failure like rare disease, antimicrobial resistance, and pandemic preparedness.