Quantune's Smart Wearable Could Transform Diabetes Care

According to German tech magazine Gründerszene, Berlin-based startup Quantune has secured €13.5 million in seed funding to develop a groundbreaking wearable health monitoring device. The funding round was led by US-based Point72 Ventures and Munich's Vsquared Ventures, contributing €8.5 million, while the remaining €5 million came from the European Innovation Council (EIC) and Berlin Investment Bank (IBB).

Founded in 2019, Quantune has developed a chip-sized laser spectrometer that can measure biochemical processes through the skin without invasion. The technology uses mid-infrared spectroscopy and photoacoustic sensors to detect various molecules, including glucose, alcohol, fats, and toxins.

The company's primary focus is on glucose monitoring, a feature eagerly anticipated by diabetics who currently rely on invasive blood testing methods. "When you can measure the body's biochemistry in laboratory quality, non-invasively and through the skin, that's a giant step toward capturing important health data seamlessly," explains Jan Kischkat, one of Quantune's co-founders.

While the technology currently exists as a laboratory platform, Quantune aims to miniaturize it further for integration into consumer wearables by 2028 or 2029. The funding will support a large-scale preclinical study over the next three years and help double the team size, with particular focus on hiring senior-level positions across various departments.

The venture represents a significant advancement in wearable health technology, moving beyond basic fitness tracking to provide laboratory-grade molecular analysis in a consumer device.