Swiss deep-tech startup and Empa Spin-Off Ionic Wind has closed an oversubscribed US $2.1 million pre-seed round to fast-track the industrialization of its solid-state airflow technology. The funding will accelerate the rollout of Ionic Wind’s ultra-thin, silent airflow accelerators - a new class of cooling modules with unprecedented design freedom that can eliminate the need for mechanical fans.
The funding round, which was led by SICTIC, with participation from Aare Ventures, Startfeld, CADFEM, Wartmann Futura, HAL, Valuemaker Invest and Kickfund, will support product certification, IP expansion, and the final steps toward market readiness. Ionic Wind is now advancing multiple customer projects, targeting next-generation single-board computers, high-performance laptops, and edge-AI devices where silent, compact cooling is a fundamental bottleneck. "The quality of our investors gives us a real competitive advantage. I am grateful for their trust and collaboration. They bring valuable expertise and network for opening the right doors - and much faster", says Donato Rubinetti, CEO and Co-Founder of Ionic Wind.
Ionic Wind’s airflow accelerators use high-voltage electric fields to generate airflow, replacing the mechanical rotation that traditional fans depend on. With no moving parts, the modules deliver targeted, high-velocity airflow in an ultra-thin form factor, enabling cooling in places where fans simply cannot fit or perform. This architecture removes the noise, vibration, and mechanical wear that constrain today’s device designs - allowing electronics to run cooler, quieter, and more reliably.
By decoupling airflow from mechanical movement, Ionic Wind unlocks design freedom for next-generation devices. The company’s modules can be integrated along the edges of compact enclosures, behind dense chipsets, or embedded directly into structural elements - creating airflow paths that were previously impossible. For laptops, single-board computers, and edge-AI systems operating at ever-higher power densities, solid-state airflow enables thermal performance that scales without enlarging the device footprint.
"Ionic Wind’s solid-state airflow technology marks a significant breakthrough in device cooling. This innovation opens the door to silent, reliable, and compact design possibilities, particularly in mobile devices," says Flavio Heer, SICTIC investor and founder of Zürich Instruments. "As a board member and investor, I am excited to support Ionic Wind in accelerating this innovation and bringing it to market."
Ionic Wind’s technology also eliminates common failure points associated with fans. With no bearings, blades, or motors, the modules are well-suited for edge deployments, mobile devices, and mission-critical electronics. Their silent operation opens the door to new device classes where acoustics or vibration have historically been barriers.
"To me, Ionic Wind embodies Swiss deep tech in its purest form: scientifically grounded, industrially scalable, and globally relevant. The technology solves a real problem in the computing electronics industry - silently, energy-efficiently, and in a form factor that previously seemed impossible. I’m excited to support the team on this journey as an investor and board member", says Tom Zimmermann, SICTIC and Swiss Shark Tank investor.
The shift to solid-state cooling: thin, silent, and built for the AI era
Ionic Wind targets the rapidly growing segment of compact, high-performance electronics - from edge-AI computers and next-generation laptops to industrial sensor modules and single-board computers. In these systems, thermal limits, noise, and form-factor constraints have become decisive bottlenecks, because current cooling solutions do not scale with thermal demands. For manufacturers, the ability to cool more in less space is now a competitive advantage.
The group of investors combines deep-tech experience, semiconductor know-how, and manufacturing expertise. Crucial, to drive Ionic Wind’s next cooling frontier: scalable solid-state airflow technology developed in Switzerland and engineered for worldwide adoption.
"Asia has maintained industry leadership in mechanical fan manufacturing for decades, yet solid-state airflow technology introduces an entirely new engineering paradigm. By combining Swiss innovation with Asia’s highly developed manufacturing ecosystem - and aligning the design with the stringent compliance requirements of modern electronic systems - we see significant potential for meaningful technological and commercial breakthroughs.", says Yin-Ting Chang, an engineer with over ten years of applied experience in electronic regulatory compliance, certification processes, and product integration. The disruptive nature of this technology is what ultimately led him to join the Ionic Wind team.
The current investment follows significant early-stage support through the BRIDGE Proof-of-Concept program, Venture Kick, Klimastiftung, and the Gebert Rüf Stiftung’s InnoBooster, which enabled key early technical milestones.
Ionic Wind
Ionic Wind is a Swiss deep-tech spin-off from Empa developing solid-state airflow engines that replace mechanical fans in electronics. Founded in 2025, the company brings together a team with scientific expertise, industry experience, and a strong entrepreneurial drive. Ionic Wind’s mission is to remove thermal constraints in computing by enabling silent, ultra-thin, and sustainable solid-state cooling solutions.
SICTIC is the largest and most active angel-investor network in Switzerland, connecting private and institutional investors with early-stage, high-growth Swiss tech startups. With a community of over 500 investors and a track record of funding hundreds of high-potential Swiss start-ups, SICTIC offers capital, mentoring, and deep network access - making it a critical springboard for technology scaling.
Aare Ventures is a Bern-based network that connects selected Swiss deep-tech and high-tech startups with active business angels from the Bern region. The group organizes regular pitch and investor-matchmaking events, providing early-stage companies access to capital injection, business mentorship, and a community of investors who prefer scalable, technology-driven business models.
Startfeld is the startup support initiative of Switzerland Innovation Park Ost (SIP Ost), serving as one of Switzerland’s top-ranked startup hubs. It provides ambitious early-stage companies with non-dilutive grants, seed funding, access to co-working / lab infrastructure, and a broad network of mentors, industry partners, and experts.
CADFEM is a leading European simulationand digital-engineering company offering advanced CAE tools and consulting services across industries. Through its "Investments in Startups" program, CADFEM backs more than 30 deep-tech ventures, supporting them not just with capital but also with access to simulation resources, engineering know-how, and industrial-grade modelling infrastructure.
Wartmann Futura is a Swiss investment company that partners with exceptional early-stage founders developing breakthrough technologies with long-term industrial relevance. The firm combines entrepreneurial experience, strategic guidance, and patient capital to help startups scale from first prototype to sustainable business. With a focus on ventures that unite technical depth and clear market potential, Wartmann Futura supports teams in building enduring companies capable of shaping the industrial landscape of tomorrow.
HAL is a Swiss investment holding that invests in high-potential companies across sectors. HAL supports its portfolio companies with long-term capital and strategic flexibility, enabling founders to scale innovative technologies with a stable financial partner.
Valuemaker supports highly ambitious and committed founders with pre-seed funding, coaching, access to resources, and integration into a broader entrepreneurial network. By combining financial support with mentorship and infrastructure access, Valuemaker helps early-stage ventures accelerate from concept to viable startup - especially those with strong technological or deep-tech components.
Kickfund is a Swiss venture capital firm backing early-stage technology start-ups emerging from the Venture Kick ecosystem. The firm provides capital, mentorship and broad innovation-network access to select spin-offs from Swiss universities.
Flavio Heer, Tom Zimmermann, Frank Bärtschi, Thomas Mürset, Jürg Reinhardt, Thomas Glaus, Markus Dutly, Michael Barben, Martin Leuch, Nicolás Berlanga Ramseier, Jonathan Wartmann.
