Send us Fan Mail

Melina Gerdts introduces the concept of disruptive innovation as a necessary force for systemic change in society. She discusses the insights from Natalie Kyriacu's speech on humanity's contradictions and hosts Patrick Rose, the Innovation Manager at SPRIND, a state-owned agency in Germany focused on fostering unconventional technologies. Patrick explains SPRIND's unique approach to funding and supporting innovative projects, emphasizing the importance of a fail-fast culture and the role of government in driving innovation. The episode concludes with a discussion on the scope of innovations supported by SPRIND and Patrick's vision for the future of innovation. Patrick discusses the innovative SPRIND Challenge in Circular Biomanufacturing, the unique support system for startups at SPRIND, and the cultural differences in accepting failure between Europe and the US. He emphasizes the importance of risk tolerance and the need for a shift in mindset to foster innovation. The discussion also highlights the global influence of SPRIND's model and its potential to inspire similar initiatives worldwide.

• SPRIND
• SPRIND Challenge: Circular Biomanufacturing
• 
  
• Natalie Kyriacou is the author of Nature's Last Dance: Tales of Wonder in an Age of Extinction.
• Natalie Kyriacou full speech. This is her speech at Reclaiming Democracy Together, an event by Conversations at the Crossroads

Support the show

Send us Fan Mail

bCL is back! In this episode of the bioCircular Loop podcast, Melina Gerdts interviews Nemailla Bonturi, co-founder of ÄIO, a startup based in Estonia that focuses on brewing fats and oils through precision fermentation technology. Nemailla shares her journey from being a scientist to an entrepreneur, the innovative processes behind ÄIO, and the challenges of navigating regulatory landscapes and securing funding. The conversation also touches on the importance of sustainability, circular economy practices, and the future of food technology.

Check out ÄIO at https://aio.bio/.

Support the show

Send us Fan Mail

Recorded live at the Pitch Perfect Bioeconomy event in Brussels, this final episode of the miniseries features Hendrik Waegeman, Head of Business Operations at Biobase Europe Pilot Plant, reflecting on what it really takes to scale bio-based innovation in Europe.

After two days of panels, pitches and workshops, the big question remains simple: how do we scale successfully?

Hendrik breaks it down. Whether you are a startup or a corporate, the fundamentals are the same. Product market fit. Price competitiveness. Scalability. Fast time to market. The difference is often how you deal with those factors.

Startups are pushed to move fast. Corporates move step by step. And in bio-based scale-up, step by step matters. At lab scale everything looks perfect. At industrial scale, pressure, shear, mixing, oxygen gradients and equipment realities change the game. The devil really is in the details.

We also talk about:

• Why unrealistic cost assumptions can kill a scale-up
• The importance of early techno-economic assessments
• Surrounding yourself with experienced advisors
• Partnerships as a necessity, not a luxury
• Dedication as the defining founder trait

Then we zoom out. Europe has historically been strong in pilot and demo infrastructure. But the US, China, India and others are investing heavily and moving fast. Europe analyzes well, but acts slowly. The race is getting more competitive.

One takeaway that sticks: think big, act small. Keep moving, even when funding slows down or the path gets messy.

This closes our 11-episode Pitch Perfect miniseries on scaling bio-based innovation. If you made it through all of them, you now have a pretty realistic picture of what scaling actually looks like. Not the hype version. The real one.

If you’re building, investing, or scaling in the bioeconomy and want to share your own journey, lessons, or setbacks, send us a message on LinkedIn.

The scale-up story is far from over.

This episode is part of a Miniseries powered by Bio Base Europe Pilot Plant and Pitch Perfect Bioeconomy.

Support the show