LayerLogic, a deeptech start-up that originated as a spin-off from Sweden’s Chalmers University of Technology, reports that it has closed a EUR 470,000 pre-seed round led by Scientifica Venture Capital.
LayerLogic is one of the start-ups selected by Scientifica’s Call4Ideas Super Sapiens Europe and attracted the attention of the investment fund because of its development of an innovative biosensor technology for the rapid and timely detection of food contamination.
At the heart of this innovation is a portable biosensor based on graphene field-effect transistors (gFETs). By functionalising the graphene surface with highly selective receptor molecules, the sensor guarantees high sensitivity and precision, enabling rapid and accurate detection of bacteria, viruses, fungi and contaminating molecules in food. Food testing results are delivered digitally in less than 15 minutes, compared to the 2-4 days required by traditional methods. All in a compact, easily transportable format suitable for direct use in food production lines.
The use of this state-of-the-art sensor not only increases food safety, but also allows manufacturers to drastically reduce downtime and waste, avoiding economic losses of up to €200,000 per contamination event.
The idea of LayerLogic, founded in 2024 in Gothenburg, saw the light of day within the Department of Quantum Device Physics, Microtechnology and Nanoscience at Chalmers University, and it was Charmel Venture, the university’s venture builder, that first invested in the initiative.
The team was born from the meeting of three engineers: André Persson (CEO), Ebba Sandbecker (CCO) and Sebastian Samuelsson (CFO) with Munis Khan, Avgust Yurgens and Santosh Pandit, three researchers active in the fields of nanotechnology and two-dimensional materials with a focus on the development of graphene-based devices.
“We chose to invest in LayerLogic because it represents a virtuous example of how materials science can translate into scalable innovation with high industrial and social impact. The combination of proprietary technology, multidisciplinary team and clear market positioning is perfectly in line with our investment strategy,’ says Riccardo D’Alessandri, managing partner of Scientifica Venture Capital, in a note.
“We want to bring the power of science directly into the hands of those who produce and control the food we consume every day. We believe in a future where food quality and safety can be guaranteed in real time,” says André Persson, CEO of LayerLogic (pictured with the team)
Sustainability and social impact are among the core values of the Swedish team, which emphasises that early detection of pathogens is directly linked to protecting consumer health, reducing food waste and promoting more conscious and responsible production. For this reason, LayerLogic will use the funds raised in this round to accelerate the final development and distribution of its sensor technology, with the aim of bringing the product to market quickly and generating a concrete impact in food safety.
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