Swiss start-up Microcaps AG, an innovator in microencapsulation technology, has raised CHF 9.3 million (approximately €9.6 million) in a Series A funding round. The round saw participation from new private investors and existing shareholders, including Helvetica Capital AG, Zürcher Kantonalbank, and the ETH Foundation.

The funds will enhance Microcaps’ production facilities and support development beyond cosmetics and fine fragrances. The company aims to scale up manufacturing to meet the growing demand for its Perfume Pearls, which offer long-lasting, ethanol-free scent solutions.

Founded in 2019 by Dr. Alessandro Ofner and Michael Hagander, Microcaps emerged from ETH Zurich’s Complex Material Group. The company specializes in precise microcapsules using microfluidics, enhancing product performance across pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, and food technology.

Microcaps’ Perfume Pearls exemplify their technology, providing unmatched scent longevity and intensity. The company won the “Sensory Bar” award at the in-cosmetics Global show and launched Lamar Caviar Perfume d’Eau with Kajal Perfumes Paris, marking the debut of an ethanol-free, irritation-free perfume.