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

Informal Networking Walking Dinner & Perfect Pitch PARTY

Time of day Title Speakers Keywords
19:00 - 21:00 Informal Networking Walking Dinner Download
21:00 - 23:00 The Perfect Pitch PARTY Download