H.J. (Hans-Juerg) Jost
CEO
Karsa Oy
The startup develops chemical threat detection technology that identifies persistent and mobile chemicals across various matrices, including explosives, drugs, and pesticides in food. This technology enables clients to implement tailored detection systems and components for enhanced security and safety measures.
- Chemical Technology
- Defense Tech
- Hardware
Updated 14 days ago
Funding
Raised to date
$3.3MRaised to date based on public sources. This may differ from the amount the company actually raised and is based only on what is publicly available on the internet.
Funding rounds are not available yet.
Founders
Aleksei Shcherbinin
CPO
Product
Problem
Existing cargo screening methods struggle to detect a significant portion of illicit goods, such as explosives and drugs, leading to security vulnerabilities and societal harm. Traditional techniques often lack the sensitivity and speed required to effectively screen large volumes of cargo at border stations and air cargo terminals.
Solution
Karsa provides end-to-end solutions for airborne chemical analysis, enhancing security and environmental research. Their Scenthound EVD system addresses the limitations of current cargo screening by detecting vapor molecules emanating from explosives, illicit drugs, and other contraband within cargo containers. This vapor detection technology complements existing X-ray and CT equipment, improving both security and throughput. For environmental applications, Karsa offers the MION2, a multi-scheme chemical ionization inlet that integrates with mass spectrometers to enable highly sensitive and selective analysis of airborne chemicals, bypassing traditional chromatographic techniques.
Target Audience
Karsa serves security professionals in aviation and border control, as well as scientists and researchers in environmental monitoring and atmospheric chemistry.
Features
- **Scenthound EVD:** Air sampling unit that collects vapor samples from cargo containers without opening them.
- **Scenthound EVD:** Rapid analysis device with supporting software that provides immediate screening results via a simple green light/red light interface.
- **MION2:** Multi-scheme chemical ionization inlet for highly sensitive and selective detection of airborne chemicals.
- **MION2:** Ability to switch between multiple reagent ions and polarities for versatile analysis of a wide range of compounds.
- **MION2:** Seamless integration with Orbitrap and TOF-based mass spectrometers.