Liom Achieves Breakthrough in Non-Invasive Glucose Monitoring Technology, Extends Series A to CHF 38 Million
核心洞察
Liom announced a CHF 13 million Series A extension, bringing total Series A funding to CHF 38 million with participation from Red Bull Ventures (搜索) and other notable investors.
The company achieved a breakthrough in miniaturizing its Raman spectroscopy platform, outperforming table-sized lab devices by 12x while enabling smartwatch sizing and >24-hour battery life.
Clinical results published in January 2025 demonstrated a 14.5% MARD without calibration in over 130 subjects, matching first-generation CGM performance levels.
Swiss health-tech company Liom has announced a significant breakthrough in miniaturizing its non-invasive glucose monitoring technology, securing an additional CHF 13 million in Series A funding that brings the round to CHF 38 million and total funding to CHF 63 million. The company, which is developing the world's first calibration-free, non-invasive glucose-monitoring wearable, has overcome critical technical barriers that have long prevented such devices from reaching consumers.
Technical Breakthrough Enables Consumer-Ready Device
Liom's proprietary Raman spectroscopy platform has achieved unprecedented miniaturization while dramatically improving performance. According to founder and CEO Leo Grünstein, the breakthrough "significantly increases light throughput versus current state-of-the-art solutions - even outperforming table-sized lab-scale devices by 12x." This advancement enables smartwatch sizing, over 24-hour battery life, and manufacturability at scale.
The miniaturization represents a critical milestone for the company, which has tested its technology on over 130 subjects in recent years. "Now, we can also be sure that we've not only proven the method, but we had the right team and the right amount of luck to generate the required breakthrough innovations in order to bring our platform into a wearable-fitting form-factor," Grünstein stated.
Clinical Validation Demonstrates Competitive Performance
The technical breakthrough builds on clinical validation published in January 2025 in the Journal of Diabetes (搜索) Science & Technology. The independently conducted, prospective study demonstrated a mean absolute relative difference (MARD) of 14.5% without per-subject calibration - performance comparable to first-generation microneedle-based continuous glucose monitors (CGMs).
Notably, Liom's system requires no needles for calibration whatsoever, distinguishing it from existing CGM devices that require periodic finger-stick calibrations. The 14.5% MARD represents the first demonstration of such accuracy in a calibration-free, non-invasive glucose monitoring system.
Strategic Investment and Market Positioning
The funding round was led by previous investors with new participation from Red Bull Ventures (搜索), Marc Maurer (former co-CEO of On Running (搜索)), and other strategic investors including healthcare industry veterans. Red Bull Ventures highlighted the technology's potential for both consumer and athletic applications, noting its capability to measure glucose, lactate (搜索), and other biomarkers in real-time.
Marc Maurer, who joins as both investor and board member, brings expertise from On Running (搜索), a Swiss company valued at over CHF 11 billion. "Having access to glucose measurements through a wearable on your wrist, without the need for a needle, will allow all of us to understand the impact of nutrition and movement on our body much better and therefore live a healthier life," Maurer stated.
Commercial Timeline and Broader Vision
Liom expects to launch its first product in 2028, targeting the consumer wearable market that includes devices from Apple (搜索), Samsung (搜索), Fitbit, Garmin (搜索), Whoop, and Oura. The company's ultimate vision extends beyond glucose monitoring to include additional biomarkers such as macronutrients (lipids and proteins), ketones, hydration, and lactate (搜索) using its proprietary light- and AI-based technology.
Founded in 2017 by serial entrepreneur Leo Grünstein, Liom Health AG (搜索) (formerly Spiden AG) is based in Pfäffikon, Switzerland. The company positions its technology as enabling mass adoption of continuous glucose monitoring by eliminating the needle-based barriers that have limited current CGM devices primarily to diabetic patients.