It’s great to hear that Clear2Cure has successfully raised €380,000 from angel investors. They’re putting the money into securing their intellectual property around the world and speeding up preclinical development, which are key steps for future discoveries. It’s nice to see them acknowledge Daan Van der Vorm (SHAPE Capital BV), Hol Treasury, and Stam Capital for their support. Congrats Jord Stam and Jasper van Berkel.
Trianect has recently secured a €1.35 million investment from XO Ventures and CbusineZ! This capital injection will accelerate the development and market launch of StrokePointer™, a portable device designed to assess stroke severity directly in ambulances, enabling earlier and more informed treatment decisions that can dramatically improve patient outcomes. Congrats Wouter Potters and Henk Marquering.
NeuroTidal Diagnostics has won the jury prize at the Sustainable Healthcare Challenge! With just a single drop of blood, their technology can not only detect Parkinson’s but also determine its stage. Congrats Pleun van Veghel and Françoise Dekker.
We have selected five startups from our ecosystem, all making significant strides in the health sector:
💡 SPCTR
Medical device and software platform that analyzes tumors during surgery to ensure complete removal.
Founded by Wido Heeman & Rowan Timmermans
💡Summa Biotech
Restoring damaged heart tissue and revolutionizing treatment for ischemic heart disease through RNA therapeutics.
Founded by Ralf Zaal & Paul B.
💡 Bachteravax
Leverages a successful marketed technology to develop vaccines against microbiome bacteria that can initiate and promote tumor growth.
Founded by Ivo Ploemen & Dinja Oosterhoff
💡 I See U Baby Care
Using video observation with AI to improve the development of preterm born infants we need to implement individualised care with a focus on sleep.
Founded by Chanel Sam
💡 NeuroTidal Diagnostics
Transforming the diagnosis of Parkinson’s Disease with a compound that recognises fibrils, the causative agents for dementia diseases and will develop it as a screening tool.
Founded by Pleun van Veghel & Françoise Dekker
Would you like to join our ecosystem? Find more about our programs.
Spotlight on Hable: Digital accessibility for blind and visually impaired individuals 🚀
We’re happy to shine a light on Hable, one of the startups from our Foundership program! Hable is on a mission to make digital communication accessible for blind and visually impaired individuals, by creating user-friendly, inclusive tools.
Why Hable is making waves ✨
Hable isn’t just about accessibility; it’s about fostering genuine inclusion in our increasingly digital world. At its core, the Hable One is a revolutionary Braille keyboard. It’s designed to make typing and controlling your screen reader faster and easier for blind and visually impaired people. The Hable One specifically operates smartphones and tablets. It’s compact enough to fit in a pocket, connecting seamlessly to any device and enabling complete control without ever needing to touch your phone. With Hable One, you can send messages, write emails, and browse the web using simple, familiar Braille taps, all while keeping your phone securely in your pocket.
The Hable One is especially useful for those with visual impairments in these groups:
Today, over 3,000 users rely on the Hable One every day, with an average rating of 4.9 out of 5 stars. It’s trusted, loved, and ready to help you stay connected. This innovative approach simplifies complex digital interactions, empowering users with greater independence and connection. The platform has the potential to significantly impact various sectors, from education and healthcare to everyday communication for the visually impaired community.
A Story of Impact: Isaac’s Transformation 💡
It’s hard to pick just one, but a story that truly stands out is that of Isaac. He was only 10 years old when he received a Hable One for Christmas. Isaac had been really struggling in school, both socially and with his studies, largely due to his visual impairment. With his Hable One, he gained the confidence to join his classmates on social media, play games on his phone with them, and even use it to take notes in class and do his homework. According to his parents, he became a different person, allowing him to connect and make friends for the first first time in his life. This truly demonstrates the power of accessibility and connection.
The journey from an idea like Hable One to empowering thousands of users often involves significant support. How has being part of an ecosystem like the one fostered by UtrechtInc helped accelerate your mission of digital inclusion?
Entrepreneurship in itself is challenging, combining that with a challenging domain and high focus on impact does not make this any easier. An ecosystem like UtrechtInc assists in many ways. Connecting with entrepreneurs who are several steps ahead of you can help you spot problems before they occur, so you don’t make them. It also gave us access to an incredible amount of resources, from legal expertise to funding expertise to expert founders. This is something you can only get done, at this speed, through this program.
Looking ahead, what’s next for Hable in terms of expanding your reach and impact? How do you envision continuing to revolutionize accessibility and empower even more individuals?
There is so much to do to positively change the lives of people who are visually impaired around the globe. Currently, we are focused on launching our new product, which assists visually impaired people in labeling items around them through smart tech. On a more long-term approach, we want to create a whole new segment in our market, of assistive technology that solves real problems, is affordable, and is simple to use. This is where we see the biggest need on a global scale.
Targeting a specific audience of visually impaired individuals, how did Hable, as a startup, approach understanding the needs of its users to ensure product adoption and impact?
