UNIIQ invests €1.1 million in healthcare and aerospace start-ups
UNIIQ, South Holland’s proof-of-concept investment fund, is investing a total of €1.1 million in three promising start-ups. Two of these start-ups, AeogridUAV and Inflight ICU, are based at the Aerospace Innovation Hub in Delft and focus on aviation. Clear2Cure is a biotech spin-off in Rotterdam working towards a breakthrough in healthcare. The innovations developed by these start-ups all have significant societal potential. With this investment, UNIIQ is not only boosting these start-ups, but also the innovation ecosystem of the province of South Holland.
Petra de Groene presents the UNIIQ brick to the three startups on behalf of UNIIQ.
Clear2Cure: better treatments for severe infections and immune disorders
Clear2Cure is a Rotterdam-based biotech spin-off from Utrecht University, founded in 2023. It is working on a breakthrough for better medicines using Clearbodies®: antibodies that bind to harmful substances and can link them to an existing degradation mechanism without the need to activate the immune system. This causes far fewer side effects than traditional antibody therapies. The technology is effective against various diseases and has the potential to help millions of patients. UNIIQ is investing €400,000 in Clear2Cure. Founder Jord Stam: “UNIIQ not only supports us with funding, but also actively contributes ideas regarding the further development and clinical validation of our technology.”
AerogridUAV: all-weather drone capable of landing on moving platforms
AerogridUAV enables drones to take off and land safely in severe weather conditions and on moving platforms such as ships. Through its innovation in aviation, AerogridUAV ensures that both the Dutch Ministry of Defence and commercial companies can carry out unmanned flights anytime, anywhere, including in challenging conditions at sea. The start-up is also working as part of a consortium with Orga (Schiedam), TU Delft and the German DLR. With an investment of €350,000, UNIIQ, together with Delft Enterprises, is supporting the further development of AerogridUAV. The startup is already carrying out tests in close collaboration with NATO and the Dutch Ministry of Defence as part of a development project. Co-founder Jack Hayton: “Thanks to UNIIQ, we are able to further develop our drone technology in collaboration with the Ministry of Defence and take significant steps towards operational deployment.”
Inflight ICU: an intensive care unit on every commercial aircraft
Inflight ICU has developed The Guardian: a modular ICU unit that can be installed on commercial aircraft (with three rows of seats). This enables seriously ill patients to fly intercontinentally without the need for expensive private medical aircraft (which cost between €150,000 and €250,000 per journey and emit around 49 tonnes of CO₂ per patient). UNIIQ is investing €350,000 because this innovation significantly improves the comfort of seriously ill patients whilst reducing the carbon footprint by utilising existing commercial flight routes. CEO Rogier van Beugen: “Working with UNIIQ was a very pleasant and transparent experience. The process met our expectations and helped us to continue building our business with a clear focus.”
Finance for the Future
UNIIQ invests in innovative startups from South Holland and helps entrepreneurs bring their cutting-edge ideas to market. This investment round strengthens the regional innovation ecosystem. In addition, UNIIQ offers more than just financial support: it also provides strategic support for positioning, follow-on financing, and partnerships with other companies and knowledge institutions.
“From more targeted treatments and more accessible medical transport to drones that can be safely deployed even under complex conditions. With our investments, we help these entrepreneurs take the step from a promising concept to practical application.”
– Jasper Geselschap, Fund Manager UNIIQ
Wondering whether UNIIQ is the right fit for your start-up?
Schedule a free, no-obligation introductory meeting to discuss where you are now and what a logical next step could be. You can talk through your idea, funding, team and product development, and how UNIIQ assesses start-ups. Together, we will explore whether and when UNIIQ funding could be an option.
