COMMUNICATION

Presenting the new startups of the 15th Venture Challenge

Five new startups started their Venture Challenge adventure this April. The LifeSciences@Work (LS@W) accelerator offers these Venture Challenge participants a 10-week educational programme with bootcamps, one-on-one sessions and mentoring. The five startups of the 15th Venture Challenge are:

Digest Inn
Offering behavioural coaching through gaming to improve dietary compliance.

Mantis Therapeutics
Offering a new approach to tackle cancer based on remotely controllable drug delivery.

MyMicroZoo
Creating a global community around microbiota and its interpretation for a healthier living.

TripleT
Offering unique skills to optimise genes in recombinant protein production to the highest possible yield.

Mercurna
Offering ​​kidney-saving therapies based on ​targeted delivery of mRNA-based drugs.


On 3 June the five teams will compete in the Venture Challenge Final where they have to pitch in front of a jury chaired by Carine van den Brink (Axon Lawyers) supported by life sciences investors and experienced entrepreneurs. The winner will be rewarded with 25,000 euros in prize money to further develop their business.


Interested in participating in the Venture Challenge Fall 2016? Then please visit the LS@W website and apply now!

Introducing new colleagues

At the start of May two new colleagues have joined the TKI office of the Top Sector Life Sciences & Health. They briefly introduce themselves.

Jolande Zijlstra
My name is Jolande Zijlstra, I am 29 years old and I currently work as the innovation coordinator at the Top Sector LSH. Prior to this position, I worked as a PhD candidate at the Academic Medical Center in Amsterdam and analysed the contribution of lay rescuers with automated external defibrillators (AEDs) in out-of-hospital cardiac arrest. In my new role I hope to contribute to the realisation of cost-effective innovative (bio)medical solutions developed from the patients’ perspective. In my free time I love to spend time with my wife and 2-year old son and I regularly hit some balls on the tennis court.


E-mail: zijlstra@health-holland.com
Telephone: +31 (0)70 349 5212

Hanneke Heeres

My name is Hanneke Heeres. I recently started as coordinator of the Human Capital Agenda. With a background in political sciences and communications I am geared up as a connector in education and the development of human capital. Investing in human capital is key to maintaining and strengthening our unique health system and the booming life sciences sector. With the new upcoming Human Capital Agenda the sector is challenged to further participate in and give input to boosting talent development and permanent education and to strengthen the connection between innovative entrepreneurs and education programmes. I live with my family in Scheveningen and enjoy taking long walks along the beach with my dog.


E-mail: heeres@health-holland.com

Telephone: +31 (0)70 349 4535

New Health~Holland Guide

New website Topsectoren.nl