(Vienna, 02 July 2026) The MedUni Vienna spin-off FOOLPROOF SKIN was named ‘Rising Star of the Year’ in the ‘Retail & Consumer Products’ category at the EY Scale-up Award 2026. The start-up is developing a data-driven app for personalised skin and hair analysis and demonstrates how dermatological research can be translated into digital health and prevention solutions.
FOOLPROOF SKIN was founded in 2024 as a spin-off from the Medical University of Vienna. Its scientific foundation stems from dermatological research and the aim of providing a better, more continuous and more personalised understanding of skin and hair health. The platform combines symptom tracking, trigger detection and ingredient intelligence with AI-powered analyses. FOOLPROOF SKIN is currently in the beta phase, during which the product is being further validated and improved in collaboration with early users.
The app is designed to help users better understand which factors can influence skin or hair problems. These include, for example, skincare products, lifestyle, environmental factors and individual triggers. At the same time, FOOLPROOF SKIN is further developing its business model towards B2B: in future, retailers, cosmetics brands and health and wellness providers will be able to offer data-driven and personalised recommendations.
“This award is a great endorsement for us, confirming that our approach is not only scientifically relevant but also has clear market potential,” says Karoline Strobl, co-founder and CEO/CSO of FOOLPROOF SKIN, as well as a postdoctoral researcher at MedUni Vienna. “We want to help people better understand their skin and hair, whilst building a bridge between research, users and industry.”
The EY Scale-up Award is one of the most prestigious accolades for high-growth start-ups in Austria. In 2026, the country’s best scale-ups and rising stars were honoured across several future-oriented categories from a field of more than 330 applications. The evaluation was carried out by an independent panel of experts as part of a multi-stage selection process.
For MedUni Vienna, the success of FOOLPROOF SKIN highlights the potential of university research to produce innovative and marketable solutions. For those affected by recurring skin or hair problems, a better understanding of individual triggers can help them make more informed decisions regarding care and prevention.