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9 Must-Know Biotech Startups in CEE

(from left to right): Marko Bitenc, Maria Chatzou Dunford, Magda Kordon, Dragos Ivanov
Image credit: (from left to right): Marko Bitenc, Maria Chatzou Dunford, Magda Kordon, Dragos Ivanov

By definition, biotechnology applies science and technology to living organisms, as well as parts, products and models of them, to alter living or non-living materials to produce knowledge, goods and services. 

The global biotechnology market, valued at $2.1 trillion in 2023, is expected to grow to $6.43 trillion by 2032, with a CAGR of 13.29%. This growth is fueled by technological advancements, increased R&D investments, and expanding applications in healthcare, agriculture, and industry. Advances in gene editing, regenerative medicine, and molecular biology are contributing to progress in biotechnology

Explore our short listing of 9 biotech startups across various sectors in Central and Eastern Europe!

If you’re a founder of a CEE-based biotech startup, drop up a line at [email protected]

 

GenePlanet

Founders: Marko Bitenc

Country: Slovenia

Company stage: Series B

About: GenePlanet is a provider of innovative healthcare and lifestyle solutions based on preventive genetic testing, analyzing individual genetic code.

 

Lifebit

Founders: Maria Chatzou Dunford

Country: Greece

Company stage: Series B

About: Lifebit is an intelligent genomics and bioinformatics platform. It aims to facilitate drug discovery, improve clinical trials, and support national precision medicine programs.

 

GlycanAge

Founders: Gordan Lauc, Nikolina Lauc

Country: Croatia

Company stage: Seed

About: GlycanAge is a patented and scientifically supported test that determines biological age by analyzing a unique profile of complex carbohydrates (glycans). Results are paired with expert advice to help guide lifestyle changes.

Genegoggle

Founders: Jakub Mieczkowski, PhD, Michał Marzęcki, Marcin Kruczyk, PhD

Country: Poland

Company stage: N/A

About: Genegoggle develops precise therapeutics based on DNA loops. They have created Genegoggle Epigenetic Viewer (GEV) – a tool that serves as an epigenetic microscope, enabling the visualization and analysis of the 3D structure of DNA as it exists within the cell nucleus. 

 

Genomtec

Founders: Miron Tokarski

Country: Poland

Company stage: N/A

About: Genomtec develops and markets advanced tools for accurate disease detection. They specialize in portable diagnostic devices that use light-based (optical) technology and innovative methods for amplifying DNA or RNA at a constant temperature, enabling quick and reliable testing without the need for complex lab equipment.

Read more:  The Biotech Innovators of CEE: Czech Company DIANA Biotechnologies and Its Quest to Accelerate Diagnostics and Drug Discovery

 

intoDNA

Founders: Magda Kordon-Kiszala, PhD; Kamil Solarczyk, PhD

Country: Poland

Company stage: N/A

About: intoDNA offers an end-to-end process for DNA break detection with their proprietary technology, STRIDE, that provides a reliable measure of DNA damage at an individual lesion level. 

NapiFeryn BioTech

Founders: Magdalena Kozłowska, Piotr Wnukowski

Company stage: Grant

About: NapiFeryn BioTech has patented a process to extract rapeseed protein from oil pressing byproducts. After successful pilot testing, they offer pre-commercial samples to food producers and plan to commercialize the technology through licensing, enabling wider use and innovation in the food industry.

 

EPIX AI

Founders: Milena Georgieva, PhD, Nikolay Vasev, PhD

Country: Bulgaria

Company stage: Seed

About: EPIX AI deploys AI in combination with epigenetic data in preventing age-related diseases. 

 

NutriCare.Life

Founders: Bogdan Ivanov, Dragos Ivanov, Simona Maria Ivanov

Country: Romania

Company stage: Grant

About: NutriCare.Life provides personalized recommendations, food & dietary supplements to optimize health-based on digital & biological markers. Their online nutrition assessment offers a telemedicine feature and market place access.

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https://therecursive.com/author/teodoraatanasova/

Teodora Atanasova is a News Editor at The Recursive. She covers everything around funding rounds, exits, startups expanding to international markets, big tech opening R&D in CEE, meaningful for the ecosystem partnerships.