FOOD SYSTEMS

Mario is a trained scientist with an entrepreneurial mindset. As an ETH Zurich graduate from the group of food microbiology, he brings an extensive expertise in the detection of foodborne pathogens. Experienced in the supervision of scientific projects, he has worked in multinational teams in Germany, Great Britain and Italy before moving to Switzerland in 2013. His background in molecular sciences combined with microbiology has led him to join Nemis to lead the R&D of the pathogen identification portfolio.

“The NEMIS project is adding a new pillar to microbiological detection with the potential to simplify processes and make cost effective solutions available locally around the world. This attractive mission drew me into joining the founding team”

Dr. Urs Breitenstein is a corporate finance and M&A professional with 20 years of experience. He works as part time CFO and Co-founder for NEMIS Technologies AG.

Before co-founding Hoffmann & Partner, Dr. Breitenstein worked for Basler Kantonalbank, PricewaterhouseCoopers and, most recently, for Deloitte in Zurich, where he was a partner and team leader. He developed the valuation and business modelling team in Switzerland and was simultaneously responsible for the mergers and acquisitions department, where he led the life science industry group. Dr. Breitenstein has also worked on several international projects, providing him with outstanding expertise in complex cross-border assessments and corporate transactions. Dr. UrsBreitenstein studied at the graduate school of the Swiss National Bank in Gerzensee and holds a doctorate in economics (Dr. rer. pol.) from the University of Basel.

Daniel is a passionate engineer with a MSc in Microengineering and a CAS in Management of Biotech, Medtech and Pharma Ventures from the EPFL in Switzerland. In his past, he has developed mechanics, electronics and software for autonomous robots, worked on an arm-exoskeleton for the European Space Agency, was co-founder of a startup for aerial photography with drones, scaled-up digital 3D printing technologies for hearing aids, built manufacturing lines for pacemakers and was responsible for the end-to-end supply chain of an implantable pump to treat refractory ascites. He has 14 years of working experience in the medical device industry as a process owner, project- and team leader, consultant, production- and supply chain manager. As the member of a business angel network, Daniel is a seed investor of NEMIS since 2018 and he joined the company as Head of Operations in February 2020.

“I was fascinated by this lean startup and the straightforward business plan. NEMIS is launching a great technology platform in a growing market waiting for new solutions. Hygiene monitoring in the food industry and antibiotic resistance testing in clinical diagnostics are very important missions in a more and more globalized world. I am proud to be part of this endeavor.”

Franzisca graduated from high school in Zurich in 2016 and completed her bachelor’s in economics at the University of St.Gallen in 2021. From 2017 to 2018, she worked full-time and 40% alongside her studies at Swiss Life AG before joining NEMIS as the first employee in October 2018. Today, she heads the marketing department and is responsible for several projects and areas that enable and support the growth of the startup.

In 2014, Franzisca co-founded the NGO Lotus for Laos as a social initiative to improve educational opportunities for Laotian orphans. The organization currently very much focuses on facilitating conversations around the decolonization of aid. She has also completed several courses in coaching and trauma management and is currently in a two-year training under Thomas Hübel with a focus on collective and transgenerational trauma.

Claudia completed her Master’s in Microbiology at the University of Zurich, after which she started working in quality control and quality systems for several food producers. Her primary focus has been implementing strategies that guarantee safe food while keeping a consumer-oriented mindset. Claudia has extensive experience achieving ISO 9001, FSSC 22000, and BRC standard requirements across whole companies. Furthermore, she is well trained in LEAN management and is appreciated for her problem-solving skills. She joined NEMIS in January 2022 as head of quality.

