The next revolution in drug development comes from central Switzerland

Lucie, Visienco is an exciting venture. Can you tell us about the company and its mission?

Certainly! Visienco was founded by myself and my two co-founders, Jonas Goldowsky and Edwige Guinet, with the mission to improve how drugs are developed. Traditional methods are often time-consuming, inefficient, and heavily reliant on animal testing. We’re changing that by introducing automated technology to sort organoids. Organoids are mini, lab-grown replicas of organs like the liver or the eye. By using organoids, we can create a more ethical and effective platform for drug testing while reducing dependency on animal models.

What makes your technology unique in the world of drug development?
Visienco’s technology is built on a strong foundation of long-term expertise in organoid technology, combined with advanced optics and microsystems. In many labs, organoid sorting is still a manual and labor-intensive process. Scientists spend hours using microscopes and pipettes to analyze and prepare organoid cultures. This manual approach isn’t just time-consuming—it’s also inconsistent. Our system automates the workflow: Petri dishes containing various organoid types are fed into our platform, which quickly and accurately sorts them using cutting-edge technology. This combination of expertise and innovation results in better efficiency, higher reproducibility, and scalability, enabling researchers to conduct large-scale drug screenings with ease.

Developing innovative technology comes with its own set of challenges. What obstacles did you face?
Our biggest challenge was adaptability. Organoids vary significantly depending on their origin—brain organoids differ from liver or eye organoids in terms of size, structure, and biological characteristics. Designing a system that could handle this diversity while seamlessly integrating into our customers’ existing lab setups while meeting their different needs, was no easy task.

Visienco received support from CSEM. How did this collaboration influence your progress?
CSEM was key in our journey. Their expertise in organoid technology, optics and microsystems allowed us to refine and optimize our technology. Additionally, they helped us connect with potential partners and clients, creating invaluable networking opportunities. On a personal note, working with CSEM gave me exposure to a wide variety of projects and specialists. This broadened my perspective and enhanced our approach to overcoming technical challenges.

Why did you choose Lucern as the base for Visienco?
Our connection to Lucern developed naturally through our collaboration with CSEM in Alpnach. When the opportunity came up to join Technopark Lucern, it felt like the perfect fit. The region’s start-up support program, called ”Zünder”, also provided us with crucial networking opportunities and resources. Lucern isn’t just a hub for innovation—it’s also a fantastic place to live and work!

Looking ahead, what are the next steps for Visienco?

We’re on the brink of an exciting milestone: the official launch of our product within the next six months. Our initial focus will be on clients in Basel’s MedTech and Life Sciences sectors, but we’re already seeing interest from across Europe. To meet this growing demand, we plan to expand our team from three to ten by 2027.

What motivates you personally in your work at Visienco?

I’m inspired by the transformative potential of organoids. They represent a future where drug development is faster, safer, and more personalized. The ability to reduce animal testing while improving research outcomes is also deeply meaningful to me. On a personal level, being part of a start-up has been an incredible learning experience. From technological development to business strategy, every day presents new opportunities to grow and make an impact.

How do you view Central Switzerland's role in innovations like yours?
Central Switzerland has enormous innovation potential. With institutions like CSEM and programs like Zünder, there is an excellent foundation for start-ups. The Technopark Lucerne highlights this regional advantage and offers ideal conditions for turning ideas into reality.