Bewe: From Neuroscience to Nationwide Impact — A Future of Health Grant Journey

When Bewe joined the Future of Health Grant program, they brought with them something rare in digital health: a scientifically validated method to rewire the brain at neurological root to reduce cravings. What began as a decade of research in a university neuroscience lab is now evolving into one of Switzerland’s most promising digital therapeutics in nutritional and behavioral health.

Today, Bewe is gaining traction within Switzerland and abroad, from pilots with CSS to national media coverage, but their journey has been anything but linear. It’s a story where science meets opportunity, and the right support arrives at exactly the right moment.

This story is Bewe’s journey inside the Future of Health Grant!

Bewe’s technology is based on more than fifteen years of research led by Prof. Lucas Spierer, Head of the Laboratory for Neurorehabilitation Science, Medicine Section, University of Fribourg and the startup’s CSO. His team developed a cognitive-motor training method that can meaningfully reduce unhealthy cravings, whether linked to food, sugar, alcohol, or smoking.

The idea is powerful in its simplicity: a few minutes of targeted gameplay each day (based on a go/no go methodology) can help rebalance the brain’s reward system, leading to measurable reductions in cravings and healthier long-term habits.

As CEO Fréderik Plourde explained in Bilan (19 November 2025):

“Thanks to a gamified approach, we enable users to reprogram their brains… After just three weeks of training, the consumption of problematic foods can decrease by 30 to 70%.”

Bewe is already available on the App Store and Google Play in limited trials, including the one offered to CSS insures through the pilot.

The Future of Health Grant is designed to help early-stage digital health startups gain traction, validate their solution in the real world, and build the evidence needed for market entry. For Bewe, this journey took place across all three levels of the program; It is the first to have gone through all three steps.

To illustrate this, we often show the following visual, a snapshot of Bewe’s evolution inside the program.

The visual tells a simple story: at each stage, Bewe defined a small number of strategic objectives, and the program activated the right support to achieve them:

• Innosuisse coaches specializing in digital health

• Mentoring from partner organizations (hospitals, insurers, pharma, tech, etc.) on specific topics (e.g. regulatory, legal, etc.)

• Non-dilutive grant funding

• CxO-as-a-Service experts, who work with the team on specific deliverables (CTO, CMO, CFO, etc.)

Fall 2022, Level 1: Turning more than 10 Years of Research into a Product Vision

Bewe joined the first edition of the program in Fall 2022. At the time, their scientific foundation was solid, with two published randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and hundreds of users already validating the efficacy of their cognitive-motor training method. However, they needed to translate that research into a viable product and business roadmap. During this first phase, with support from Innosuisse coaches, they structured their value proposition, refined their business model, and further developed their first MVP (originally designed for research purposes).

Fall 2023, Level 2: A CEO Joins to Lead the Next Phase

The second stage was a turning point for Bewe. Their MVP began evolving into a fully-fledged product, thanks in large part to the arrival of Frédérik Plourde, a seasoned entrepreneur who joined as CEO. Under his leadership, Bewe secured its first private funding and began laying the foundation for a scalable go-to-market strategy.

Spring 2025, Level 3: Pilots, Health Economics, and Real-World Validation

Today, Bewe is in Level 3, where the focus shifts from feasibility to validation in the real world. With support from CSS, they are now engaging in clinical and economic assessment, two essential ingredients for future reimbursement. Through its health coaching program, CSS is offering the app to its insured members while also providing key healthcare metrics to validate the solution’s clinical usability, cost-effectiveness, and scalability. In parallel, clinical pilots are underway with Ensemble Hospitalier de la Côte (EHC)’s endocrinology department as well as the multidisciplinary obesity center of Neuchâtel (CPNO).

Bewe’s trajectory shows:

• How a strong scientific foundation before market entry sets the stage for long-term success
• How the right support at the right time accelerates a startup’s development
• How clinical, economic and scalability validation shape a viable digital therapeutic
• How cross-sector partnerships (insurers, clinicians, academia) turn science into real-world impact solutions

Bewe is also gaining visibility outside the startup ecosystem.
They recently reached a national audience through the renowned RTS TV health program 36.9°, bringing their science and mission to millions of viewers. A feature in Bilan, provided a deep look into their research, business model, and vision, further cementing their position as a standout player in Switzerland’s digital health landscape.

Bewe embodies what happens when groundbreaking research is brought to life by a dedicated team, supported by the right structure, partners, and resources. Their story reflects the essence of the Future of Health Grant: helping digital health startups transform validated science into solutions that can scale, integrate, and eventually reshape care pathways through practical steps.

With ongoing pilots, national visibility, a growing team, a uniquely evidence-based approach and a funding round nearing completion, Bewe is emerging as a strong contender to transform how we prevent and treat behavioral-related health conditions.

While many digital health startups are still navigating the journey from idea to real-world impact.
Bewe is already opening new doors for digital health by showing what’s possible – and proving that innovation can truly change lives.

Are you a digital health entrepreneur ready to follow in Bewe’s footsteps? Apply now and start your own journey!