Pitch Perfect and Boost the European Bioeconomy 2025
Cross-border Pitching, Matchmaking and Networking Event
24 November 2025: Satellite Events, Keynote, Investor Pitches & Informal Walking Dinner
13:30 - 22:00, Sheraton Brussels Airport Hotel

Satellite Events
| Time of day | Title | Speakers | Keywords | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10.00 - 13.00 | The ProteInn Club Industrial Sounding Board Meeting | Organised by The ProteInn Club - By invitation only – | Download | |
| 11:00 - 13:30 | Bioaromatics on the Rise: Why you should get on board with this innovative biobased material | Organised by VITO & TNO and OPEN to ALL – Programme see "what's going on - satellite events" webpage | Download |
Inspirational Keynote Session: From Lab to Fab, Commercializing the Bioeconomy
| Time of day | Title | Speakers | Keywords | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 13:30 - 13:45 | Welcome & Opening of the Event | Wim Soetaert - Bio Base Europe Pilot Plant; Yang Zou - Pilots4U powered by COPILOT & Julie Vanderstraeten - The ProteInn Club – moderated by Stef Denayer, Stakeholder Relations Manager, Pilots4U powered by COPILOT | Download | |
| 13:45 - 14:00 | A word from our Co-Organisers | Mikael Wraae Valsted - DI Biosolutions; Cindy Gerhardt - Planet-B.io; Brigit van Dijk - BOM BrabantseOntwikkelingsMaatschappij – moderated by Stef Denayer, Stakeholder Relations Manager, Pilots4U powered by COPILOT | Download | |
| 14:00 - 14:20 | From innovation to industry - bridging the gap | Martin Tangney – Founder & Scientific Advisor, Celtic Renewables, UK | Download | |
| 14:20 - 14:40 | Title tbc (Testimonial of the "From Lab to Fab" journey of a corporate) | David Voigtlaender – VP Research, Development and Innovation, Evonik Care Solutions, DE | Download | |
| 14:40 - 15:00 | Panel Discussion: Key drivers for successful commercialisation of industrial biotechnology innovations | Martin Tangney (Celtic Renewables), David Voigtlaender (Evonik Care Solutions), Hendrik Waegeman (Bio Base Europe Pilot Plant), Rob van der Meij (Capricorn Partners) – Moderated by: Melina Gerdts, Founder & Host, bioCircular Loop | Download | |
| 15:00 - 15:30 | Panel Discussion: Is current EU policy hampering or facilitating the journey from Lab to Fab? | Agata Kotkowska (DG ENV, Unit B.1 Bioeconomy & Sustainable Materials), Kirsi Haavisto (DG RTD, Unit E.2 Knowledge Valorisation & Technology Infrastructures), Dirk Carrez (Bio-based Industries Consortium), Nicolo Giacomuzzi-Moore (Circular Bio-based Europe Joint Undertaking), Mikael Wraae Valsted (DI Biosolutions) – Moderated by Melina Gerdts, Founder & Host, bioCircular Loop | Download |
Investor Pitch Session 1
| Time of day | Title | Speakers | Keywords | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Backing bold entrepreneurs committed to planetary and human health | Adrian Friederich – FoodLabs | Download | ||
| Continuing Yanmar’s legacy of innovation through investments into impactful deeptech | Ana Ward – Yanmar Ventures | Download | ||
| CMPC Ventures: From Forest to Future | Anna Niittylä – CMPC Ventures | Download | ||
| Biotope Ventures: Investing in early-stage biotech start-ups impacting planetary health | Annick Verween – biotope by VIB | Download | ||
| Transforming the agrifood system from Soil & Sea to Gut | Arne Hautekiet – Astanor | Download | ||
| Ingredients for a Sustainable Future | Claire Smith – Beyond Impact VC | Download | ||
| Unlocking the Potential of Industrial Biotechnology: The Capricorn Industrial Biotech Fund | Daniela Arruda Costa – Capricorn Partners | Download | ||
| Title to be announced | Diana Rucinschi – European Innovation Council | Download | ||
| From Lab to Factory: Patient capital for the Bioeconomy | Ingrid Rombouts – Oost NL | Download | ||
| Investing for impact: a family office’s commitment to biodiversity, climate and social equality across five investment domains | Jobien Laurijssen – VP Capital | Download | ||
| It’s time to rethink what we build – and what we build with. | Johan van Heusden – Value Factory | Download | ||
| Investments in Hyper-Scalable Companies that Can Achieve Rapid Growth | Katarzyna Gil – ICOS Capital | Download | ||
| Investing in a Sustainable Future: Equity capital exclusively dedicated to the Circular Bioeconomy. | Michael Nettersheim – European Circular Bioeconomy Fund, ECBF | Download | ||
| Brabant, scale up plant of Europe | Daan van Lange – BOM Brabant Ventures | Download |
Investor Pitch Session 2
| Time of day | Title | Speakers | Keywords | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Using venture philantropy to scale bioeconomy start-ups | Rebecca Ravenni – RAISE Sherpas | Download | ||
| Investing in Sustainable Focused Start Ups | René Reijtenbagh – Business Angels Connect | Download | ||
| The Power of Focus | Theis Malmborg – NOON Ventures | Download | ||
| Circular debt: project finance for first-of-a-kind circular production innovations | Ward Heij – Polestar Capital | Download | ||
| Scaling the industry, opportunities in the bioeconomy | Xandra Weinbeck – Invest-NL | Download | ||
| Scaling up through blended finance with Biobased Circular Subsidy Fund | Rick Passenier – Biobased Circular | Download | ||
| Partners in ambition – financing for start-ups and scale-ups | Cato Vanleysen – PMV | Download | ||
| Leveraging biotech to decarbonise industry; Food, Chemicals, Materials, Agriculture | Mariam Cherifi & Gabriela Sachet Fernandez – Sofinnova Partners | Download | ||
| Biotech Booster: Investing in the Future of Dutch Biotechnology | Nettie Buitelaar – Biotech Booster | Download | ||
| Fueling the Bioeconomy: InnovationQuarter Capital’s Strategic Investment in Scalable Bio-Based Innovations | Fleur Rooker – InnovationQuarter | Download |
