Highlights
We monitor the growth and performance of our start-ups by collecting data on their funding rounds and other growth indicators. The endorsement by renowned academic institutions, the evaluation by our scientific Advisory Board, and the selection by our high-level Jury contribute to a very high survival rate of our winning start-ups. Many of them later become high-potential investment targets, poised to make a global impact in the years to come.
One of my personal highlights in 2022. Extremely well organised event with highly interesting participants.
Dominik Schumacher – Co-Founder & CEO of Tubulis, Finalist 2022
Some Success Stories
Acquired by Partner: T3 Pharmaceuticals was awarded Falling Walls Science Breakthrough of the Year in the Science Start-ups category in 2018. Following initial investments and ongoing support from our valued partner Boehringer Ingelheim Venture Fund, the company was acquired by Boehringer Ingelheim in 2023 for 450 million CHF. Their innovative cancer therapy platform harnesses the natural behaviours of live bacteria and is now undergoing clinical studies.
Acquired by Partner: T3 Pharmaceuticals was awarded Falling Walls Science Breakthrough of the Year in the Science Start-ups category in 2018. Following initial investments and ongoing support from our valued partner Boehringer Ingelheim Venture Fund, the company was acquired by Boehringer Ingelheim in 2023 for 450 million CHF. Their innovative cancer therapy platform harnesses the natural behaviours of live bacteria and is now undergoing clinical studies.
8.0 Billion USD Acquisition: In 2013, Ton Logtenberg pitched Merus at the first ever edition of Falling Walls Venture. In September 2025, Merus reached an agreement with Genmab to be acquired in an all-cash transaction for a total consideration of 8.0 BILLION USD, making it one of the largest acquisitions of a European biotech company to date. This serves as a great example of the promise posed by Falling Walls Venture – 12 years before this big acquisition, Merus was pitched on stage at the Falling Walls Science Summit.
8.0 Billion USD Acquisition: In 2013, Ton Logtenberg pitched Merus at the first ever edition of Falling Walls Venture. In September 2025, Merus reached an agreement with Genmab to be acquired in an all-cash transaction for a total consideration of 8.0 BILLION USD, making it one of the largest acquisitions of a European biotech company to date. This serves as a great example of the promise posed by Falling Walls Venture – 12 years before this big acquisition, Merus was pitched on stage at the Falling Walls Science Summit.
Revolutionising Cancer Therapy: CollimateHealth raised a €6 million oversubscribed seed round to develop a radically new biological approach for cancer patients, with Falling Walls Venture playing an important role in the process. Initial connections to one of the investors were made at the Falling Walls Science Summit 2025.
CollimateHealth has developed a clinically scalable microbeam radiation therapy designed to revolutionise the way cancer is treated. Current radiation therapy typically relies on broad, low-dose beams and causes significant side effects. By contrast, microbeam radiation therapy uses bundled, extremely narrow beams in the micrometre range at a much higher dose.
Revolutionising Cancer Therapy: CollimateHealth raised a €6 million oversubscribed seed round to develop a radically new biological approach for cancer patients, with Falling Walls Venture playing an important role in the process. Initial connections to one of the investors were made at the Falling Walls Science Summit 2025.
CollimateHealth has developed a clinically scalable microbeam radiation therapy designed to revolutionise the way cancer is treated. Current radiation therapy typically relies on broad, low-dose beams and causes significant side effects. By contrast, microbeam radiation therapy uses bundled, extremely narrow beams in the micrometre range at a much higher dose.
From Vision to Vanguard: At the Falling Walls Venture Stage 2023, Francesco Sciortino’s Proxima Fusion won the Cluster Sustainability in the Science Start-up Category. What began as a bold pitch has quickly evolved into Europe’s leading venture in fusion energy. Proxima Fusion published their reactor design, Stellaris, which takes the stellarator concept further in order to make fusion energy more practical than in traditional reactors.
Their €130 million Series A round, the largest in European fusion to date, empowers them to build a pivotal test coil by 2027 and bring their demonstration reactor, Alpha, online by 2031. Driven by innovation, open science, and political momentum, Proxima Fusion is redefining what is possible in clean energy.
From Vision to Vanguard: At the Falling Walls Venture Stage 2023, Francesco Sciortino’s Proxima Fusion won the Cluster Sustainability in the Science Start-up Category. What began as a bold pitch has quickly evolved into Europe’s leading venture in fusion energy. Proxima Fusion published their reactor design, Stellaris, which takes the stellarator concept further in order to make fusion energy more practical than in traditional reactors.
Their €130 million Series A round, the largest in European fusion to date, empowers them to build a pivotal test coil by 2027 and bring their demonstration reactor, Alpha, online by 2031. Driven by innovation, open science, and political momentum, Proxima Fusion is redefining what is possible in clean energy.
Repeated Success: In 2019, Alessandro Grillini-Kromm embarked on his journey as a Finalist from Falling Walls Lab with a pitch on his PhD research "Breaking the Wall of Neuro-Visual Diagnosis". In 2020, he founded Reyedar, a start-up that has developed an innovative system for detecting neurovisual disorders. In 2023, he also convinced the Falling Walls Venture Jury and was awarded Falling Walls Science Breakthrough of the Year 2023 in the Science Start-ups category. The company’s first product, the SONDA Screener, is now CE Certified and was officially launched in 2024.
Repeated Success: In 2019, Alessandro Grillini-Kromm embarked on his journey as a Finalist from Falling Walls Lab with a pitch on his PhD research "Breaking the Wall of Neuro-Visual Diagnosis". In 2020, he founded Reyedar, a start-up that has developed an innovative system for detecting neurovisual disorders. In 2023, he also convinced the Falling Walls Venture Jury and was awarded Falling Walls Science Breakthrough of the Year 2023 in the Science Start-ups category. The company’s first product, the SONDA Screener, is now CE Certified and was officially launched in 2024.
Science Breakthroughs
Discover the Science Breakthroughs of the past years in our Science Start-up category.