Belgian biotech incubator Biotope has announced its fifth cohort of start-ups.
Selected from 11 teams participating in the three-week basecamp, the winners receive a €250,000 investment, support and access to high-tech laboratory and greenhouse facilities, scientific sites at the Vlaams Instituut voor Biotechnologie (VIB) and pilot facilities through its partner network.
Launched in 2022 by VIB, Biotope nurtures early-stage biotech startups in agrifood, bringing them to seed-stage readiness within 18 months. For investors, Biotope de-risks ventures by ensuring that start-ups in its programme are scientifically and financially sound, scalable and equipped with a solid understanding of their regulatory and IP pathway.
Lantana Bio (France) – Lantana Bio produces natural colourants through precision fermentation
I-Challenge (Belgium) – I-Challenge develops ways to more accurately and easily predict food shelf life, aiding in food waste reduction
Corium Biotech (Portugal) – Corium Biotech develops exotic leather via cellular agriculture
Each start-up will receive bespoke, skilled support, tailored to their individual needs, from Biotope’s team of scientists, business experts and corporate partners as well as legal, financial and IP experts.
The new cohort will join a portfolio that has so far secured a total of €20 million in external funding permitting them to hire 20 new full-time employees. To date, Biotope has aided 13 start-ups across seven countries.
Head of Biotope, Annick Verween, said: “Biotope focuses on potentially impactful solutions which can benefit from a dedicated biotech ecosystem to support them. Our new fifth cohort is a perfect reflection of this mission – all of the start-ups represented are passionate entrepreneurs with groundbreaking biotech solutions that have the power to create lasting change for people and the planet.”
Verween continued: “By combining our high-quality incubation support with targeted investment, we provide the start-ups with the resources and expertise to develop their proposition and scale rapidly. We’re thrilled to support these visionary founders as they embark on their journeys.”
Mounir Benkoulouche, CEO of Lantana Bio, commented: "Our journey with Biotope has been an invaluable learning experience, especially in areas like business development and regulatory challenges. The open and direct dialogue with experts and discussing challenges with peers provided insights we couldn’t have gained from research alone. As a Biotope portfolio company, we're excited to tap into Biotope’s network for crucial guidance on regulatory matters and market access, and we look forward to finding the right partners to bring our product to market."
Wendy Ossieur, CEO of I-Challenge, added: “We’re honoured to share that I-Challenge is joining the Biotope family! This opportunity will enable us to advance our solutions, helping food companies to better determine shelf-life and fight food waste. We’re looking forward to collaborating with Biotope’s passionate team and leveraging its extensive network of experts.”
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