VentureLab Weekend Coaches
Bart Scheerder, Business development data science and AI, UMCG
As a passionate advocate for sustainable healthcare innovation, I focus on fostering impactful collaborations between academia, industry, and the public sector to enhance patient outcomes. With a strong background in clinical trials, biobanking, and (generative) AI, I have held several leadership roles in both national and international organizations. I am dedicated to advancing a sustainable future for health, leveraging my expertise to drive initiatives that promote innovation and improve healthcare systems. My commitment lies in ensuring that innovative solutions are not only effective but also environmentally and socially responsible, ultimately benefiting patients and communities.
Expertise: Clinical Trials – Public-Private Collaboration – Generative AI
Tjitske Dijkstra, Academic Career Coach
I’m here to listen to your ventures and help you identify both the challenges and opportunities within them. My goal is to encourage you to tap into the talents and creativity of your team. Together, we’ll explore various perspectives and potential (social) impacts, translating our findings into a compelling narrative for your pitch. With extensive experience as an academic career coach, I specialize in highlighting the strengths of your product and team, guiding you to discover powerful ways to leverage these assets. I offer inspiration, insights, reflection, and practical tools to boost your entrepreneurial journey, always working from the premise that your unique talents and interests are key to success.
Expertise: Connecting all perspectives and opportunities of the venture and the team
René van der Horst, Founder at EenvoudigRecht.nl
My name is René van der Horst, a lawyer and entrepreneur with a passion for analyzing and improving business ideas. Whether you're refining your business model or figuring out how to make a living, I quickly identify areas for improvement. I’ve founded multiple businesses, including EenvoudigRecht.nl in 2013, which has provided legal documents for over 25,000 entrepreneurs through a smart system. I also work as a lawyer, advocating for citizens against the UWV (employee insurance benefits institution). Since 2016, I’ve been a trainer and coach at VentureLab North, where I help ambitious startups elevate their ideas to the next level, offering both legal and entrepreneurial expertise.
Expertise: Legal – Analyzing and scalability
Eva de Mol, Staff Quality Assurance Engineer NPI, Johnson & Johnson Vision
I am an enthusiastic and driven professional with strong interpersonal and communication skills. My meticulous, results-oriented approach, combined with a deep sense of responsibility, consistently leads to high-quality outcomes. While I thrive working independently, I equally enjoy collaborating within interdisciplinary teams. I seek to apply my skills in pharmaceuticals, nutrition, or medical products, focusing on the discovery and development of new therapeutic agents. As a Quality Assurance Engineer at Johnson & Johnson, with years of industry experience in medical devices and nutrition, I hold a PhD in Biomedicine and an MSc in Bioscience Engineering.
Expertise: New product development – Regulatory strategies – Clinical study designs – Quality-related activities – Risk management
Ignacio Faustino, Investment manager, RUG Ventures & Future Tech Ventures
I'm an investment manager with extensive experience in life sciences, drug development, and innovation management. My value as a coach for entrepreneurs comes from years of due diligence, business development, and venture capital experience, allowing me to help evaluate opportunities and navigate complex market trends. I’m a T-shaped expert in applied life sciences, with a strong foundation in drug development, complemented by cross-functional skills in business development and innovation management. With over three years of experience evaluating clinical trials and market trends, I hold both a PhD and an MBA with great distinction.
Expertise: Life sciences – Drug development – Innovation management – Financial planning
Carlos Cordeiro, Co-Founder and CEO of ParaMedir B.V.
I’m Carlos, a Portuguese native who has been living in the Netherlands for over 15 years. I initially arrived for my MSc internship in Biotechnology and ended up staying. Although I started my career as a scientist, these days I’m not quite sure what to call myself. I spent over a decade at Brains On-Line (later acquired by Charles River), where I worked as a scientist, project manager, and eventually a business developer. In 2018, I co-founded ParaMedir with Pieter Oomen, focusing on biosensors and biomedical devices. I bring a wealth of experience at the intersection of academia and industry, especially in R&D, product development, and the application of sensors and biomonitoring technologies.
Expertise: (Bio)Sensors – Product Development in (Bio)Medical/Bioanalytical Devices – Project Management – Business Development & Finances
Ilinka Stanciu, Quality Assurance Manager at CC Diagnostics
My background is in biomedical sciences and data analysis, and I’ve been working as a Quality Assurance Manager at CC Diagnostics for the past four years. In this role, I manage our Quality Management System and technical documentation for regulatory approval, ensuring compliance with both EU and US regulations. As a coach, I can guide participants through the regulatory landscape, helping them understand the necessary steps and important details when building their own start-ups. Over the past year, I’ve also handled multiple applications to start-up bootcamps and accelerator programs, winning an EIT pitching competition. I can assist participants in crafting compelling stories and refining their communication for pitches and written applications to drive their start-ups forward.
