A biotech start-up company in Munich

Seeking contacts and information.

I am interested in founding a spin-off biotech company. I (we) have proprietary technology and this technology can lead quite quickly to product (health care related). On the 12th of October there will be a seminar at the BioM AG in Martinsried on pre-seed financing that is possibly available. If anyone has expertise or knowledge of this, I would be interested in touching base with you. There is a great possibility of extra support and financing from established companies in Germany and within Europe. The expertise or knowledge I (we) would be seeking is on the legal/business side and writing specific applications for major funding requests. This is not the same as basic grant writing as this needs to specify future earnings potential and applications resulting from the technology development and products.

Guests (yes, I suspect many of you have such expertise) and members are encouraged to contact me if you qualify or have contact knowledge that could benefit such an endeavor.

Warning: This is not a fly by night scheme and I need professionals and serious enquiries only.

New request: I need someone with computer animation and presentation building skills. This will incorporate stills, graphs and charts, flash and animated GIFs, voice over for various languages, image morphing and stuff I probably haven't even thought of yet. The entire length of what we want to put together would be 15-20 minutes tops.
I now have contacts to major players within Europe, but we need our presentation automatic, systematic, hydromatic and well, you know Greased Lightnin!

Ok, I just got back from a business elbow rubbing meeting with the Florida Meets Bavaria networking delegation of Life Science and other business peeps from here and there. The meeting and the evening gala included Jeb Bush, US Ambassador Timken, Christian Ude and many others. Contacts were made on all levels for our start-up adventure. Very positive indeed!

Now I have some new requests:
1) We need business cards made. Anybody out there that does this?
(I never had so many people ask for a business card in all my life.)

2) We need a catchy name. Yeah, we got something, but I don't particularly like it. We need something that means something to the everyman and doesn't have any sort of negative connotation. The biotech company will be involved in protein engineering to produce therapeutic proteins and peptides, biomarkers and proteins that glow and all this can lead to better diagnostics and treatments. Yes it is "gene engineering" in a sense, but the product will actually be a better protein. So, name that company?

Mods: could you perhaps change the title. Something like "Biotech start-up company-various forms of help and information sought". Or if you have a better idea, I'm game.

Glowing Bio-Muc?

Well, I was going to suggest Biolumin or Luminex, but those appear to already be taken. I suppose they're a bit too obvious. Bioluminous Solutions, maybe? Hm, I'll have a think and get back to you.

Edit: Haha, sorry, just realized that would give the acronym BS...tee hee...

Just out of curiosity, are your "proteins that glow" developed for contrast solutions for diagnostic imaging?

Not all the proteins we can and will work with will "glow". For diagnostic purposes, we could build a better protein for targeting cells in the human body and then that protein is labelled with a heavy metal for "contrast" to aid in diagnostic imaging. The possibilities for protein modification are endless and our deal is that we can do it faster and better.

This is what we are up to in case anyone is interested. MutaMax.
The proposal has been submitted at the end of February. It was a lot of work, but I think we have a good chance. Boss man thinks that the recent happenings with Tegenero will perhaps hinder our application, but I am not so pessimistic.

Mods: You could change the title to "Saga of a biotech start-up". I will post stuff here as we go along.

Update: Whoohoo, we passed the first phase and made it to round two. From nearly 200 applicants, we made into the final 28. Now it is all about the business plan. Help!

congrats! What name did you use?

Well, the application was rejected in the final round. Not sure yet why, but most likely because of a piss poor business plan and an unconvincing (typical German style) presentation.

Will have to look for alternative routes of financing. Anyone got a spare 10 million?

so, you never actually said what your product is... what do you actually make?!?

ps, i am a molecular biologist

We make commercially relevant proteins better or create new proteins with completely new abilities. We will be taking our platform to new sources of financing in the near future. We shall overcome this setback and the funding agency will regret their shortsightedness.

We're back!



www.protnovo.com

Now I am interested in finding someone with clinical research experience and particularly in the protein biochemistry and enzymology fields. We have a position available for an experienced senior researcher.

