Whoever starts a startup in drug development chooses a long and challenging path. The risks are high, the development trajectory is costly, and the market is heavily regulated. But the reward? It is enormous. Because if you succeed, you are not only building a thriving company, but you are also contributing to better health and quality of life for countless people. It is precisely for these pioneers that the Brabant Development Agency (BOM) has launched a new venture building programme.
Imagine: you have an idea for a drug that can drastically improve the lives of thousands of people with Alzheimer's or epilepsy. You believe in it. Your team does too. But before you can help a single patient, fifteen years of development and over a billion euros in investments lie between dream and reality. The chance of success is small: about four percent.
Yet some entrepreneurs choose exactly this path. Because they know what is at stake. They are the pioneers in drug development. "They operate in a highly regulated market," says Britta Driessen, venture developer at BOM. "That's logical too: you have to prove that your drug is safe and works better than what is already available. That requires vision, patience, and a lot of perseverance."
As a venture developer, Driessen guides startups in building their company: from strategy and team formation to product development and preparation for investment. You can see it as a kind of entrepreneurial guide, helping to turn ideas into viable businesses.
Focused support for driven entrepreneurs
On behalf of BOM, Driessen is involved in the BioVenture Building Programme, which started on September 10th. BOM develops this programme together with the province of North Brabant and consulting firms 3D-PharmXchange and Odgers.
The programme helps startups to become investment-ready. “They need to reach a strategic, financial, and operational point where private investors have confidence and are willing to invest,” says Driessen.
That is currently insufficient. About 60 percent of startups get stuck in the growth phase due to problems within the team, says Sebijn Bunt, consultant leadership practice at Odgers. “That's why early investment in the development of founders and management teams is so important. It is essential for continued growth and a good return.” As a leadership consultancy, Odgers assists in this programme with their knowledge of team development and leadership enhancement.
"This new initiative by BOM is crucial because it sets biotech startups on the right path from the beginning, with a well-thought-out and more promising development programme," says Philip Kwant, Director of Business & Operations at 3D-PharmXchange. "For 3D-PharmXchange, this means that we can deploy our expertise at an early stage, thereby not only increasing the success rate for these startups but also expanding our client base in Brabant and demonstrating our added value to these companies. It provides a powerful boost for groundbreaking drug makers and innovation in the region."
Do you want to know more about the programme?
More than just medicines
Are there no programmes yet for the target group of the Drug Discovery & Development Venture Building Programme? “BOM does offer venture development, but this is a very specific market and target group with a unique development trajectory,” says Driessen. “A customised programme is needed for that. That's what we're going to offer now.”
The programme also aligns with existing initiatives such as the Venture Challenge of the Dutch Research Council (NWO). “We continue where such programmes end,” says Driessen.
The initiative is not only aimed at developers of medicines but also at entrepreneurs who develop technologies that can accelerate the introduction of medicines. “For example, R&D-accelerating innovations to demonstrate the efficacy of medicines faster or more accurately,” says Driessen. “Artificial intelligence plays an increasingly important role in this.”
From validation to financing
The official launch of the programme is on September 10 in the JADS Chapel in Den Bosch. In four years, BOM and partners aim to guide at least eighteen startups to financing.
We support entrepreneurs in a phased programme. The trajectory runs from the validation of innovations and clinical application to the development and implementation of an integrated development plan, including a financing strategy.
The goal? To develop medicines that truly help and increase the success rate of startups. We do this through a sector-specific approach and close collaboration with investors and experts.
During the trajectory, we aim to provide startups with guidance from experienced entrepreneurs who have already navigated the growth path. “We are currently working on setting up a mentor network to make this possible. Sparring with someone who has already experienced everything gives you insights that really help you move forward,” says Driessen. “That makes a world of difference.”
Vision, perseverance, and courage
Such a mentor also knows: entrepreneurship in drug development is not for everyone. It requires vision, perseverance, and a hefty dose of courage. But for those who dare to take the challenge, there is a unique opportunity to make a societal impact and build a strong company.
With the BioVenture Building Programme, BOM offers you as an entrepreneur support, expertise, and a network. You don't have to walk the path alone. Sign up and take the first step towards a breakthrough that changes lives.
