€13.9 million for glucose-monitoring wearable

Liom, the developer of the world’s first non-invasive glucose-monitoring wearable, has secured additional €13.9 million (CHF 13 million) in its Series A extension round, bringing its total Series A to CHF 38 million and total funding to date to CHF 63 million. The funds will fuel product developments, with the launch anticipated for 2028.

Founded in 2017 by Leo Grünstein, Liom Health AG (formerly Spiden AG) is developing the world’s first non-invasive glucose-monitoring wearable that enlightens users with unparalleled real-time biophysical feedback on their metabolic health. In future, Liom plans to expand its capabilities by measuring additional biomarkers, including macronutrients like lipids and proteins, as well as ketones, hydration, and lactate, using its proprietary light- and AI-based technology.

The proceeds from the series A extension round will be used to advance the platform as the company gears up for its market launch in 2028. Previous lead investors facilitated the round, with new participation from Red Bull Ventures, Marc Maurer (former co-CEO of On Running), Melih Odemis (former co-founder and CTO of Yemeksepeti), Alejo Costa Ribalta, partner of venture capital firm CRB Health Tech and former senior executive of Philips and GE Healthcare, and others. 

The capital increase follows Liom’s recent breakthrough in miniaturizing its proprietary Raman spectroscopy platform, having proven its ability to measure glucose non-invasively and as the world’s only solution that requires no needles to calibrate whatsoever, on over 130 subjects in the course of the past years.

“Now, we can also be sure that we’ve not only proven the method, but we had the right team and the right amount of luck to generate the required breakthrough innovations in order to bring our platform into a wearable-fitting form-factor” says Leo Grünstein, founder & CEO of Liom. “Our miniaturization breakthrough significantly increases light throughput versus current state-of-the-art solutions – even outperforming table-sized lab-scale devices by 12x – and with that unlocks prior unseen performance, a >24h battery life, smartwatch sizing and manufacturability at scale” Leo Grünstein ads. Collectively, these achievements resolve the most critical technical barriers to bringing non-invasive, calibration-free glucose monitoring to consumers.

ON former co-CEO joins Liom’s Board of Directors
In conjunction with the funding round, Liom has welcomed Marc Maurer, former co-CEO of On Running (valued at more than CHF 11 billion) as both investor and Board member. Marc brings deep expertise in product, consumer value creation, as well as branding and marketing, especially at the intersection of health, fitness and consumer products. His expertise will support Liom as it shifts from R&D into product development and commercialization.

“Nutrition and movement are absolutely key to a high quality of life. Having access to glucose measurements through a wearable on your wrist, without the need for a needle, will allow all of us to understand the impact of nutrition and movement on our body much better and therefore live a healthier life. Liom unlocks mass-adoption by consumers & athletes vs current microneedle CGM devices. I believe Liom has the potential to disrupt and significantly expand the wearable market that has been created by Apple Watch, Samsung Galaxy Watch, Fitbit, Garmin, Whoop, Oura, etc. – yet hasn’t seen sensor-level innovation over the past decade”, says Marc.

(Press release/RAN)