We are also looking for a protein biochemist post doc.

As I didn't want to start a new thread, although I might need too, what do you peeps think about the logo?

The logo makes you look a bit like a party organising company. All that's missing are a few balloons and a clown.

I can see where you are coming from but it just does not really work for me

I agree; doesn't look very professional.

Neither does the website. Much though I realise it's VERY early days, announcing a web address in public that goes to "This is a free Starter Web Page courtesy of GoDaddy.com." doesn't look very cool.

You got to start somewhere.




Other logos for reference.

My motto is: People won't remember you unless you are memorable.

That is what I tried to put into the logo however some say that it is not conservative enough and you know me, I am not conservative unless it comes to money.

Is this something you are doing full-time or on the side?

Try www.logodesignworks.com - great for logos.

I don't like the Logo font either, as it looks like cacky old CG Times or something.

The website page you have needs binning as quickly as possible because the first thing people do when checking out a company is check out
the website. It is worse than no website at present.

It is a biotech start-up. This is the real deal and no it is not on the side. I am looking to get €3mil pre-seed financing. We will start negotiations with a major Pharma company on our first product very soon. Move over Genentech, there is a new player on the block.

Good luck, Eurovol. Sounds exciting. I worked in bio-tech for a few years in Boston, doing clinical research for post marketing phase IV studies. It's an exciting industry to be in, especially if you have a nice product -- although to be honest, I don't really understand what yours is.

What logos do people actually remember off the top of their head? For any company?

Our product is our platform and better proteins. I will link our article once it is published for those that are bored enough to read biotech geeky stuff.

Nike, Coca Cola, BMW, Nazi Flag.

Any sporting wear company. Polo, Adidas, Nike, Puma etc.
Any car company. BMW, VW, Mazda etc.
Airlines, Lufthansa, Air Canada, even Aeroflot!

Maybe I should have added "Why do you remember it and can you describe it?"
The ones that stand out for me are McDonalds, Planter's Peanut and most recently Google and I can describe them to a T.

The simpler the design the better.

Most of the logos people can remember are logos that they can draw an approximation of themselves.

Where did you read that Showem? I just thinking about how much I could'nt draw the swishy coca cola thang.

I pulled it out of thin air, I admit it. But you know enough of what it looks like to at least try and draw it, even if you couldn't do it. Coke's a tough one, as it's writing, not really just a logo.

My thoughts on the one that I came up with is that we will be born from proteins. I mean, making proteins better and for more applications from pharma to biotech is what we do. I am also not a fan of the formula that it has to be serious and drab and conservative to be taken seriously. We are new and exciting and that is what I want to convey to some degree.

Agree with Crawlie - first thing it reminded me of was party streamers. To me, it doesn't look new and exciting, just frivolous.

Keep the graphics in the logo as simple as possible. Like the ones in the link you posted. And forget about all those rainbow colours. Think minimalist! The text font doesn't do anything for me, either. A bold sans-serif font like the one on your web site looks more dynamic. Apart from that, I would agree with JE that your present web page won't inspire potential business partners to take you seriously.


True, but in order to remember you, they first have to be impressed enough to give you a second glance.

All IMHO of course, and I know nothing about biotech. Good luck!

I understand what you're trying to do and that those are supposed to be stylised proteins, but IT DOESN'T WORK. It looks horrible. The stylised proteins look like party ribbons with Google-like colouring, the typeface used doesn't match the curves or style of the ribbons, and the plethora of colours makes me want to AAAAACCKK like Bill the Cat.

Suggestions:
1) Unstylise those proteins. If you must stylise, stick to two or three and give them only a couple colours/shades; ideally these will be proteins you actually work with.
2) Do not use Google's Playskool colour scheme. It's been done to death.
3) Change the font. For seriousness you probably want a light serif rather than a sans-serif, but what you have (modified Bookman?) is awful. The weights and awkwardness of the serifs jus don't blend.

