Year 2011 in Zürich, SpiroChem was founded as an ETH spin-off. Having our roots in one of the most prestigious research centers for Science (in particular chemistry), we were equipped with values that we have been fighting ever since: creativity, hard work and integrity.
20th November 2012, the same day our CEO became a father for the first time, SpiroChem received the termsheet for its first financing round to support our growth. Unforgettable days that put us on a successful trajectory and enabled us to develop ourselves faster.
BOSS XIII - Leuven, Belgium - Our first conference as exhibitors and our CEO, Thomas Fessard, was the only attendee wearing suit and a tie. He got more relaxed (from a dress code point of view) but the passion and enthusiasm remains the same as on that first conference of ours. Meeting fellow scientists and entrepreneurs is fueling our ability to innovate.
Year 2015, we signed our first FTE contract with a biotech company in North America! This was the beginning of our fruitful collaborations with biotechs, for whom our innovation, speed and quality are important components of their R&D strategy.
Our job is to find solutions to problems. Back in 2016, there was no scalable and efficient way to manufacture bicyclo[1.1.1]pentanes. Moreover, this motif was recently (2012) demonstrated to be a novel bio-isosteric replacement to benzenes … which was enough to convince us to take on the challenge. The result: a process patent that shortcuts the existing route by several steps and made its production scalable.
In 2017, we relocated the company from Zürich to Basel, leaving a leading intellectual center of excellence to what is arguably the most vibrant Life Science Hub in continental Europe, home of the Swiss pharmaceutical industry for over a century. The move took us to the Rosental area, where fully equipped research laboratories, ample space to expand and a great network of scientists allowed us to accelerate our growth.
What began with a small handful of passionate chemists slowly grew into a larger team. At the end of 2018, the SpiroTeam counted 20 employees, most of which are chemistry experts who shared the same passion: solving problems in chemistry. 20 individuals that created the spirit, energy and strength that SpiroChem projected on the outside.
After time period of strategic market penetration in Japan, we successfully signed our first FTE contract with a Japanese client. This contract demonstrated that our focus on innovation and quality was the right choice. And this was only the beginning…
Since 2018, our team expanded in size but the spirit within the company remained the same. Carefully selected top notch chemists in a profound interview process, where deep scientific knowledge, creativity and team spirit are evaluated. Each new addition is bringing a new set of complementary skills, while our company spirit and values must remain strong.
The Year 2021 marks the first decade for SpiroChem. We kept on our growth path and passed the 60-employee mark and established leadership on the elite segment of the discovery chemistry. Our best-in-class skills and track record of success are the evidence that our decision to focus for quality and creativity was right. Now with over 60 employees and top-notch scientists, we are well set for success in the next decade. A big thank you to our passionate chemists, dedicated employees, supportive advisors, and anyone who made this venture a success.
This celebration extends to all new and old collaborators, partners, clients and groups that supported our work through our ten years.
A huge thank you to all of you!
