August 2023 marks new adventures in Synapse – Life Science Connect with the launch of a collaborative project, Nucleate Denmark, together with REBBLS and Nucleate.
Nucleate Denmark brings together the strength of the three nonprofit organisations, Synapse – Life Science Connect, REBBLS and Nucleate, to bring Nucleate’s Activator Program to Denmark.
“We are blown away by the trust and support of our mission - Now, our aspirations of bringing a platform to the ecosystem, that empowers trainees sitting at the leading edge of scientific discoveries to become future biotech leaders and entrepreneurs, might be closer than we think" tells Christoffer Merrild, Co-Founder and Co-Managing Director of Nucleate Denmark.
”By offering access to essential educational tools and resources, our aim is to complement and strengthen the Danish innovation landscape from the bottom up. The enthusiastic response that this initiative has received is truly motivating and fills us with excitement for the journey ahead” continues Carlotta Strelow, Co-Founder and Co-Managing Director of Nucleate Denmark.
Targeted for academic trainees, mostly PhD students and early Post-Docs, the 5-month long Activator Program helps teams with venture creation and offers mentoring from leading experts in the field. Through eight workshops, the teams are prepared for a final pitch competition and to found their early venture. This hands-on perspective of the program educates and connects the next generation of biotech leaders to have an innovative, equal, and sustainable way of working, and accelerates the process of spinning out innovation from academia. The Activator Program consists of two parallel tracks: BIO, focusing on therapeutic solutions, and ECO, targeting planetary health solutions, addressing some of the most pressing challenges of our time.
"We are very excited about how the Activator Program will enrich the Danish ecosystem. It is a unique opportunity for talented, young researchers to bring their solutions to the imminent challenges in human and planetary health closer to market" says Justus Florian Gräf, Co-founder and Director of Operations, Nucleate Denmark
Synapse and REBBLS have well-established roles in the Danish life science ecosystem, offering education and support to students and young professionals. “The Activator Program extends the Synapse portfolio and strengthens our mission of bringing life science students, industry and universities closer together. It is a perfect sequel for the BioBusiness Summer School with a more extensive and hands-on curriculum within life science entrepreneurship” explains Kasper Budolph Pedersen, the Chairperson of Synapse – Life Science Connect. The Synapse values of bringing different life science peers together by developing, connecting, and inspiring are naturally incorporated to the mission of Nucleate Denmark.
Nucleate Denmark leadership team
Co-Managing Directors - Carlotta Strelow and Christoffer Merrild
Director of Operations - Justus Florian Gräf
Director of Communications - Venla Väänänen
Nucleate, a nonprofit organization, is dedicated to educating and empowering the next generation of biotech leaders. This Boston lead initiative was founded in 2018 by two ambitious PhD students in Harvard, and expanded to 11 cities in the US and 10 countries around the world. Among Nucleate's core values is the democratization of access to biotech venture creation through free and open educational programs. Up to this year, the Activator Program supported 20 teams which have raised 130 million USD in capital and created 200 jobs.
If you would like to hear more about Nucleate Denmark, follow Nucleate Denmark on LinkedIn or reach out to denmark@nucleate.xyz. The team is currently recruiting both mentors and participants for the Activator Program in spring 2024.
Author: Venla Väänänen