Loretta: a meeting, a vision
Loretta was born from the meeting of two passionate individuals: Edwin En-Te Hwu, a researcher at the Technical University of Denmark, and Arthur Dervillez, a PhD student at the same institution. Upon discovering Dr. Hwu’s High-Speed Dermal Atomic Force Microscope, Mr. Dervillez immediately envisioned taking this revolutionary technology beyond experimental research—bringing it to the service of both the cosmetic and medical fields.
His objective was clear: to make the world’s most precise skin analysis accessible to everyone, inclusively, from major cosmetic laboratories to dermatology patients, from the lightest to the darkest skin tones, unveiling the tiniest secrets of the barrier that protects our bodies.
A rapid rise
Just after meeting, Edwin Hwu and Arthur Dervillez began to shape their vision alongside their respective research. They quickly started presenting it within the university and gave it a name: Loretta. The project immediately sparked interest and began to materialize for both researchers.
Less than a year later, after gaining recognition from Business France and relocating to Mr. Dervillez’s home country, the Loretta project became official. The start-up launched in December 2024 to fulfill the needs of its first potential client—and from there, the journey quickly gained momentum.
From DTU to the CCI
Originally developed at the Technical University of Denmark, the Loretta project was quickly incubated in Chartres, France, at The Place by CCI 28.
Cosmetic 360
In late 2024, even before the company officially launched, the Loretta team attended the prestigious Cosmetic 360 trade show, generating strong interest from numerous industry stakeholders.
The Cosmetic Victories
With less than a year of existence and facing international competition, Loretta won the Industrial Prize at the Cosmetic Victories 2025.
Les Trophées des Entreprises
Loretta also made its mark locally: in 2025, the start-up won the Trophées des Entreprises, a contest gathering all companies in the French Eure-et-Loir department.
The team
Arthur Dervillez
Chief Executive Officer
Arthur Dervillez
Chief Executive Officer
PhD Student, DTU Health Tech
Doctoral candidate in bioanalysis with extensive research experience in detecting and analyzing biological properties for innovative cosmetic applications.
6 years of experience in biophysical methods and team management.
Edwin En-Te Hwu
Chief Scientific Officer
Edwin En-Te Hwu
Chief Scientific Officer
Associate Professor, DTU Health Tech
23 years of experience in biomedical diagnostics, drug delivery, and micro-instrumentation. Author of over 100 peer-reviewed publications and holder of 22 licensed patents across 9 companies. Raised 78 million DKK in startup funding. Co-founder of BluSense Diagnostics, Ardic Instruments, nt-unit, and Atto 3D. Mentor to three startups.
Jen-Hung Wang
Chief Technology Officer
Jen-Hung Wang
Chief Technology Officer
Research Assistant, DTU Health Tech
5 years of software development experience related to AFMs and nanometrology. 3 years of experience in machine learning and computer vision. Internships in automation and automotive at Bosch AG and Bertrandt AG.
Maël Peron
Chief Operating Officer
Maël Peron
Chief Operating Officer
Holds four undergraduate degrees in Humanities. Experienced in team management, organizational operations, and administration. Trained in the use of the HS-DAFM, he is in charge of operations and data management.
Tim Berthelet
Chief Sales Officer
Tim Berthelet
Chief Sales Officer
Chief Sales Officer
Holds a Master’s degree in Political Science with several years of experience in public affairs and team management. Marketing strategy expert, responsible for customer relations, communication, and social media.
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