Swiss SkyCell secures $116 million to optimize pharmaceutical transport with clever chilly chain containers

Switzerland-based SkyCell has raised $116 million in a Series D funding round for its technological solution that improves the drug supply chain for air travel.

Founded in 2013, the startup manufactures temperature-controlled containers using proprietary cold chain technology to monitor and optimize functions such as cooling, moisture protection and shock absorption.

The containers are also equipped with a patented insulation system that reflects thermal radiation, allowing self-charging in cold environments such as refrigerated vehicles. This ensures a constant temperature between -80 °C and 25 °C, depending on the model.

Effective cold chain storage has become an important part of pharmaceutical logistics as demand for medicines increases worldwide. It can protect sensitive products from contamination, spoilage and loss of potency.

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SkyCell combines its hardware with a logistics software solution that uses simulation and operational data to enable pharmaceutical companies to monitor deliveries from start to finish in real time. The software also provides risk assessments across the entire supply chain to prevent drug loss.

The company says its containers transport around $2.5 billion worth of pharmaceutical products, including vaccines as well as cancer and diabetes drugs. It also claims its solution can reduce carbon emissions by up to 50% thanks to the lightweight, smart containers.

“By digitizing the pharmaceutical supply chain, we will reduce transportation delays, product waste and temperature deviations and ultimately build supply chain resilience,” Richard Ettl, co-founder and CEO of SkyCell, told TNW.

“This means everyone along the entire pharmaceutical supply chain wins.”

The Series D funding round includes $59 million from growth investor Tybourne Capital Management and CC Industries (CCI). This follows a $57 million equity investment from Catalyst, M&G Investments' purpose-driven private asset strategy.

With the fresh capital, SkyCell plans to expand its business in the US and Asia.