This startup wants to create a sustainable supply chain for pharmaceuticals. Check out the 11-slide pitch deck SkyCell used to raise $57 million.

• Swiss startup SkyCell has raised $57 million in fresh funds from M&G’s Catalyst.
• The startup aims to create a sustainable and carbon-neutral pharmaceutical supply chain.
• Check out the 11-slide pitch deck used to secure the fresh funding.

SkyCell, a startup seeking to improve the sustainability of pharmaceutical supply chains, has raised $57 million from M&G Investment’s private assets arm Catalyst.

The Zurich-based startup, founded in 2012, has created a smart container for pharmaceutical goods such as vaccines, medication, and diagnostic solutions to be delivered globally.

These shipping containers can detect the status of deliveries in real time and maintain everything from the temperature to the vibrations within the box to minimize damage to the goods. This reduces the amount of waste that would otherwise be generated.

The startup’s other main goal is to help pharmaceutical companies reduce their carbon footprint, in an industry that “emits two gigatonnes of CO2 per year, ranking it fifth in the world,” according to cofounder and CEO Richard Ettl.

Customers can use SkyCell’s software platform to “predict CO2 impact and plan routes to maximize sustainability,” according to the company. The shipping containers are also lightweight, which reduces carbon emissions by up to 50%.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, the startup’s product and technology saw increased use when pharmaceutical companies had to ship vaccines — which are especially temperature sensitive — around the world. The containers are built to withstand temperatures ranging from -30°C to over 70°C.

According to Ettl, the startup will reach profitability in 2023 by providing clients with hardware, software, and services. SkyCell has previously stated that it works with “the majority of the top 20 pharmaceutical companies,” as reported by TechCrunch.

Catalyst, which has previously invested in Climeworks and Nuclera, led the round. According to the company, this brings SkyCell’s total funding to $185 million.

This new round of funding will be used to expand its global service center, allowing clients to receive deliveries within 24 hours at their global manufacturing hubs.