These are the Venture Challenge Fall 2025 teams!
Six teams have started the Venture Challenge Fall edition 2025! These starting life sciences entrepreneurs will learn everything about building and pitching a business plan. By participating in the Venture Challenge, the teams will get a huge boost to take their idea to the next level. Not only will they receive one-on-one coaching, but they will also get the chance to pitch to investors and get in touch with seasoned entrepreneurs. The teams will be announced one by one. Meet the first teams below!
Immunara - directing immunity for beter patiënt outcomes
From left to right: Hendrik Brink, Pieter Slijkerman, Alsya Affandi, Gert Scheper
Cancer immunotherapy has transformed treatment for many patients, yet a large group of non-responders still remains. Immunara is developing a novel precision immunotherapy that aims to train the immune system to recognise and eliminate cancer cells more effectively.
Their approach focuses on selectively delivering tumour-specific antigens to CD169-positive antigen-presenting cells (APCs) — the ‘teacher cells’ of the immune system that are essential for triggering targeted immune responses. To achieve this, Immunara is designing nanobody-based carriers that bind to CD169 and deliver a variety of antigen formats, such as recombinant proteins, peptides, viral vectors or RNA.
By guiding antigens to the right immune cells, their technology has the potential to unlock stronger and more specific anti-cancer responses. The founding team — from Amsterdam UMC and LUMC — envisions Immunara as a next-generation platform for personalised cancer immunotherapy.
Using the “the GFP for ultrasound” to reveal cells deep inside the body
From left to right: Rick Waasdorp, Rosalie Driessen and Gijs Langkamp
Biosonics is building a new class of biomolecular imaging tools that make it possible to visualise cellular activity deep inside living tissue—non-invasively and in real time. Their technology, NSSM, leverages acoustic reporter genes (ARGs): genetically encoded proteins that produce ultrasound contrast when expressed in cells.
This innovation allows researchers to observe living cells in 3D with fine spatial detail (100 μm resolution), going far beyond the depth limitations of optical microscopy—without biopsies, phototoxicity or extensive sample prep. The result: dynamic, quantitative insights into cellular processes as they unfold in vivo.
Biosonics’ platform is still in development but has the potential to transform molecular imaging for both basic biology and cell therapy R&D. Their future business model is based on providing research institutes and biotech companies with integrated hardware and software systems for acquisition and analysis.
CytoBas - Illuminating allergy with functional precision
From left to right: Hessel van der Weide, Sayuri Iwasaki and Menno van Zelm
CytoBas is transforming allergy diagnostics with a novel multiplex flow cytometry assay that offers rapid, accurate, and functionally relevant results. Unlike traditional tests that rely on serum IgE or skin reactions, CytoBas directly detects allergen-specific IgE bound to basophils—the immune cells that trigger allergic responses.
This innovative approach enables precise diagnosis and risk stratification, even in complex cases involving multiple allergies. Clinically validated for allergens like house dust mite, grass pollen, cat, and dog, the technology is now expanding to include food and drug allergens.
Compatible with standard flow cytometry equipment and requiring no fresh blood or in vitro stimulation, CytoBas is easy to implement in routine care. The technology supports personalized allergy management and monitoring of immunotherapy responses—positioning it as a scalable, next-generation solution in a growing global market.
MYRIAGON - Myriagon is developing novel medication to help patients suffering from neuropathic pain to improve their quality of life with more efficacious medication and fewer side effects
From left to right: Mirjam Huizenga and Wouter Driever
MYRIAGON is developing a new class of medication to improve the quality of life for patients suffering from chemotherapy-induced neuropathic pain—a serious and often dose-limiting side effect of cancer treatment. This condition represents a major unmet medical need, as current therapies are often ineffective and cause unwanted side effects like sedation, tolerance, or dependence.
Their novel compounds act via a completely new mechanism and have shown strong pain-suppressing effects in preclinical models, without affecting the central nervous system. With this promising approach, MYRIAGON aims to bring a safer and more effective treatment to patients who currently have few options.
Constellate Proteomics - See the future of your cell line in a single droplet
From left to right: Dennis de Beeld,Carlos de Lannoy, Arian Khoshchin
Constellate Proteomics is developing a compact device that aims to transform how protein-based drugs are analysed during development and production. By combining affinity probes with their patented single-molecule microscopy approach, the team is working toward a solution that allows for fast, sensitive analysis using only small sample volumes—without the need for large, expensive equipment or specialised operators.
The platform is designed with modularity in mind: its cartridge-based setup will eventually allow researchers to swap in different probe sets for new applications, such as disease diagnostics or academic research. While still in development, this flexibility positions Constellate for broader future use beyond drug development.
NuNa Bioscience – Empowering life through nutrient release
From left to right: Niels Willemen, Melvin Gurian, Marjo Nieuwenhuijse
Cells and tissues often depend on vascular networks to supply essential nutrients—but in many clinical and industrial contexts, this natural support system is absent. NuNa Bioscience is developing NutriX, a patented and cell-triggered nutrient release platform that helps preserve metabolism outside the body.
By maintaining glucose availability and reducing waste accumulation, NutriX supports cellular viability in challenging environments. This scalable, safe and naturally occurring technology is still under development, with promising applications in bone regeneration, blood transfusions, and cultivated meat—three domains where engineered metabolic support could enable real innovation.