Expertise: Regulatory – QMS – Technical documentation – Communication – Pitching – Writing skills
Melcher Frankema, Founder & Lead Business Development at Ivy Medical
I’m the founder and lead in business development at Ivy Medical, an infusion technology startup. I can help you shape your strategy to turn your idea into a compelling investment opportunity for an early-stage company. I enjoy identifying business cases, exploring revenue models, and discovering pathways to early value creation. At Ivy Medical, which began as a spin-off from UMCG, we’re dedicated to transforming healthcare through innovation. Our NextGen wearable infusion pump revolutionizes infusion therapy by freeing patients from the infusion pole and reducing the workload for nurses. With my business development expertise, I’ll support you in navigating the MedTech landscape and unlocking your start-up’s potential.
Expertise: Value creation – Business case – Revenue model
Silke Hoekstra, Financial controller (via Fit Professional or Finance) at Gasunie
My name is Silke Hoekstra, and I'm a financial coach committed to helping participants gain clarity on their expenses and costs. I offer personalized strategies that empower individuals to make informed financial decisions, ensuring they have the tools to manage their finances effectively. I also specialize in preparing clear, insightful reports for stakeholders, such as investors, ensuring financial information is communicated effectively. With over five years as part of the Fit Professionals team, I thrive on tackling the growing demand for knowledge and expertise in accounting, controlling, and financial management. I am also a Financial Controller at Gasunie, and my work is centered on trust, a personal approach, and delivering results.
Expertise: Stakeholder communication – Expense management – Financial reporting
Jelmer Bolt, Business Manager bij Fit
I’m Jelmer Bolt, a business manager at Fit (part of FITZ) and an alumnus of the University of Groningen (RUG). I focus on creating opportunities and building strong relationships with clients. My expertise includes finance—covering pricing strategies, cost structures, and business valuation; sales—helping define products or services and reach target markets; and general business development—assessing the viability and market potential of ideas. By connecting strategy with practical insights, I help in navigating the current position and future direction with confidence.
Expertise: Finance – Sales – General business development
Arnoud Punt, Privacy Lawyer, Data Protection Officer and IT Lawyer
My name is Arnoud Punt, and I have been an entrepreneur for 19 years, working as an independent legal advisor and a coach for VentureLab since its first event in 2014. I specialize in intellectual property, privacy, and contracts, and I am here to assist with various startup-related issues. My extensive experience enables me to provide valuable insights and guidance to help entrepreneurs navigate legal challenges and build successful businesses. Whether you need advice on protecting your intellectual property or drafting contracts, I’m dedicated to supporting your journey and ensuring your startup thrives.
Expertise: Intellectual property – Privacy – Collaboration forms
Raquel da Cruz Barros, Regulatory Affairs Manager at Regenity Biosciences
I am passionate about MedTech and dedicated to developing strategies that successfully bring products to market. My expertise lies in crafting regulatory strategies that align with market requirements while streamlining product development and launches. As your coach, I will guide you in creating effective regulatory and product development strategies tailored to your business plan. Together, we will navigate the complexities of the MedTech landscape, ensuring your product not only meets compliance standards but also resonates with your target audience, ultimately setting you up for success in the marketplace.
Expertise: Regulatory Affairs – Product Launch – Product Development
Maarten van Roosmalen, Technology Transfer Officer, Business Generator Groningen
I have a strong background in Life Sciences, having completed my PhD in protein structure-function analysis. For the past 11 years, I’ve been a co-founder of Mucosis, a nasal vaccine biotech startup. In my role as a Business Developer at SBGG, I leverage my knowledge and experience to support entrepreneurial scientists in marketing their research. With my expertise in developing nasal vaccine technology, I successfully bridge the gap between science and business, helping researchers transform their innovative ideas into successful startups. I’m dedicated to guiding scientists on their entrepreneurial journeys and ensuring their groundbreaking work reaches the market effectively.
Expertise: Life Science – Drug develoment – Intellectual property and licensing – Startup coaching – Vaccine and bioprocess development – Biobusiness – International technology transfer – GMP manufacturing and clinical development