Julian is a passionate microbiologist and biotechnologist. He finished his PhD at Eawag/ETH Zurich in 2005 and later carried out numerous application-oriented research projects at the Laboratory for Biomaterials at Empa St. Gallen. In 2015 he joined Biosynth AG in Staad and managed its biolab, since then being involved in R&D projects, biological testing campaigns and problem-solving tasks for customers. At Biosynth Julian had the privilege to contribute right from the beginning heavily to the establishment of the AquaSparkTM technology for luminogenic detection of pathogenic bacteria, which is at the heart of NEMIS. At Biosynth, Julian worked in a GMP and ISO 9001 environment. Over the years Julian acquired broad scientific skills ranging from bacteriology over molecular engineering to materials science and biochemistry. Julian is author or co-author of 25+ peer-reviewed scientific publications and 5 patents. He joined NEMIS in April 2022 as senior lab manager.

Łukasz is curiosity-driven open-minded scientist forging scientific discoveries into practical applications. His whole career revolves around interdisciplinary projects at the edge of chemistry and biology. His main focus are bacteria detection and bacteriophages. He holds a Master degree in Industrial Biotechnology and PhD in Chemistry. Łukasz gained his expertise in various world leading research facilities, such as École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (Switzerland), Princeton University (USA), Centre de Recherche Paul Pascal (France), and Wageningen University & Research (Nederland). He was a holder of Swiss Excellence Government Scholarship and Marie Curie Grant. In his portfolio he has an authorship of over 15 peer-reviewed publications and 3 patents.

Silvan is a microbiologist with a keen interest in practical applications of bacteriophages. He started in the food sector, finishing his Bachelor’s in Food and Beverage Technology in 2018. He then continued with his Master’s in Food and Beverage Innovation, while working part-time at the research group for Food Microbiology at the Zurich University of Applied Sciences. There, he got into first contact with NEMIS, working in the same facilities as their R&D team. After finishing his Master’s in 2021, he continued his work as a research assistant at ZHAW, working on several bacteriophage-related projects. Since September of 2021, he supports NEMIS in the production, purification and controlling of selective components, mainly phages, and fully joined NEMIS in the summer of 2022.

Sandro is a passionate researcher with a strong focus on practice-based innovation. He studied Pharmaceutical Biotechnology (MSc) at the Zurich University of Applied Science (ZHAW) in Wädenswil, Switzerland. After graduation, he started working at ZHAW as a Research Associate in the group of Pharmaceutical Technology and Pharmacology. There he was in the scientific lead of various research projects in the field of formulation development and quality control with a focus on 3D printing and tableting. One of these formulation projects was the development of a tablet for the detection of Listeria monocytogenes in cooperation with NEMIS. This cooperation started in 2019 while since 2022, Sandro has joined the NEMIS team full-time as head of formulation.

With a background in biotechnology, Adriano obtained his BSc in Italy and his MSc at the Wageningen University & Research (WUR) in the Netherlands. During several years after his studies, he embraced the opportunity to study and gain high-level experience in R&D and product development in various countries across Europe, amongst other in the UK, the Netherlands and Belgium. In March 2021, he started his position as research assistant at the ZHAW, with his main focus to optimize the NEMIS Listeria rapid test. Since mid 2022, he has now shifted his work more towards the customer-oriented development of specific applications for this test.

Passionate and experienced microbiologist, Anne-Flore obtained her PhD from Paris Descartes University in 2013 and moved to Seattle to pursue her post-doctoral study at the University of Washington. Enriched by these two academic experiences in the field of host-pathogen interactions in a multicultural environment, she wanted to apply her technical skills and expertise in cell biology, microbiology, biochemistry, genetics, and molecular biology to new challenges and contribute to the development of innovative biotech company. Therefore, she joined in 2019 the laboratory of Prof. Dr. Lars Fieseler at ZHAW in Zürich to develop creative solutions to detect food pathogens as Salmonella and Listeria monocytogenes in collaboration with NEMIS Technologies. With her 10+ years of professional experience in conducting research projects and working on original strategies for current research and biotechnological needs, she officially joined the newly created NEMIS R&D Department as a Senior Scientist in July 2022.

