Liom boasts miniaturization breakthrough in spectroscopy-powered continuous glucose monitoring technology.
Swiss healthtech startup Liom has secured a $16.5 million extension to its Series A financing, bringing the round to $48 million, after making a key technical breakthrough in shrinking its non-invasive biomarker monitoring platform to wearable size. The company is initially developing a glucose-monitoring wearable, designed to provide continuous metabolic insight without requiring needles or user calibration – targeting a commercial launch in 2028.
Previously known as Spiden, Liom was founded by serial entrepreneur Leo Grünstein to harness optical sensing and AI in health monitoring. The company’s approach leverages a photonics-based technique called Raman spectroscopy, analyzing light scattering at the wrist to detect molecular signatures associated with glucose. This differentiates the platform from the vast majority of CGM devices, which rely on microneedles inserted under the skin.
According to Liom, its latest miniaturization breakthrough significantly increases light throughput compared with current state-of-the-art solutions, while fitting into a smartwatch-sized form factor with more than 24 hours of battery life.
“Taken together, these achievements resolve the most critical technical barrier to bringing non‑invasive glucose monitoring to consumers,” Grünstein told us. “Our progress builds on peer‑reviewed clinical results demonstrating mean absolute relative difference (MARD) of 14.5% without per‑subject calibration, comparable to early generations of needle‑based monitors.”
While glucose is the initial focus, Liom’s use of Raman spectroscopy means it plans to progressively extract additional biomarkers from its system, including lipids, proteins, ketones, hydration markers, and lactate, enabling a broader and more integrated view of metabolic and physiological status within a single device architecture.
“Because our method is optical and molecularly specific, it is inherently extensible,” said Grünstein. “Our platform roadmap envisions adding additional biomarkers alongside AI‑driven insights – delivered within the same device architecture as capabilities mature – providing a more holistic view of metabolic health.”
The funding extension, which brings Liom’s total funding to date to $80 million, was led by existing investors and includes new participation from Red Bull Ventures, Marc Maurer, the former co-CEO of On Running, Melih Odemis, former co-founder of Yemeksepeti, Alejo Costa Ribalta of CRB Health Tech, and others.
“Having access to glucose measurements through a wearable on your wrist, without the need for a needle, will allow all of us to understand the impact of nutrition and movement on our body much better and therefore live a healthier life,” said Maurer.
Liom says its near-term priorities include integrating the sensing platform into consumer-ready wearable designs, establishing manufacturing processes that preserve performance at scale, and expanding clinical validation to assess real-world use across diverse populations. The company is planning a staged market entry, beginning with a consumer launch in Europe, followed by medically cleared versions in Europe and the United States as it progresses through regulatory pathways.