Over the last years, we have had the privilege to talk to an incredible number of customers, testers, and others in our target audience. As a founder, I still talk to customers every single day. Nowadays, the feedback comes directly to us. Our audience is very vocal; any message we send out, we receive hundreds of replies. This allows us to validate new concepts extremely fast and makes sure we focus on building the right things.
‘’Entrepreneurship in itself is challenging, combining that with a challenging domain and high focus on impact does not make this any easier. An ecosystem like UtrechtInc assists in many ways. Connecting with entrepreneurs who are several steps ahead of you can help you spot problems before they occur, so you don’t make them. It also gave us access to an incredible amount of resources, from legal expertise to funding expertise to expert founders. This is something you can only get done, at this speed, through this program.’’ Luuk Jansen, Co-founder at Hable
What’s next for Hable? 🚀
Looking ahead, there’s so much more to do to positively change the lives of visually impaired people around the globe. Hable is currently focused on launching their new product, which assists visually impaired people in labeling items around them through smart tech. In the long term, they want to create a whole new segment in the market: assistive technology that solves real problems, is affordable, and is simple to use. This is where they see the biggest need on a global scale.
We are happy to welcome Caoimhe as our new Marketing Intern! 🎊
‘I’m excited to join the marketing team as an Intern at UtrechtInc! I first got a glimpse of the startup world during an earlier internship with one of UtrechtInc’s startups at the UMC, and now I’m excited to explore it more closely from the inside.
Outside of work, I enjoy cooking, making cocktails for friends, and having a quiet coffee on my balcony. I’m always up for a good conversation about marketing, tech, or houseplants.”
She works Mon-Fri from our office, so come to say hi! 👋🏼 👋🏼
We’re excited to shine a spotlight on Romion Health, one of our foundership startups! ✨
Romion Health is a healthcare AI consultancy dedicated to enabling the responsible adoption of commercially available artificial intelligence (AI)-driven applications in healthcare. They guide healthcare organizations through every step of their AI projects, from strategy and purchase to implementation and evaluation in clinical practice. Romion Health stands out due to its independence, objectivity, and transparency, ensuring unbiased and evidence-based advice tailored to client needs. They also operate Health AI Register, a platform providing insights into the healthcare AI market to empower decision-makers.
🎈Why it matters:
✅ Addresses AI adoption challenges: Romion Health tackles the complexities of responsibly adopting and integrating AI-driven applications in healthcare.
✅ Comprehensive guidance: They provide end-to-end support for AI projects, from strategy and purchase to implementation and evaluation in clinical practice.
✅ Expertise: As independent consultants, they offer objective and transparent advice, prioritizing client needs without the influence of reselling products.
✅ Promotes market transparency: Through healthairegister, they provide curated and objective information on commercially available healthcare AI products, empowering informed decision-making.
✅ Future-proofing healthcare: Their ultimate goal is to contribute to a future-proof healthcare system where quality care is accessible to all, by critically evaluating AI’s potential for positive impact.
🎈 Meet the team:
The founders Kicky van Leeuwen and Stephan Romeijn both have a background in technical medicine, giving them this amazing blend of tech savvy and hands-on clinical understanding. Their goal is clear: to build a healthcare system ready for the future, where high-quality care is truly there for everyone.
But of course they can’t do that alone, so they are supported by great people all true experts in their field: Sade Krijgsman, Maureen Mukami, Margaret Horton, Karel Hehenkamp, Daan Geijs, and Noa Antonissen. Also, even after having left the university hospital to start Romion Health, they feel lucky to still work closely with academia. PhD candidates Marlie Besouw, Khrystyna Faryna, and Joske van der Zande support the expansion of Health AI Register to the radiotherapy, pathology, and cardiovascular domain with their research.
📣 “We are happy to have our base at Utrecht Inc! When we just started the support with e.g. contracts, IP and other legal questions was very helpful. Now, in the new office, we especially enjoy the ability to use the co-working space together with other companies and of course, the always cheerful Utrecht Inc squad!”
Learn more about Romion
Introducing Sealed Cycle: Revolutionizing Waste Management ♻️
We’re happy to shine a spotlight on Sealed Cycle, a startup in our Foundership program! This startup is transforming how organizations view waste, turning it from a problem into valuable data that drives environmental progress.
Did you know that up to 85% of residual waste often consists of materials that should have been recycled in a different waste stream? Sealed Cycle helps organizations dramatically reduce that percentage by providing precise insights into their waste flows. This makes the path to zero waste measurable and achievable.
Why Sealed Cycle matters:
Q
Most of us just throw trash away without a second thought. But Sealed Cycle is showing us that our ‘trash’ is actually valuable information that can help our planet. Can you explain in simple terms how turning waste into data helps organizations, and ultimately all of us, make a real difference in protecting our environment and reducing our impact on the Earth?
A lot of organisations in The Netherlands, like universities and hospitals, have the goal to be zero waste in 2030. The reality is that this goal is quite difficult to achieve, which is in part caused by a lack of data and insight. Reaching zero waste is challenging if you do not know exactly where you are today and what you need to do to get to zero waste. We help organisations by providing exact data on their waste streams, so the goal of zero waste becomes a measurable and achievable goal to work towards.
