Capsule Photonics wins Venture Challenge Winter 2024/2025!
The winner of the Venture Challenge was announced today at Innovation for Health. The proud winner of the 2024/2025 Winter edition is Capsule Photonics! The team has developed an innovative capsule endoscope: a pill-sized camera that creates microscopy-like images, highlighting areas where cancer biomarkers are present. It combines two advanced imaging technologies: Optical Coherence Tomography and targeted fluorescence. It allows full 360-degree visualization and subsurface imaging of the esophagus, enabling more accurate detection of esophageal cancer. The pill-sized endoscope does not only improve the survival chances of patients by detecting more cancer at an early stage, it also reduces the healthcare burden because the procedure can be done by a single nurse in a few minutes.
According to the jury, comprised of Carine Van Den Brink (Chair), Geert-Jan Mulder, Martijn Hackmann, Eleanor Price and Inez de Greef-van der Sandt, Choosing a winner wat difficult as all teams did very well during pitching, and all had their own specific opportunities. In the end the Jury reached an unanimous decision. The participating teams did very well during pitching, and all had their own specific opportunities and challenges. The jury finds that Capsule Photonics is addressing a critical need as they target the growing demand for early and accurate detection of esophageal cancer — a condition often diagnosed too late due to limitations in current screening methods. The jury also noted the team's strong presentation and Q&A, as well as their diversity, strength, and clear understanding of the regulatory pathway.
Each year, more than half a million people are diagnosed with esophageal cancer. Only 1 in 4 patients survive, because it is often diagnosed at a late stage. People with a higher risk of getting esophageal cancer are currently screened with endoscopy, but it misses 25% of early cancer, is time-consuming and labour-intensive. Capsule Photonics developed LightUp, a capsule endoscope that a patient can swallow without sedation. A nurse gently pulls it up by a string while it images the esophagus in a few minutes. In the future, Capsule Photonics aims to further develop miniaturized endoscopes with Optical Coherence Tomography and targeted fluorescence for applications in other organs.
“The Venture Challenge empowered us to come together as a team and develop a clear vision and strategy to drive our company forward."
- Anouk Post,CEO en co-founder of Capsule Photonics
The Venture Challenge Winter started in November and today at Innovation for Health
Capsule Photonics takes home the €25.000 prize money to invest in their growth. Contact Anouk Post for more information about Capsule Photonics.
The other highly-motivated participating teams were:
- Oncochem: Theranostic radiopharmaceuticals for metastatic pancreatic cancer.
- NeuroTidal Dx: Objective staging of Parkinson’s via α-synuclein fibril measurement.
- Modular Tx: RNA dynamics unlocked for precision, genome-free therapies.
- CellEKT: Cellular kinase profiling for more predictive drug discovery.
- Gemini Theranostics: Targeted imaging and therapy for ovarian cancer via FSHR theranostics.
Participating in the Venture Challenge leads to a clear venture plan, as well as to investor-ready pitches. The LifeSciences@Work Accelerator is powered by Health~Holland.
Want to participate in the next venture challenge? Click here for more information.
The call for the Venture Challenge Fall and Winter is open from 6 May - 1 July 2025, 14:00. Apply through NWO.
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