Aukera: The Venture Leader Biotech driving drug discovery

Meet Stefan Imseng, Co-Founder of Aukera. The biotech startup focuses on developing a first-in-class inhibitor to address neurological disorders and cancers. In June, Stefan will join nine other Biotech innovators on a business development and investor roadshow in Boston.

Name: Stefan Imseng
Location: Basel
Nationality: Swiss
Graduated from: University of Basel (PhD)
Job title: CEO & Co-Founder
Number of employees: 4
Money raised: CHF 3M (grants and investments)


Can you tell us who your product or solution helps, and how?
Aukera's solution follows a fundamentally novel strategy to target mTORC1 -  a prime target in several human diseases. We leverage AI-driven protein design to enable and accelerate lead discovery for targets that have traditionally been hard to drug.

What market are you addressing and what is the potential of your startup in that market?
Aukera is focused on developing new treatments for rare neurological disorders and cancer. Our lead program has first-in-class potential and aims to deliver disease-modifying therapies for patients with high unmet medical needs.
 

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How and where did you come up with the idea for your startup?
Aukera's scientific groundwork was laid during my PhD studies at the Biozentrum, University of Basel. The idea of building a company around it took shape thanks to the entrepreneurial environment created by several Biozentrum Spin-offs and excellent support schemes from the Innovation Office of the University of Basel.

What do you expect from the Venture Leaders roadshow, and how do you think it will help you achieve your vision?
It's an honor to follow in the footsteps of so many successful Swiss biotech companies. I’m excited to explore the Boston ecosystem and gain exposure to the U.S. pharma and investment landscape. I also look forward to expanding my network with industry experts and fellow Venture Leaders.

What are your team’s key achievements to date?
We've raised CHF 3 million in pre-seed funding from non-dilutive sources and investments. That support helped us build an innovative drug discovery platform and deliver promising candidates with a strong competitive advantage in our lead program.

Is there a key principle or value that guides you as you build your company?
Aukera is built on strong science and driven by data and rigor. We also believe that openness and trust are essential for successful collaboration — both within the team and with our partners.

What is the most important lesson you have learned as a founder?
Clear communication is at the heart of every successful interaction. And often, the biggest challenge is breaking down complex topics into something simple, yet precise.

What is your favorite productivity hack or tool and why?
I find that solving a problem often takes less time than figuring out how to approach it. For me, nothing beats a walk in the park to clear my head for new ideas. 

What was your dream job when you were a child?
I was obsessed with science fiction and dreamed of becoming an astronaut — exploring the unknown. In a way, that dream came true… just in the lab instead of outer space.