Syntropic Medical Raises 7-Figure Seed Investment from xista science ventures and aws to Advance Light-Based Therapy for Mental Health Disorders
Vienna, Austria – April 4, 2024 – We at Syntropic Medical are thrilled to announce that we have secured a 7-figure early-stage investment from xista science ventures and aws (Austria Wirtschaftsservice, the promotional bank of the Austrian federal government).
This funding marks a major milestone for us as we continue to develop our non-invasive, non-pharmaceutical light-stimulation device, a groundbreaking therapy designed to address the unmet needs of patients living with mental health disorders, including major depressive disorder (MDD).
A New Option for Patients Living with Depression
Current pharmaceutical treatments for depression fall short for too many patients:
- Up to 70% fail to achieve remission
- As many as 25% discontinue treatment due to severe side effects
Our light-based therapy offers a new approach. Developed from discoveries by the Siegert Group at ISTA, our stimulation protocol activates microglia to promote neuroplasticity—the brain’s ability to adapt and form new connections. This mechanism opens the door to a safe, side-effect free, and patient-friendly treatment modality.
“Approximately 70% of patients taking pharmaceutical antidepressants will fail to achieve remission, and up to 25% stop treatment because of side effects. These numbers are simply not good enough,” said Mark Caffrey, CEO of Syntropic Medical. “That’s why the discoveries of Dr. Venturino and Prof. Siegert are so exciting—they open the potential for an entirely new, accessible, and safe way to treat these disorders.”
Partnering for Innovation
Our investors share our vision for transforming mental health care.
“By developing a neuromodulation-based approach for mental health disorders, Syntropic is addressing a market with a pressing need and significant potential,” said Florian Resch, Managing Partner at xista science ventures. “We are excited to partner with this ambitious team in commercializing the promising and innovative discoveries made at the Siegert Lab at ISTA.”
About Syntropic Medical
We are an Austria-based pre-clinical stage MedTech company, spun out of the Institute of Science and Technology Austria (ISTA) by Mark Caffrey, Jack O’Keeffe, Dr. Alessandro Venturino, and Prof. Sandra Siegert. At Syntropic, we are developing new technologies that enhance the brain’s neuroplasticity, allowing for the treatment of psychiatric disorders and improvement of cognition. Our mission is to advance mental health care by targeting the underlying causes of brain disorders.
About xista science ventures
xista science ventures is an Austrian venture fund investing in early-stage life science and deep tech startups across Europe. Combining scientific expertise with investor support, the fund helps founders transform breakthrough ideas into scalable businesses. Embedded in the innovation ecosystem around ISTA, its portfolio spans biotechnology, medtech, materials science, and software.