Caressoma represents Switzerland in the US

The winners of the ZHAW Startup Challenge get the opportunity to represent Switzerland in the Virginia Tech Global Entrepreneur Challenge. The startup has the opportunity to meet peers from all over the world to collaborate, form partnerships, and build a global network. Additionally, the challenge offers contestants a platform to present their solution to a global audience and win a cash prize of $25000.

While FitCap with their capsule for protein powder for the fitness industry, won this year’s ZHAW Startup Challenge, Caressoma, who currently enrolled in the Runway incubator of the ZHAW Institute of Innovation and Entrepreneurship, will travel to Virginia instead. According to the program coordinators, FitCap is, unfortunately, unable to participate in the global challenge in the proposed time frame. The organizers, therefore, selected Caressoma due to the attractiveness and potential of their solution for the global market to represent Switzerland.

“Caressoma has a strong and highly motivated team and their case is very interesting not only for the European but also for the US competitive sports market, says Ramona Lieser, operational lead ZHAW Startup Challenge, ZHAW Institute of Innovation and Entrepreneurship.

Caressoma, founded in 2018 by Sophia Borowka, CEO and Co-founder and Jana Maes, Co-founder and CPO, is a medtech company specializing in the development of medical devices to prevent sports injuries. The startup’s product SonIt is based on a combination of sensor technology and artificial intelligence that enables for real-time injury inspection and continued monitoring.

The mobile application is a solution for the whole sports team: The athletes receive monitoring and control charts of their muscles, the coaches get an overview of the health status of the whole team, the management sees the team's key performance indicators, and the medical staff gets access to the whole health data gathered. In this way, the device is an advanced tool to support medical workers in making a comprehensive diagnosis.

SonIt, which is still under development has already attracted and impressed potential clients within the sports industry worldwide. For instance, Sibylle Eckert, sports therapist at Grasshopper Club Zürich says: “With Caressoma's device, we could more easily decide how intensively our young athletes can train each day and when they are ready to resume their training after an injury. This would definitely decrease the number of injuries and would optimize our care for aspiring athletes."

 "We are extremely happy and honoured to get the opportunity to participate in the Virginia Tech Global Entrepreneur Challenge. Apart from the attractive prize we want to bring home, we want to make the most of our trip to Virginia. We are already in touch with potential customers to meet during our stay and can't wait to experience the American entrepreneurial spirit", says Sophia Borowka, CEO of Caressoma.

(RAN)

Photo: Sophia Borowka (r) &Jana Maes (l)