As work becomes increasingly mobile and decentralised, the need for quiet, private, and flexible spaces is growing rapidly. Stepping into this evolving landscape, Lausanne based startup miros has secured €1.1 million CHF 1 million in a pre-seed funding round to expand its innovative network of connected workpods. The company is reimagining how people interact with workspaces in public and semi-public environments, offering a seamless blend of comfort, privacy, and technology.
Backed by Angels and Local Ecosystem
Founded in 2023 and spun out of the EPFL ecosystem, miros attracted investment from a group of business angels who share its vision for the future of flexible work environments. The funding comes at a crucial stage as the company moves from early validation toward broader deployment.
This milestone follows a strategic manufacturing partnership with Ducommun Menuisiers, initiated through the SyNNergy grant from Innovaud. These collaborations highlight strong local support and reinforce miros’ commitment to building its solutions within Switzerland.
Rethinking Workspaces with Connected Pods
At the core of miros’ offering is a network of smart, connected workpods designed to bring calm and focus into otherwise busy environments such as airports, hospitals, and convention centres. These pods are integrated with a digital platform that includes a mobile application, enabling users to easily locate, book, and access available spaces.
The company’s approach goes beyond simply providing physical pods. It is building a comprehensive hardware and software ecosystem that transforms how workspaces are accessed and utilised. By making workspaces bookable on demand, miros addresses the needs of professionals who no longer operate from a single fixed office.
Founder and CEO Dr Fabio Zuliani emphasised that while pods are the starting point, the broader ambition is to redefine commercial real estate. The company envisions a future where spaces are modular, flexible, and dynamically allocated based on demand.
Designed and Built Locally
Miros places strong emphasis on local design and production. The workpods are developed in collaboration with Lakabi and are fully manufactured in Switzerland. This focus ensures high quality craftsmanship while supporting local industries.
In addition, the project has received backing from the Canton of Vaud to develop a new version made entirely from Swiss wood, known as Bois Suisse. This initiative underlines the company’s commitment to sustainability and local sourcing, aligning with broader environmental and economic goals.
Early Deployments and Real-World Validation
Since its launch, miros has already deployed 15 workpods across Switzerland, working with notable partners such as SwissTech Convention Centre, Beaulieu, and Hôpital Riviera-Chablais. These installations have provided valuable insights into user behaviour and operational efficiency.
The company also participated in GVA Runway Lab, where it tested its solution in a high-traffic airport environment. This experience helped validate strong product-market fit and demonstrated the pods’ usefulness in real-world conditions.
International expansion has already begun with a deployment at Village by Crédit Agricole in Toulouse, France. Since October, this installation has contributed to nearly 350 hours of usage, further confirming demand beyond Switzerland.
Scaling Up Across Switzerland
With fresh funding secured, miros is now focused on scaling its network. The company aims to deploy more than 100 connected workpods across Switzerland by the end of 2026. This expansion will be supported by new partnerships expected to be announced in the coming months.
By combining physical infrastructure with digital accessibility, miros is positioning itself at the intersection of real estate and technology. As flexible work continues to reshape professional life, the company’s vision of modular, on-demand spaces could play a significant role in defining how and where people work in the future.
