Jacques R. Essinger

Nuvaira, Inc. develops medical devices for treating lung diseases. It works on a novel catheter-based system that has the potential to improve lung function, exercise capacity and quality of life for patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. The company was founded by Steven Dimmer and Martin L. Mayse in 2008 and is headquartered in Plymouth, MN.

DFB Pharmaceuticals LLC develops pharmaceutical products. The company was founded in 1992 and is headquartered in Fort Worth, TX.

Genedata AG transforms data into intelligence with a portfolio of advanced software solutions. Its products include biologics, screener, expressionist, profiler, analyst, phylosospher, selector, imagence and bioprocess. The firm offers data analysis, information technology, training, software, development and hosting services to pharmaceutical, agrochemical, Industrial biotechnology companies and non-profit research organizations. The company was founded by Othmar Pfannes in 1997 and is headquartered in Basel, Switzerland.

Aravis AG (Aravis) is an independent venture capital firm, founded in 2001 by Jean-Philippe Tripet and headquartered in Muttenz, Switzerland.

Symetis SA develops minimally invasive heart valve replacement devices. Its products include ACURATE TA and ACURATE neo. The company was founded by Simon P. Hoerstrup and Gregor Zünd on September 5, 2001 and is headquartered in Ecublens, Switzerland.

Endeavour Vision SA (EV) is an independent venture capital firm headquartered in Geneva. EV traces their origins back to 1989 through the convergence of the Vision Capital European team and the Swiss VC firm, Endeavour. EV was co-founded in 2000 by Sven Lingjaerde and Damien Tappy. The firm specializes in providing funding for entrepreneurs in life sciences, biotech, medtech, cleantech and information technology. EV operates in close cooperation with Genevest, an independent investment vehicle which has reached the divestment stage. Their investors in the funds they advise are industrial corporations, family offices, global institutional investors and business leaders in the technology and investment industry.

Diagnoplex SA develops molecular diagnostics for colon cancer. It lead product, Colox is a minimally-invasive blood test developed for the systematic screening and detection of early and advanced colorectal cancer. The company was founded in April 2005 by Stavros Therianos, Curzio Roberto Maria Rüegg, Jacques R. Essinger and Jean-Pierre Rosat and is headquartered in Lausanne, Switzerland.

Vexim SA specializes in the design and distribution of minimally invasive solutions for the treatment of traumatic spine pathologies. The firm operates through the following geographical segments: Europe and International. Its brand names include Masterflow and Cohesion Bone Cement. The company was founded on February 17, 2006 and is headquartered in Balma, France.

Polytech Advisors SA (Polytech Advisors) is an independent Swiss venture capital firm which was established in 2008 by the Ecoles Polytechniques fédérales de Lausanne (EPFL), the EPFL Plus Foundation, the Parc Scientifique Ecublens, the Foundation of Technology Innovation and the Sandoz Family Foundation to manage the Polytech Ventures & Cie SPC fund. Based in the Parc Scientifique EPFL in Lausanne, the firm aims to increase the emergence of successful entrepreneurial ventures in Western Switzerland by investing through the Polytech Ventures seed fund in early-stage technology companies. The fund is backed by qualified investors including companies, high net-worth individuals and the Canton of Vaud.