The company takes a significant step toward expanding its footprint and expertise in microbial diagnostics
Anabio, a Bengaluru-based femtech startup innovating in the menstrual hygiene space, has announced its acquisition of Microbe Investigations Switzerland (MIS), a Zurich-based company in microbial research and diagnostics.
The announcement was made recently at a special event hosted at Swissnex, marking a new era of collaboration between India and Switzerland in advancing biotechnology innovation.
Founded in 2017 in a garage in Hartford, Connecticut, USA, and relocated to Bengaluru, in 2018, Anabio has grown into a global innovator. With this acquisition, the company takes a significant step toward expanding its footprint and expertise in microbial diagnostics, microbiome research, and sustainable applications across multiple sectors.
MIS, a spinoff from ETH Zurich, is a boutique Contract Research Organization (CRO) specialising in microbiology, virology, and entomology services. It caters to a wide range of industries, including textiles, disinfectants, plastics, paints, biopharma, insecticides, and pesticides, serving clients from over 75 countries. The acquisition positions MIS to scale its operations and align with Anabio’s vision for global growth.
The event witnessed participation from prominent dignitaries, including Priyank Kharge, Minister for Electronics, IT, Biotechnology, and Rural Development, Government of Karnataka; Ruchi Bindal, Department of Electronics, Information Technology and Science and Technology, Govt. of Karnataka; Jonas Brunschwig, CEO and Consul General of Swissnex; Mithun Shah, CEO of Anabio Technologies; and Prof. Dr. Hendrik Tevaearai, Chairman of the Board, MIS.
The event also saw the unveiling of MIS’s new logo and website, symbolizing a fresh brand identity as the company embarks on this transformative journey under Anabio’s leadership.
Speaking on the occasion, Mithun Shah, CEO of Anabio Technologies, said, “This acquisition is a defining moment for Anabio as it aligns with our mission to harness microbial technologies for a better future. The expertise of MIS will enable us to accelerate innovation and bring cutting-edge solutions to global markets.”
The Government of Karnataka has been instrumental in Anabio’s success. The company has received unwavering support through programmes such as Elevate funding, incubation at the Bangalore Bioinnovation Centre, and empanelment under the Preferential Procurement and Market Access Program.
Speaking at the event, Priyank Kharge, Minister for Electronics, IT, Biotechnology, and Rural Development, Government of Karnataka, said, “This acquisition is a testament to Karnataka’s thriving biotech ecosystem. With initiatives like Elevate, Unnati, world-class infrastructure, and a supportive policy framework, we are proud to enable startups like Anabio to thrive and lead globally.”
Speaking at the event, Jonas Brunschwig, CEO and Consul General of Swissnex remarked, “The acquisition of Microbe Investigation Switzerland by Anabio marks a milestone in Indo-Swiss collaboration, blending Indian ingenuity with Swiss precision to drive groundbreaking advancements in biotechnology. This partnership not only strengthens the global biotech ecosystem but also sets a powerful example of how cross-border innovation can address critical challenges in health and sustainability.”