Dude, there's stuff you can do and stuff you can't. Graphic design is in the latter group. I'm sorry I don't have time to even sketch a couple ideas. Maybe next week once the move is over, although it could be weeks until I'm on-line at home again.

woof.

The biotech startup I used to work for got funding from the BMBF, maybe that's interesting for you guys too. As for logos: You should aim for a memorable icon that looks good regardless of how many colors or how much visual space you have available (that's different to just drawing a picture). Maybe you find those logos inspiring:

http://www.greinerbioone.com/en/start/
http://www.affymetrix.com/index.affx

Let me say for the record that the logo will not make or break us. We won't be selling to the masses. The people that will be looking to us will not be placing their bets on a logo, but what we can actually offer. Whether this logo or another one, what I want is a positive and happy effect. The font is New Times Roman and besides Arial is standard for scientific publications. Nothing else is accepted. What I did was to blend conservative style with progressive flair. That is what I am after and if this effort isn't good enough, then I am ready to change. I may be demanding, but I am far from unreasonable believe it or not.

Postdoctoral Research Fellow – Protein Engineering

Job description:
A postdoctoral position in the field of applied protein biochemistry is available in the Institute of Molecular Radiobiology at the GSF – Forschungszentrum für Umwelt und Gesundheit, GmbH. The goal is to evolve proteins of biotechnological and pharmaceutical value by hypermutation and selection. It is intended that this work will lead to a new biotech firm in the near future and the successful applicant may play an active role in this endeavor.

Requirements:
•background in protein biochemistry and/or molecular biology
•motivation to succeed in applied research
•independent and well-structured working style
• social skills to work within a team

Stellenbeschreibung:
Das Institut für Molekulare Strahlenbiologie des GSF Forschungszentrums für Umwelt und Gesundheit, GmbH, vergibt eine Postdoc-Stelle im Bereich der angewandten Biochemie. Ziel unserer Forschung ist, durch Hypermutation und Selektion biotechnologisch und pharmazeutisch wertvolle Proteine zu entwickeln. Es besteht die Absicht, in naher Zukunft in diesem Zusammenhang ein neues Biotech-Unternehmen zu gründen und der erfolgreiche Bewerber könnte sich aktiv in dieses Vorhaben einbringen.

Anforderungen:
•Erfahrungen in Biochemie und/oder Molekularbiologie
•Interesse für angewandte Forschung
•unabhängige und gut organisierte Arbeitsweise
•soziale Kompetenz und Teamfähigkeit

E-Mail: randolph.caldwell<|>gsf.de

ooooh, hypermutaion, nice field are you going after new fluorescent protiens, al la tsiens tomatoes and cherries?

We are going after all kinds of proteins. Proteases and fluorescent proteins are first up though. I might post some cool pics here once the patents have been filed and the articles submitted. Stay tuned.

Update: just got our initial funding.

wahoo!!!
congrats!

do you need an English speaking assistant/secretary to start sometime winter/spring?

Great news.

do you need a good deal on some supplies, a bit of Tris maybe?

Great News. I'll be in Israel from the 15th. Contact me if you need access to private investors and VC.

Best of luck. S.

Nice one.

No, but I do need a good deal on a technical assistance. Preferably a BTA with applied science and biotech experience and most definitely cell culture experience.

done! hire me! we can pretend i have those skills

Edit- I guess missing the fantasy draft was worth it in the end! (if it was at all related to this).
either way congrats.

Do you need someone who can do phage display (and much more)? How I'd much rather be in Munich, but my husband's career is so much more important, you know. good luck with this!

Congrats on the funding!

Honestly, I don't think there's a chance in hell you can find a BTA with those skills. Last time I checked, their training stops at "growing stuff on plates", "looking at stuff on the microscope" and "washing stuff off equipment". No disrespect implied, I know great BTAs, but I also know how far their education goes. IMHO, you are better off with an M.Sc. from a non-German University, which are more likely to have that kind of experience.