Apolarion, a cleantech startup spun out of the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Lausanne (EPFL), has received CHF 150,000, or roughly €164,000, from Venture Kick to develop its seed treatment technology.
The company is building a device that relies on cold atmospheric plasma to kill harmful microorganisms on seeds, offering an alternative to chemical coatings and heat-based methods. The news was reported by Tech.eu.
A Modular Device Built Around Air and Electricity
Apolarion was founded by Jesus Poley and Luke Simons. Their product is a modular machine that generates reactive particles using nothing more than air and electricity.
Those particles are intended to neutralise pathogens on the seed surface while leaving the seed's ability to germinate intact. The startup says the system is designed to use little energy and to be flexible in how it is applied.
Why Seed Treatment Needs a Rethink
Keeping seeds free of disease is a basic requirement for healthy crops and dependable harvests. Today, much of that protection comes from chemical coatings, which can leave residues behind in the soil.
Heat-based treatments avoid chemicals but consume significant amounts of energy and do not always deliver consistent results. These trade-offs are particularly awkward for high-value seeds and for growers facing rising pressure to adopt more sustainable practices.
Starting With Swiss and European Customers
Apolarion is concentrating first on Switzerland and the wider European market. Its intended customers are seed treatment companies looking for greener ways to protect crops and support better yields.
Selling to these intermediaries, rather than directly to individual farms, could give the startup a route to scale through firms that already handle large seed volumes.
Where the Venture Kick Money Will Go
The new capital is earmarked for Apolarion's first field trials and its initial deployments with customers. The company plans to spend it on operational facilities, equipment and the staff needed to run pilot programmes.
Chief executive and co-founder Luke Simons credited the programme with opening doors beyond the cheque itself. "The Venture Kick program has been so important in our journey," he said, pointing to the training, coaching, advisors and access to Switzerland's startup network it provided.
What the Deal Signals for Agtech Founders
Apolarion's funding shows that early-stage backers in Switzerland continue to support university spin-offs tackling agriculture's environmental footprint. Venture Kick's model of pairing modest capital with mentoring is aimed precisely at helping research teams reach this kind of pilot stage.
The real test will come in the field. If the trials confirm that plasma treatment can protect seeds reliably without harming germination, Apolarion could offer seed companies a credible way to cut chemical use without paying a heavy energy cost.
Source: Tech.eu
