Apolarion receives €164,000 for chemical-free seed treatment
Venture Kick funding will support the Swiss start-up’s first field trials and initial customer deployments.
Swiss cleantech start-up Apolarion has received €164,000 from Venture Kick to develop a seed-treatment device based on cold atmospheric plasma. The EPFL spin-off is working on a modular system intended to remove harmful microorganisms without using chemicals.
The funding will help finance its first field trials and early deployments with customers. Apolarion plans to spend the capital on facilities, equipment and staff for pilot programmes as it prepares to enter the market and continue developing the technology.
The company says its approach uses electricity and air to produce reactive particles that neutralise pathogens while leaving seeds able to germinate. The device is designed to consume little energy and offer flexible use as an alternative to treatments based on chemicals or heat.
Founded by Jesus Poley and Luke Simons, Apolarion is targeting Switzerland and European markets first, with seed-treatment companies as prospective customers. Simons, its CEO, said Venture Kick had also provided access to Switzerland’s start-up network, training, coaching and advisers.
