An insect-based protein powder and a digitalhese are the innovative projects of Fribourg start-ups D4P and Lowimpact food, which have joined the Fri Up support program.
Lowimpact food:
How can we feed the planet in 2050, given a growing population and limited resources? Lowimpact food’s answer is to rely on insects. Insects are an excellent source of protein, the production of which has a much lower ecological impact than traditional meat. The only problem is that, on the plate, insects are often perceived as unappetizing. The start-up has therefore developed an innovative process to help sensitive stomachs make the transition to eating insects. Based on the AgriCo campus in St-Aubin, the team raises mealworms fed on spent grains from breweries and fruit juice producers. The insects are transformed into a high-protein powder that can easily be incorporated into a variety of foods, such as pasta or cereal bars. Sustainable and circular, the Lowimpact food project has convinced Fri Up, which will support its team in particular for future fund-raising, marketing and the pursuit of R&D and technology transfer activities.
D4P: In Switzerland today, almost half of the 2.2 million people with chronic diseases do not take their medication correctly. Whether it’s an oversight or an incorrect quantity, this lack of adherence costs the healthcare system more than 30 billion francs every year. In response to this problem, the start-up company D4P – Dose for Patient has developed a digital solution that enables medicines to be tracked from the moment they are ordered to the moment they are taken by the patient. Thanks to an app developed by D4P, pharmacists can scan each drug ordered as they prepare patients’ weekly doses. They also use the app to get a reminder of when and how much to take their medication, and to validate that they have taken it. In the case of non-autonomous patients, this is done by the caregiver. D4P’s application also opens up a direct communication channel between pharmacist and patient, thanks to a chatbot. Convinced by this innovation, Fri Up will support D4P in validating the business model, raising funds and establishing contacts with healthcare players and EMS in the canton of Fribourg.