Successful networking at the 4th SME & Start-Up Pitch Event @ CLIB

For the fourth time CLIB brought together young companies, industry experts, investors, and consultants for our “SME & Start-up Pitch Event”.

Half a day in the heart of Düsseldorf to get to know innovative biotech and bio-based businesses and connect with people for form collaboration and partnerships. This year, 10 companies were invited to present on stage:

Catavis Applied Biotech is a spin-off of the KIT innovating enzyme immobilisation by not bringing enzymes onto a scaffolder material, but by creating the material from the enzymes itself.

Pangea Algae is producing Chlorella in Germany with a unique and highly automated reactor design to bring down costs and allow for fast scale-up.

Human Material Loop uses a highly abundant waste material – human hair from hair saloons – to produce home textiles with a 43 times lower CO₂ footprint compared to wool.

LABMaiTE GmbH offers AI-powered experiment design services for bioprocess development lowering number of experiments and increasing yield for their customers.

LigniLabs GmbH is producing lignin Microcapsules, that can enhance efficiency in many sectors such as additives, crop protection, or drug delivery.

Lignopure GmbH upcycles crude lignin with their proprietary technology to unlock its natural properties for high value markets – such as sun protection.

Nettle TOC bv uses fermentation to produce nettle concentrate, which can be used as pesticide and fertiliser, but also processes the residual streams to valorise the whole plant.

Numaferm GmbH presented their Numaswitch technology allowing for cost-effective peptide and protein production using switchable inclusion bodies.

Tasseikan B.V. developed a bio-based technology enabling cost-effective FDCA production for a sustainable PEF production.

VCG.AI GmbH supports customers in finding more sustainable alternatives for their ingredients or feedstocks by combining data on science, markets, and regulations.

 

Traditionally, the audience could vote for a few awards right after the pitches:

Human Material Loop and Tasseikan shared the first place for the largest potential sustainability impact.

For the award for the fanciest technology there was a tie between Catavis Applied Biotech and LigniLabs.

The award for the most engaging pitch was given by LabMaiTE.

And VCG.AI won the award for the technology most likely to scale within the next three years.

Congratulations to all companies winning in one category.

 

In two networking breaks the participants had the chance to get to know each other, exchange ideas, and plan next steps to kick-off collaborations. Networking even continued even after the official end of the event.

Thank you to everyone attending the pitch event this year or presenting something on stage. We are looking forward to welcoming you back next summer for the fifth SME & Start-up Pitch Event @ CLIB!