Honestly Impactful #1 | Startup Scientists in Rhein-Main
Most life science students know two paths: academia or Big Pharma.
But there is another path: joining a startup.
Startups are strange places for scientists. They are faster, messier, freer, and closer to the real world. The questions are not only Is this true? but also Can we build it? Does it work? Who needs it? What do we do next?
Join us for an honest fireside chat on the freedom, uncertainty, and impact of doing science inside startups —followed by peer-level networking and pizza.
🔥 Fireside chat with startup scientists
🍕 Pizza + peer-level guided networking
🧬 All people interested in creating impact in life science
Agenda
17:30 – 18:00 | Arrival & Informal Gathering
18:00 – 18:15 | Introduction by Nucleate
18:15 – 18:30 | Speaker Keynote Speech
18:30 – 19:30 | Moderated Fireside Chat
Block 1: Personal Journey & Spark
From student life to the first spark of startup curiosity.Block 2: Research to Startup
How scientific work changes when it moves beyond academia.Block 3: Scientific & Innovation Details
The real science, commercialize questions, and technical challenges behind the work.Block 4: Honest Reality
Uncertainty, pressure, limited resources, and most difficult partBlock 5: Lessons & Advice
What students should know earlier if they are curious about startups.
19:30 – 20:10 | Small Group Q&A with Speakers + Pizza
20:10 – 20:30 | Peer-Level Guided Networking
This event is part of Honestly Impactful: Role Models in Bio-entrepreneurship — an event series in Rhein-Main region featuring founders, startup scientists, and intrapreneurs who are translating life science research into real-world ventures. Our speakers share what that journey really looked like: the doubts, failures, trade-offs, and hard choices behind building something beyond the lab — and why it’s still worth it.
About the Speakers
Moritz Tettenborn — Downstream Scientist, CO2BioClean
Moritz works on developing better ways to extract biopolymers from biomass with higher yield, lower cost, and reduced resource consumption. At CO2BioClean, the team uses CO₂ to feed bacteria through gas fermentation, producing PHA — a biodegradable polyester that can be used in agriculture, cosmetics, fibers, and packaging. Their work helps prevent microplastic pollution while turning CO₂ into a resource for a future circular economy.
Olivia Mozolewska — Scientific Officer & Community Manager, xyna.bio
Olivia works at the intersection of science, platform development, and community building. xyna.bio is developing an AI-driven platform to improve therapeutic lead optimization earlier in the drug development process, where many low-quality candidates are usually filtered out only after expensive screening. By integrating structural, physicochemical, and functional data, xyna.bio focuses on VHH antibodies and VHH antibody conjugates to identify and refine high-potential candidates for therapeutics and diagnostics with greater precision, scalability, and probability of success.
About the Event Host
Nucleate is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to empowering the next generation of biotech leaders. With chapters spanning 41 geographic regions and participation from over 280 academic institutions, Nucleate sparks new intellectual communities and embeds emerging talent within a global biotech community. Through open-access educational programming, Nucleate helps democratize biotech innovation — removing barriers and helping founders concentrate on building transformational technologies. Visit www.nucleate.xyz for more information, and visit https://nucleate.xyz/privacy-policy/ to read our privacy policy.
About the Event Series Sponsors
Honestly Impactful: Role Models in Bio-entrepreneurship is sponsored by biomindz.
biomindz – a hub designed for growth!
Mainz is one of Germany’s most dynamic cities, home to a vibrant biotech hub that unites cutting-edge research, global connectivity, and a fast-growing ecosystem. The 12-hectare Life Science Campus - under development next to the university - will empower startups, companies, researchers, and investors to shape the future of biotech in the heart of Europe. As a municipally owned nonprofit, biomindz drives this growth - through site development, networking, and positioning Mainz as a globally visible biotech hub.