Bridge for impact returns on October 7!
On 7 October 2025, we will once again bring together entrepreneurs in the Life Sciences & Health domain. Bridge for Impact is an afternoon focused on knowledge exchange, entrepreneurial support, and new connections.
Information
Date: Tuesday, 7 October 2025
Time: 13:00-18:00
Location: Dotslash 100, Utrecht
Organised by: LifeSciences@Work & Zorginnovatie.nl
Powered by: Health~Holland
Following the success of last year’s edition, which featured inspiring keynotes, practical subsessions, and valuable networking, the 2025 edition promises another engaging program for innovators shaping the future of health.
Preliminary program
13:00 Arrival with coffee and tea
13:30 Plenary opening, moderated by Hans Schikan
13:50 Keynote Sisters in Science and Business: Pushing the Boundaries of Therapeutics and Pharmacy
Cristianne Rijcken (39) and Claudia Rijcken (45) are not only sisters, but also entrepreneurs and scientists. Both trained as pharmacists, they now operate at the cutting edge of their field. Cristianne is the founder and CSO of Cristal Therapeutics, a company using nanotechnology to develop more effective treatments for cancer and other diseases. Claudia is an impact driven pharmaceutical care expert and founder of Pharmacare.ai, Pharmi B.V. and more recently Pharmovate. In this keynote, they share their journey of entrepreneurship—what drives them, the perseverance it takes, and how personal growth plays a vital role in shaping both leadership and the evolving responsibilities within their companies.
14:30 Subsessions
A. Developing Founders' Resilience
Founder resilience goes beyond personal grit—it’s about building the capacity to lead through uncertainty while earning the trust of key stakeholders like employees, investors, and boards. This session explores how founders can develop resilience as a strategic, relational skill, and how early support from stakeholders can strengthen leadership, culture, and long-term company success.
Ronald van der Geest, CEO & founder Onicor, CDO Treeway, Co-founder and Managing Partner 3D-PharmXchange
Rebecca Gomperts, Founder and Director Women on Waves
Moderated by Tijl Hoefnagels, Venture & operating partner at Rubio Impact Ventures
B. Finding the Fit: Assessing Product-Market Alignment in Life Sciences & Health
For early-stage life sciences companies, achieving product-market fit is essential for growth and investment readiness. In this session, experienced entrepreneurs will share their insights and practical approaches to identifying unmet needs, engaging stakeholders, and validating real-world demand. Learn how to assess and strengthen your product’s value proposition to ensure successful market entry.
Coenraad Tamse, CCO Trianect
Moderated by Chrétien Herben, Founder and Program Director LifeSciences@Work
C. Going Global Early: Driving Innovation and Commercialization Through International Collaboration
Early international partnerships can accelerate innovation, open new markets, and strengthen your value proposition. This round table invites young life sciences and MedTech companies to share experiences and strategies for building global collaborations—from R&D alliances to clinical and commercial partnerships—that enhance competitiveness and speed up market entry.
Sjanna Boersma, International Relations Manager at Health~Holland
Jolande Zijlstra, Operations Manager at Health~Holland
Eugen Ostrofet, CEO & Co-Founder 1NA
Moderated by Hans Schikan
15:15 Break
15:45 Breakout with the Experts
- License to Thrive: Navigating Tech Transfer Negotiations
Nettie Buitelaar, BiotechBooster & Carine van den Brink, Axon Lawyers - From Lab to Market: Collaborating with Corporates and Institutes for MedTech Validation
Wieke Haakma, Samenwerkende Topklinische Ziekenhuizen (STZ) - Building Your Team: HR Strategies for Growing Life Sciences & Health Startups
Jord Teeuwen, QTC Recruitment - Structuring for Success: Governance Essentials for Life Sciences & Health Startups
Carola Jüstel, MSc, CEO & Founder Syram biotech & pharma consultancy - Funding the Future: Financing Strategies for Healthcare Startups
Alexander van der Wyck, Healthy.Capital & Yvonne Greeuw, Investment Manager Deep Tech at Invest-NL - Protecting Innovation: Managing Your IP Portfolio in Life Sciences & Health
Katja Apelt, Netherlands Patent Office - Navigating the New Artificial Intelligence Act and Medical Device Regulations
Anne Sophie Dil, NAALA - How to Collaborate with Health Insurance Companies (tba)
- Scaling Science: Investment Strategies for Biotech
Rianne Ellenbroek, Bio Generation Ventures - Internationalisation as a Strategy: Scaling Innovation Across Borders
Helena Pluimes or Micha van Lin, Task Force Health Care
16:40 Plenary wrap up with a special question auction!
17:00 Drinks and bites
Note: this event is for entrepreneurs only.
About Bridge for Impact
Bridge for Impact connects startups to share knowledge, strengthen networks, and spark new opportunities! Health~Holland’s main goal is to empower innovation across the entire Life Sciences & Health field – think medtech and diagnostics, biotech, digital health, drug development and enabling technologies. Through our startup programs LifeSciences@Work, Zorginnovatie.nl, and funding tool the ‘small and medium enterprise (SME) call’, we help young companies thrive.
Do you have questions about this event? Feel free to contact us at bridgeforimpact@health-holland.com.