Q
Sustainability and climate action are huge challenges. How does Sealed Cycle’s technology provide concrete, undeniable evidence that organizations are truly making progress towards a greener future, beyond just good intentions? And how has being part of an incubator like UtrechtInc helped you bring this vital solution to the forefront of environmental responsibility?
The data that we create for organisations provides a very tangible point from which improvements can be made and which is used to measure impact. Our measurements can be used to determine exactly which actions are most effective, so the good intentions of these organisations can be translated to measurable progress and actual improvements. For us as a startup it is equally important to know what actions of our own are effective and which are not. By being part of UtrechtInc’s community, we have a network of like-minded people around us that greatly helps us in determining what we as a startup can do to improve our chances of success.
Q
Imagine a world where every piece of waste contributes to a healthier planet instead of polluting it. What’s Sealed Cycle’s biggest dream for how your data-driven approach to waste management can revolutionize how cities, businesses, and even communities think about their ‘stuff,’ leading us towards a truly circular and sustainable world?
The ultimate goal of Sealed Cycle is to create a system where no materials in the cycle are lost: a sealed cycle of resources. As a society we are still a long way from being there. One of the pressing problems is the way we look at materials. It should not be normal for a piece of plastic, having made the trip from oil to packaging, to be thoughtlessly thrown into the organic waste bin and to end up in an incinerator. Perhaps the most effective way to fix this problem is to revise packaging as a whole. For now, Sealed Cycle will stick to the problems of today: making sure that no plastic ends up in the organic bin or the incinerator.
Meet the team 🚀
The driving forces behind Sealed Cycle are Thomas Voets and Hans Koene. Their expertise and vision are crucial in helping organizations turn their sustainability ambitions into tangible results, making a significant difference for our planet.
Ever wondered what it really takes to launch a science-based startup? 🤔 UtrechtInc & PLNT’s four-week Ideation Program could be your answer. This free online evening course is designed to help you explore how your research can make a real impact.
You’ll join an expert session every Monday and an optional progress session each Wednesday, both from 8:00 PM to 9:00 PM. It’s flexible, free and fits into your schedule.
Who should join us? 🔬
If you’re an employee from one of Utrecht’s top knowledge institutes (Utrecht University, UMC Utrecht, Wilhelmina Kinderziekenhuis, Prinses Máxima Centrum, Hubrecht Institute, or Hogeschool Utrecht), this program is for you!
💡 Sven, Program Manager and Talent Scout at PLNT Leiden💡
With a background in medical sciences, Sven is passionate about helping researchers take their first steps into the startup world. He has worked with early-stage founders from idea to validation, especially in science-based and impact-driven fields.
“I’m genuinely excited about this program because it’s the perfect way for researchers to explore entrepreneurship without needing a full business plan or a team right away. It’s all about curiosity, connection, and building confidence. I love seeing participants go from “I’m just exploring” to “I think I’m onto something!” in just a few weeks.”
Fun fact? Sven can solve a Rubik’s Cube pretty fast; problem-solving under pressure is definitely his thing.
💡 Nanna, Program & Event Coordinator at UtrechtInc💡
Nanna is new to both UtrechtInc and the Dutch startup ecosystem, but she brings six years of valuable experience working with early-stage startups in Denmark. There, she managed a startup grant and focused on guiding startups through their entrepreneurial journey.
“I’m so eager to be part of the Ready to Start team and gain insight into the unique science-based ventures here in Utrecht and Leiden. Plus, I can’t wait to connect with the experts we invite to share their startup journeys.”
Fun fact? Nanna loves doing ceramics and has a unique collection of coffee cups, some of them homemade!
“Elena started her journey through the Ready To Start program, and now runs her own company, StemX Bio, and laboratory at PLNT Leiden & BioPartner 3.”
📍 Where: Online
📅 Application deadline: 3 September 2025
📅 Start date: 8 September 2025
📅 End date: 1 October 2025
What an amazing night celebrating innovation and entrepreneurship! We are incredibly proud to see our incredible startups shine at the 20th Philips Innovation Award Grand Final! ✨
Last night at Theater Rotterdam, eight exceptional student-led startups battled it out live for the Netherlands’ top student entrepreneurship honor: the prestigious Philips Innovation Award. In front of a packed audience and a jury of industry giants, including Philips CEO Roy Jakobs, two groundbreaking ideas from our community ultimately claimed the top prizes:
🏆 Innovator Award – Lumox for their light-activated cancer therapy that targets tumors with precision, reducing the need for invasive surgery.
💎 Rough Diamond Award– I See U Baby Care, whose AI-powered monitoring system helps premature babies sleep better, supporting both families and hospital staff.
Alongside the pitches, the audience was treated to inspiring talks from speakers like Ali Niknam (bunq), Eline van Beest (Hybridize Therapeutics), and Joost Smit (Google).
It’s especially inspiring to see female founders such as Chanel Sam and Irati Beltrán Hernández leading the charge and making such a significant impact with their innovative solutions. ❣️
