Weinberg Campus Accelerator finishes the first batch

The second Startup-Accelerator class starts in January. Applications are still possible until 6th of December.

The first run of the Weinberg Campus Accelerator is history. Since July 2020, start-up teams and young companies have been prepared for their entry into the life science market with the help of industry experts as part of a project sponsored by the European Union and the state of Saxony-Anhalt. Last week, the founder teams said goodbye to the first accelerator class with their final presentations (pitches).

During the last four months, the teams worked on business models, marketing strategies, financing options and certifications, among other things. The participants were coached by the experts Dr. Merle Fuchs, Carsten Grieme, Daniel Worch and Dr. Holger Anhalt. In addition, there was a portion of knowledge about clinical studies and internationalization as well as self-reflection on negotiation and leadership skills. In a digital round, five teams presented their plans to a high-ranking jury.

Five international teams pitched their ideas.

The first was Team TrypCo (Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg), which presented its novel biopharmaceuticals for cancer treatment in a vivid way. The TrypCo technology allows the position-specific connection of proteins with small molecules. One of the antibody-drug conjugates is intended to advance the team into preclinical studies.

“The selection of experts and the advice of the experienced coaches on the various topics is what makes the Weinberg Campus Accelerator so special for us. By participating in the program, we can save valuable time in finding and consulting these consultants ourselves and have the opportunity to focus on our challenges and problems.”

René Wartner from the founding team TrypCo

At the Fraunhofer Institute for Microstructure of Materials and Systems IMWS, the structural protein elastin, which contributes to the elasticity of skin and organs, was intensively investigated. The novel elastin-based wound dressings of the founding project matriheal are intended to improve the healing of wounds. The aim of the team is to found a company in spring 2021.

Next, Agrovac Biotech presented its idea of how to revolutionize the production of plant-based therapeutic proteins. Possible fields of application would be in-vitro diagnostics or vaccines. The team from India would like to settle down with its company at the Technology Park Weinberg Campus in the future.

The founding project MEDWARE PLUS is a spin-off of the Halle-based app developer Mirko Kisser. His app is designed to make the aftercare of patients with an artificial heart (VAD) more effective and successfull. The app is to be launched as a medical device at the beginning of next year.

EastCyte Biosciences GmbH cultivates three-dimensional organ structures for research. The founder of the company, Dr. Thomas Neumann from Halle (Saale), is managing director of Nortis Bio in Seattle (USA), one of the leading American companies in the field of organ-on-chip technology. EastCyte Biosciences is expected to play a key role in establishing the chips on the European market. The Weinberg Campus as a science location in Central Germany and its proximity to the air freight hub at Halle-Leipzig airport offer the best conditions for this.

“The Weinberg Campus Startup Accelerator represents a great program for pre-seed and seed start-ups in the life sciences and medical technology. The intensive program with workshops, coaching sessions and presentation rounds, which take into account the high technological, strategic and financial requirements in these industries, has given each individual start-up team enormous support within four months to focus even more strongly than before on their own goals and success factors, to professionalize key processes and to present themselves even more convincingly.”

Dr. Merle Fuchs

The Accelerator starts into the second round in January. Until December 6th 2020, start-ups or founding projects from the fields of bioeconomy, new materials and greentech as well as interface technologies can apply by e-mail to accelerator@weinberg-campus.de