“Technology is the smallest part”
“Technology is the smallest part”
With quiet pride, Sabrina Badir looks back on the ten-year journey of her ETH spin-off, Pregnolia. At the same time, she feels a sense of connection with the next generation of ETH entrepreneurs who are only just starting out.
You’re a movement scientist. How did you end up founding a start-up in pregnancy care?
SABRINA BADIR – During my studies I was increasingly drawn to biomechanics and medicine, so I attended mechanical engineering lectures to gain the fundamentals of mechanics. I wrote my master’s thesis at the Institute for Mechanical Systems, which had long collaborated closely with clinicians to apply mechanical principles to medical diagnostics and therapy. For example, the technology behind Pregnolia was already the product of ten years of prior research. My doctoral project explored its application in connection with changes in the cervix. I realised that the hospitals involved were very interested in continuing the study beyond my doctorate and eventually developing a device to measure cervical stiffness – which had emerged as a highly relevant biomarker for pregnancy care. But it wasn’t until I heard about the ETH Pioneer Fellowship Programme that I considered becoming an entrepreneur myself.
How were your first steps on that path?
Through the Pioneer Fellowship, I learned how to turn a scientific paper into a business. As a scientist, my world had revolved around the technology I was developing. As a young entrepreneur, I realised that the technology would be the smallest part of my company’s success. I was incredibly curious, full of questions and eager to find answers – it opened up an entirely new world for me. What I find so wonderful about this world is how open all these extremely busy people are. Other entrepreneurs know how challenging – and often lonely – this path can be, so they support one another wherever possible.
“We want to make prenatal check-ups for millions of pregnant women around the world more precise and proactive.”
Where is Pregnolia today?
We’ve come a long way. Over the past ten years, we’ve turned an idea into a product that’s approved for use in Europe. We’ve generated entirely new data showing that a softer cervix is associated with an increased risk of preterm birth. We’ve also succeeded in being recognised by the scientific community as a pioneering company set to improve prenatal care. Today we collaborate with world-leading gynaecologists from the UK, the Netherlands, Italy and the USA – experts who present Pregnolia’s work at major conferences to help pave the way for its adoption in clinics. We also man aged to convince investors of our business case even before the Femtech industry existed and gender medicine was a buzzword. To achieve all this, we’ve had to alter our strategy several times.
What’s next?
As mentioned, our measuring device is approved, but that’s not enough on its own. We need guidelines that allow doctors to make informed decisions based on the measurements. These guidelines can only be developed through largescale studies. Caring for pregnant women is a particularly sensitive area, which means extensive clinical data is required. So we need to collect even more data. We’re also working on gaining approval for the US market. Our long-term vision is clear: we want the measurement of cervical stiffness to become a new clinical standard – not just to improve care for highrisk pregnancies, but to make prenatal check-ups for millions of women worldwide more precise and proactive. Compared with traditional methods such as palpation or ultrasound-based assessment of cervical length and dilation, the Pregnolia system is far superior. But for a global roll-out, it will take a different kind of expertise – one that goes beyond what our current team has built. That’s why our aim is to reach a stage where a larger company can take Pregnolia further. We’re already in talks to form such a strategic partnership.
Pregnolia won the 2025 Femtech World Award for Innovation in Obstetrics and Gynaecology. What does this mean to you?
This kind of external validation and visibility is wonderful – and extremely important for us. The Femtech World Awards are organised in the UK, which helps us a lot there, especially since we can’t yet afford large-scale marketing campaigns.
Would you consider giving something back to ETH Zurich if your current strategy for Pregnolia succeeds?
Absolutely! That’s exactly why I signed the ETH Founder’s Pledge. Without ETH and its donors, Pregnolia would never have come into being. So for me, it’s only right that success should flow back to ETH. More broadly, I think it’s important to remember that generations are connected to each other – especially in a time so marked by individualism. Supporting young entrepreneurs fits perfectly with a connectivity mindset.
ETH Founder’s Pledge
With a Founder’s Pledge, entrepreneurs emerging from ETH Zurich make a non-binding pledge to support ETH and its future generations with acts of philanthropy. Founders such as Lukas Böni of Planted and Philipp Furler of Synhelion have already made the commitment, paving the way for a sustainable, connected start-up community at ETH.