Call for participation: Successful course for innovative companies
Download BioRiver Boost! 2019 - Pressemeldung
Düsseldorf. A pioneering idea and specialist know-how are no guarantee for the success of a startup company. The direct contact with decision-makers and the shortest possible paths to the market leaders are necessary to successfully place a new product or a sensational technology on the market.
This is exactly where BioRiver Boost! is on, the Life Science Founder competition is proclaimed for the sixth time in 2019. Young companies and start-up projects in the field of life sciences, who want to conquer the market with a creative idea, will gain the best business contacts.
"When we were starting the BioRiver Boost!, our competition was among the first platforms to life science founders, which at a very early stage in the development of the company could have the direct and uncomplicated exchange with leading industry representatives. This is still the big chance of the competition." says Frauke Hangen, Managing Director of BioRiver e.V. in Düsseldorf. "Selected participants present their project to the top-class jury of experienced life science managers from global firms and known investors. The feedback includes expert advice that gives the founders valuable impulses, for example, for further project development or marketing. "The competition is being continuously developed, with the result that institutional investors now also belong to the jury.”
Representatives from global life science groups such as Bayer, Miltenyi Biotec, QIAGEN and UCB Pharma, and investors, including NRW.BANK and Business Angels, will be represented in this year's jury. Further company representatives, investors and successful founders are expected to join the pitch presentation of the finalists on October 15, 2019.
The invitation to apply approaches to all founders and start-up projects in the life science industry; it does not matter whether the foundation is a spin-off from the university, a spin-off or an independent foundation. In addition to a core of applications from the Rhineland, more and more national and European applications were submitted in recent years.
Promote progress
"Foundations in biotechnology and the life sciences are realizing highly innovative research results that can solve urgent societal challenges in the areas of health, nutrition, raw materials and energy." Berthold Boedeker, former Chief Scientist of Bayer AG, initiator and longtime jury member of the BioRiver Boost!. "BioRiver-Life Science Rheinland e.V. is an association of over 110 member organizations and, as an expert network, provides access to leading specialists in science, industry and business development. The aim of the competition is to further strengthen the extensive regional business network and to promote the market entry of promising products and processes."
This is how the whole competition will look like: Application deadline for submission of the online application is August 31, 2019. The jury then selects from the submitted ideas eight projects, which are going to present to the expert jury and the interested audience on October 15, 2019 in Bergisch Gladbach. "The benefit for the participants is that they can discuss their project in direct exchange with global players. From our experience, this exchange results in concrete cooperation or financing by sponsors ", emphasizes Dr. Hangen.
The closing award ceremony on October, 15th will give extra attention to the best three applying start-ups, and will boost their publicity.
Professor Dieter Willbold, winner of the BioRiver Boost! 2018, can only confirm that. With his company Priavoid, founded in 2017, he develops specific therapies for neurological diseases, including Alzheimer's. Only recently the first phase of clinical trials was successfully completed. "Participation in BioRiver Boost has brought additional attention to our very young company, as well as contacts to potential development partners and investors. By participating in BioRiver Boost! our business network was further developed. The general need during the starting phase of your business to bring the key points to the listeners again and again, sharpens your arguments with every repetition. The application for BioRiver Boost! has paid off for us in any case! "
For further information on application, call +49 (0) 211/316 06 10 or visit www.bioriver.de
