“From Lab to Launch: Ways to Finance Your Science-Based Start-up”

Wednesday 14 May 2025, 14:00 → 19:00 Europe/Berlin

Start-up Labs Hamburg

EMBLEM, HEREON, and DESY are joining forces to host the event
"From Lab to Launch: Ways to Finance your Science-Based Start-up" on May 14th.

The campus partners EMBL, Hereon, and DESY are jointly hosting once again a dynamic community event at the crossroads of science and entrepreneurship. This year the focus is on navigating the funding landscape and equipping scientists with the knowledge and resources needed to secure financial support for their entrepreneurial ventures.

The event aims to provide promising scientists and future entrepreneurs with insights into funding opportunities, to help them secure the financial backing necessary to transform their ideas into successful ventures. With the support of the organizing institutions, the event fosters entrepreneurial initiatives and provides critical strategies for accessing funding opportunities.

Attendees will connect with peers at various stages of their entrepreneurial journey, facilitating knowledge exchange and collaboration. The networking opportunities will help participants engage with potential investors and discover the appropriate funding structures to support their ventures, ensuring they find the right financial pathways to bring their innovations to life.

Please note that attendance will be on a first-come, first-served basis. 

Agenda (subject to changes):  

14:00 - 14:30  
Introduction and Keynote 
"Lignin-based Cosmetics: Challenges of Bringing a Long-cherished Idea from Bioeconomy Research to Life"
Keynote Speaker: Wienke Reynolds - CTO/Co-Founder of Lignopure

14:30 - 15:30  
Panel Discussion  
"Pioneering Progress: Insights from Deep Tech Founders & Funders"

Panelists : 
Rositsa Jordanova, CEO/Co-founder of protyon
Lukas Gaats, CEO/Co-Founder of MO:RE
Victor Izraylit, Founder of Memorthotic
Mika Mänz, CEO/Founder of acitoflux 
Thomas Wille, Innovation Manager of SPRIND Bundesagentur für Sprunginnovationen

Moderator: 
Jürgen Bauer, Deputy Managing Director of EMBLEM Technology Transfer GmbH  

15:30 - 15:50  
Networking and Coffee Break

15:50 - 17:00  
Speed Dating with Experts  

17:00 - 17:10
Closing Remarks 

17:10 - 19:00  
Networking and BBQ

Location: Start-up Labs Hamburg
Address: Luruper Hauptstraße 1, 22547 Hamburg   
Public transport: bus 2/3/X3, station „Stadionstraße“ 

About the Speakers/Panelists

Wienke Reynolds, CTO of Lignopure, studied bioprocess engineering and earned her PhD in biorefinery technology at TUHH. In 2019, she co-founded Lignopure as a spin-off from TU Hamburg. The company produces high-quality ingredients from lignin - a natural component of woody biomass - with properties like UV protection and antioxidant effects, offering sustainable alternatives for cosmetics and advanced materials such as composites and coatings. LinkedIn

Rositsa Jordanova is a dynamic leader and interdisciplinary professional with profound knowledge in life sciences, healthcare, innovation and education. She holds a PhD in biochemistry, and worked as a structural biologist at EMBL Hamburg and later on as a business developer at the University Medical Center in Groningen. In 2022, she co-founded Protyon together with Matthew Groves and Josef Melcr. Protyon helps match patients with the most effective therapy by predicting drug responses using 3D protein models. They focus on lung cancer and targeted treatments. LinkedIn

Lukas Gaats is the Founder and CEO of MO:RE, a Hamburg-based biotech start-up developing an integrated platform for the culture of “human mini-organs,” improving outcomes in early-stage drug development, ultimately substituting animal testing. Lukas holds an MBA and an M. Sc. in Biomedical Engineering from TU Hamburg, specialising in regenerative medicine. LinkedIn

