BioBridge: Innovation to Start-Up

Our upcoming event, “BioBridge: Innovation to Start-up” aims to inspire and connect early-career scientists with start-up founders who have successfully translated research ideas into entrepreneurial ventures. 

BioBridge event series started in 2025, organised by early career researchers of Postdocs in Flames and Turku Bioscience Centers ‘PhD–Postdoc board’ at University of Turku and Åbo Akademi University. This is the third instalment of the BioBridge events and the event is open to academics of all levels of University of Turku and Åbo Akademi University.

REGISTRATION IS OPEN!
Please register by May 1 here: https://eve.utu.fi/e/biobridge

Confirmed Speakers:

CEO Olli Huhtinen, Evogence
CEO & Co-founder Preethy Paul, ATB Antivirals
CEO & Co-founder Manu Tamminen, Genomill
CSO, Founder, Board Member Jukka Westermarck, Thestra
CSO & Founder Isabella Pönkkä, Pure Luminescence Technologies
CTO Zahra ”Elmira” Jahanshah Rad, SisuSemi and University of Turku
Collaboration Manager Antti Nuutinen, Entrepreneurial Hub Konttori, University of Turku
Process Manager John Holmberg and Co-founder & Coordinator Elias Savonlahti, Turku Startup Hub
Chief Innovation Advisor Jaana Rantanen, Business Finland
Professor of Practice Timo Veromaa, University of Turku
Head of Business Development Anne Marjamäki, Innovation Services, University of Turku

Preliminary Programme (change possible)

11:30–12:15         Registration – Coffee/tea and sandwich

12:15–13:15         Session I: Starting a start-up – support, funding and resources
Host: Doctoral Researcher Rahul Biradar, University of Turku

Opening words
Professor of Practice Timo Veromaa, University of Turku

Innovation Services at the University of Turku
Head of Business Development Anne Marjamäki, University of Turku

Entrepreneurial Hub Konttori
Collaboration Manager Antti Nuutinen, University of Turku

Turku Startup Hub
Co-founder & Process Manager John Holmberg and Co-founder & Coordinator Elias Savonlahti, Turku Startup Hub

Business Finland’s support for research based startups
Chief Innovation Advisor Jaana Rantanen, Business Finland

How to pitch your idea: A personal perspective
CTO Zahra ”Elmira” Jahanshah Rad, SisuSemi and University of Turku

13:15–14:05         Networking session (coffee/tea, pulla)

14:05–15:40         Session II: My start-up journey 
Host: Postdoctoral Researcher Khirul Islam, University of Turku

Evogence
CEO Olli Huhtinen

ATB Antivirals
CEO & Co-founder Preethy Paul

Thestra
Founder & CSO, Board Member Jukka Westermarck

Genomill
CEO & Co-founder Manu Tamminen

Pure Luminescence Technologies
CSO & Founder Isabella Pönkkä

Q&A session with start-ups
Hosts: Doctoral Researcher Giulia Sultana, Åbo Akademi University, Rahul Biradar and Khirul Islam

15:40–16:30         Networking session with startups (drinks and fruits)

16:30                      End of the event

Organising Committee
Postdocs in Flames (PiF) and Turku Bioscience Center’s ‘PhD-Postdoc board’ at University of Turku and Åbo Akademi University
InFLAMES Flagship’s Impact Team, University of Turku

The event is supported by the InFLAMES Flagship, the Doctoral Programme in Immunology, ImmuDocs Doctoral Pilot Programme and the Health, Diagnostics and Drug Development multidisciplinary theme of the University of Turku.