After years of working as a laboratory manager in a wide variety of food industries, I tapped into my own life resources and ventured into something unexpected. At the startup company 1LIMS, I am responsible for lab performance. My passion in my job to support other labs now led me to substitute Claudia Ewert at NEMIS for maternity leave for the next few months.
Sometimes a new challenge is needed. The benefits I gained from this could immediately be used as a bridge to my hobbies. To recharge my batteries I read a lot, like to cook, drink tea and hike with attention in nature.

Alina Bohdan is a strategic marketing specialist with a strong and varied background in sales and B2B marketing programs. Alina began her sales & marketing journey in Ukraine in the IT sphere in a list of outsourcing software development companies such as AMCONSOFT, v-jet group, etc. working as a sales manager. Currently, Alina honed her knowledge of varied marketing programs in CIM (Chartered Institute of Marketing) such as promotion, direct marketing, and marketing innovations, used in successful conjunction with classic advertising. Since 2019, Alina has been providing clients from IT product development, IT consulting, advertising agencies, crypto startups, and affiliate networks with successful multi-faceted cost-efficient marketing campaigns that heighten awareness, boost sales and provide programs that work.

After his apprenticeship as a microbiology laboratory technician, Simon obtained a Bachelor’s degree in Biotechnology and a Master’s degree in Life Science with a specialisation in Pharmaceutical Biotechnology at the ZHAW. He carried out his Bachelor’s and Master’s theses in collaboration with NEMIS Technologies AG with the aim of developing and validating various tablet formulations. After completing his Master’s degree, Simon also worked at the ZHAW as a research assistant in the Pharmaceutical Technology and Pharmacology Group. There he was primarily responsible for optimising various tablet formulations in collaboration with another start-up (Dropz). Since mid-August, he is now a permanent employee at NEMIS and makes an important contribution in R&D, QC and production.

Roger Meier is a seasoned early stage entrepreneur and company builder who assisted many start-up and growth companies and projects in their set-up, team building, talent and fund sourcing etc., mainly but not only in the life sciences sector. He is the founder and owner of Clarena Ltd., a company that serves corporates and executives in the fields of corporate finance, change management, coaching and HR. In his earlier career, he consulted mid to large sized multinational companies at Coopers & Lybrand (later PwC) in the field of financial and risk management. In the 80’s, he helped the US investment bank Salomon Brothers Inc. (in the US, UK and Switzerland) to establish a Swiss client base with institutional investors. Previously, he worked in a Geneva private bank in trading and in Private Banking at Swiss Bank Corp. in Basel. He holds a finance degree from the University of Applied Sciences in Basel.

Urs Spitz is a senior executive, entrepreneur and investor. He studied Organic Chemistry and Computer Science in Zürich, Chicago and Boston and has always remained a scientist at heart. Urs authored and co-authored dozens of patents and scientific publications. After his academic education, Urs gained an extensive professional experience as a consultant with Bain & Co. and as a business manager with the international group Mettler Toledo. Since 2004, he is leading the Biosynth group, a fine chemical manufacturer with sites in Switzerland and Slovakia and offices in the US and China. Urs is an active business angel focusing on early stage investments and board member of several innovative biotechnology companies, and now a co-founder of NEMIS Technologies AG.

Since 2015, Frank has been Chief Operating Officer (COO) and a member of the executive management at Ypsomed, the leading developer and manufacturer of injection and infusion systems for self-medication. He is responsible for global production, supply chain, and QM&RA.Frank has many years of experience in the development and manufacturing of medical devices: former COO and member of management at Nobel Biocare AG, responsible for the global production sites and global supply chain. In the years 2001 to 2012, he held various management functions in the Straumann Group in Switzerland and the US in quality management, production, and development.

After graduating, he started his career at Hoffmann La Roche AG in Basle in the Engineering Department (1990 – 1999). Of German-Swiss dual nationality, he graduated as Dipl. Ing. Mechanical Engineering from the Technical University Karlsruhe followed by further training at the IMD Lausanne and the Harvard Business School (AMP Programme).