Victor Izraylit is a scientist in the Micro-/Nanotechnology department of Hereon within the Institute of Active Polymers. His start-up Memorthotic uses technology of shape-memory polymers to create medical compression stockings that are easy in dressing on and off. With this, Victor aims for better patient experience and higher adherence, while lowering secondary costs for the healthcare. He is happy to share his experiences with financing in the pre-founding phase and the challenges he overcame. LinkedIn

Mika Mänz is a deeptech investor, start-up mentor, and venture advisor with 18+ years of experience in tech consulting, global strategy, and innovation. He holds a degree from RWTH Aachen and actively builds digital ecosystems and international partnerships to unlock strategic access to future technologies. As Founder & CEO of acitoflux, an independent Company Builder and Innovation Capital Partner based in Stuttgart and Hamburg, he supports start-ups, corporates, and investors in scaling breakthrough innovations. acitoflux focuses on Future Mobility, New Space, and Life Sciences, offering validated investment opportunities and strategic capital advisory through its Investor Office. LinkedIn

Thomas Wille studied physics and, after earning his PhD, moved into integrated circuit development. For over 30 years at NXP (formerly Philips Semiconductors), he worked in various roles designing and developing cryptographic and security ICs for ID documents, smart cards, and mobile payment solutions. For the past five years, he has been supporting SprinD as an Innovation Manager, focusing on semiconductors, chip design, and security.

Jürgen Bauer holds a Ph.D. in Molecular Biology from Johann Wolfgang Goethe University and has held senior roles in both industry and academia, including positions at Nestlé, Lesaffre, Axaron Bioscience, and Gentana. He is Deputy Managing Director at EMBLEM Technology Transfer GmbH, EMBL’s wholly owned subsidiary and technology transfer partner, where he has been responsible for business development since 2011. He serves as board member of different companies, associations and consortia.

 

 

Available Experts for the Speed Dating

In addition to the listed panelists, the following experts will be available during the Speed Dating:

Nina Alswede is in charge of Research & Innovation at Hamburg Invest. As networking expert she takes care of research intensive, innovative companies in Hamburg and those which would like to set up business here. Focus areas are decarbonization, especially green hydrogen, AI, quantum computing, life science, green tech and circular economy. LinkedIn

Wiebke Brandt is the Head of the Hamburg Investors Network (in a Tandem Leadership). The Hamburg Investors Network (HIN) is a department of IFB Innovationsstarter GmbH, Hamburg's most active investor. The Network connects capital-seeking startups with suitable investors. Business angels, family offices, VCs, and CVCs benefit from the regular deal flow, individual matchings, and active network building. LinkedIn

Tobias Gräwert is the Co-Managing Director of the EMBL spin-off BIOSAXS GmbH. LinkedIn


Frank Holtrup is the Managing Director and Chief Technology Officer at Haystack Oncology, partly based at tecHHub. Haystack Oncology uses the next generation of circulating tumour DNA (ctDNA) detection technology to determine success or necessary further treatment after surgical intervention at the earliest stage. He has an extensive background in cancer functional genomics and diagnostic assay development and over a decade of experience in liquid biopsy. LinkedIn

Felix Krieg is a start-up consultant at Hamburg University of Technology and a member of the Startup Port network in northern Germany. In his role, he accompanies events such as the start-up camp and the start-up toolbox workshop series. He specializes in start-up financing and has gained professional experience as a consultant at PwC. LinkedIn

Hannes Olbrich, Head of Investor Office & Venture Builder at acitoflux, is responsible for fundraising support and investor network development at acitoflux. He sets up and develops global investment strategies with LPs, VCs & CVCs/Corporates. His expertise lies particularly in the areas of fundraising and investor networking. LinkedIn

 

Friedrich von Rantzau, Head of Innovation & Transfer Helmholtz Zentrum Hereon, is responsible for technology transfer, intellectual property, innovation, start-ups and transformation. He enables scientists to put their research findings into practice. In his role, he pursues the preservation of a future worth living. The knowledge generated at Hereon and the new technologies researched are used for greater resilience and sustainability - for the benefit of the climate, the coast and people. LinkedIn