Akina

About Akina

Akina, a Swiss MedTech startup founded in 2021, is a spin-off from ETH Zurich and the ETH AI Center. The company was established by Dr. Florian Haufe (CEO) and Dr. Michele Xiloyannis (CTO), who identified significant gaps in physiotherapy and rehabilitation during their collaborative research in medical robotics at ETH Zurich. Haufe, with a background in mechanical engineering from ETH Zurich and research experience at Harvard Medical School, brings expertise in applying technology to medical challenges. Xiloyannis holds a PhD in Medical Robotics and has a background in biomedical engineering and neurotechnology, focusing on using technology to help individuals with neurological conditions. Their shared history as former athletes, a competitive sailor and a hockey player respectively, provides them with a personal understanding of the potential of physical movement.

Akina has developed "Akina Cloud," a CE-certified software-as-a-medical-device designed to support physiotherapy patients with their at-home exercises. The platform addresses the common problem of patients failing to complete independent therapy due to a lack of motivation and clinical feedback. It operates on a hybrid model, combining AI-guided home therapy with traditional in-person physiotherapy sessions. Using a device's webcam, the AI-powered software analyzes a patient's movements in real-time to provide feedback, ensuring exercises for musculoskeletal conditions like back and joint pain are performed correctly. This approach is intended to make home exercises more effective and engaging for patients.

The company's business model targets both patients and physiotherapy practices. Physiotherapists can prescribe and customize evidence-based therapy plans for their patients through the Akina Cloud platform. The software allows therapists to remotely monitor patient progress through automatically generated reports, enabling them to adjust treatment plans asynchronously and dedicate more in-person time to core therapeutic aspects. For practices, Akina offers a partner program that creates additional revenue streams, as the company is working to have its solution covered by health insurance plans. The software is currently accessible via web browser on Windows and macOS devices. Since its founding, Akina has secured significant funding, including a CHF 1.6 million pre-seed round in 2022 and a CHF 2.8 million seed round in early 2025, to fuel its growth in Switzerland and prepare for European expansion.