“It’s not easy to explain”, Carina Nieuwenweg chuckles as she describes the essence of her startup. Last June, she defended her PhD project and successfully earned her doctorate. Now, she is in the process of transforming her PhD research into a startup. In this interview, Carina shares the story behind her startup, Novia Biotech. “The funny thing is that the name even is a word-play on my last name.”
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share your background?
“My name is Carina Nieuwenweg, a former PhD candidate at the Laboratory of Microbiology at Wageningen University and Research, where I recently completed my doctorate. I had always wanted to become a fighter pilot and spent three years training in the Belgian military. Unfortunately, I had to stop due to a fatigue virus. Afterward, I studied Molecular Life Sciences in Wageningen, where I developed a fascination for synthetic biology. I also did a master in Military Strategic Studies. My interest in gene drives and synthetic biology eventually led to my PhD project, which is now evolving into a startup, Novia Biotech.”
© Koen Manusama
What problem is your startup aiming to solve?
“We have developed a technology that can easily stack mutations, allowing us to modify the genetic blueprint of yeast in a fast and efficient manner. Yeast can be used as a platform to produce certain compounds such as pharmaceuticals, for which gene editing is necessary. One could use the following analogy: the problem we’re addressing is similar to trying to update Google’s algorithm using an old-fashioned typewriter. That is just not efficient. Although other companies are tackling this by partially automating the process – essentially having a number of robots pound harder on those typewriters – you could say that we’ve developed more of a ChatGPT of bioengineering. This helps us achieve much greater efficiency in stacking mutations.”
How did you identify this problem?
“During my research, we were using yeast to study gene drive technology. With this technology, one can enforce specific mutations to offspring, thereby quickly spreading said mutation through the population. This can be used for example to get rid of mosquitoes that carry malaria. For example, if a certain mutation would lead to all offspring being male, at some point the population will collapse. Halfway through the project, we realized we needed to reverse our approach: that it would be more interesting to use gene drive technology to improve the applications of yeast. And so the focus of the project shifted. The technology allows us to develop a yeast strain much more quickly, one that can serve as an enhanced micro-factory for applications like pharmaceuticals.
How did you come up with the idea to turn this project into a startup?
“After the first positive results, I felt that I wanted to continue with our findings. I did not want my research to end up in a drawer after I defended my dissertation. In academia, usually technologies are developed roughly to the proof-of-principle: you work up to a certain point, and then it’s up to others to take it further. I wanted to continue developing my project, so I turned to Corporate Value Creation at Wageningen University & Research for guidance. Through their advice and by talking to various stakeholders, I began to see where my technology could add value to industry.”
You recently changed the name of your startup. What prompted this change?
“At first, I called the project ‘Super-Mendelian Microfactories,’ which was very descriptive of what we do. But it wasn’t exactly a catchy name for a startup. After some feedback and consultations with a marketing and branding expert, we landed on the name Novia Biotech. ‘Novia’ comes from the Latin ‘novo’ for new and ‘via’ for way, symbolizing a new approach. Plus, it is also a reference to my last name, which I find amusing.”
How does entrepreneurship differ from your work as a researcher?
“As a PhD candidate, you’re already responsible for managing your own tasks and time, but entrepreneurship adds the challenge of leading others. Where I once focused mainly on experimental work, I’m now more involved in building a team and setting a broader vision. It’s a completely different way of working; you need to step back and look at the bigger picture while ensuring your team executes tasks efficiently.”
© Koen Manusama
What are the next steps you want to take with Novia Biotech?
“Now that the PhD is complete, we aim to validate via a proof-of-concept. We’ll be creating a library of yeast strains for a relevant case study. This will provide us with valuable data that we can use to approach potential customers. One of our goals is to establish concrete projects with clients.”
What advice would you give to aspiring entrepreneurs?
“Ask for plenty of help, be open, and don’t hesitate to reach out for advice. Don’t be afraid to seek help, because you can’t do it all alone. Embrace the possibility of failure. While you must avoid obvious mistakes, making some along the way is essential for growth. If you don’t make mistakes, you won’t learn. Organizations and programs like UtrechtInc can guide you, help you navigate, and learn from the ‘right’ mistakes.”
If you know a company or person who could be interesting for Novia Biotech, Carina would love to hear about it! And if you want to learn more about the startup or Carina, please get in touch: carina.nieuwenweg@wur.nl.
Interested in transforming your PhD project into a startup? Explore the programs we offer or contact Lina via email (lina@utrechtinc.nl) to arrange an introductory meeting.
Posted August 2024