Module 1

Sciencepreneur MeetUp #4

Feel the startup groove

24. September 2025 18:00 - 20:00

We are excited to announce the upcoming Zurich Sciencepreneur Meetup on Wednesday, September 24th, from 6 to 8 pm at University Children’s Hospital Zurich. This unique event is co-organized by all major universities and research institutions in the Zurich area — ETH Zurich, PSI, University Hospital Zurich (USZ), Balgrist University Hospital, University of Zurich, University Children’s Hospital Zurich, and ZHAW

Panel Topic: From Opportunity to Impact: Strategically Navigating Switzerland’s Start-up Support System

Join us for an inspiring panel discussion featuring experienced experts — including Irina Banzola, Carlo Bertozzi, Agnes Zoller and Michal Shoshan sharing insights on how to successfully navigate the Swiss life science startup ecosystem. This is a fantastic opportunity for early-stage life science entrepreneurs to gain valuable knowledge and practical advice.

Event Highlights:

Panel discussion with leading experts
Posters exhibition
Matchmaking session
Networking apéro

Whether you are an entrepreneur, researcher, or innovator in Life Sciences, Biotech, Medtech, or Digital Health, this event will provide you with insights, connections, and inspiration to drive your venture forward.

Poster Exhibition
Would you like to showcase your innovation project or startup idea at the Poster exhibition during the Networking Apéro? Apply here to be part of the exhibition !
Please note that spaces are limited. We will review all submissions and inform selected participants two weeks before the event.

Matchmaking Session – Find your match
Are you looking for co-founders, sparring partners, or first pilot collaborators for your startup? Or would you like to connect with innovative founders who share your interests and complement your skills? We will connect you in targeted 1:1 conversations so that first contacts can turn into real collaborations. Sign up here for the matchmaking session

This event is tailored to support founders and young entrepreneurs. Please note that they will be given priority.

Speakers

Michal Shoshan

Michal is the founder and CEO of metaLead Therapeutics AG, a spin-off from the University of Zurich, developing metal-binding peptides for therapeutic applications. She is a medicinal inorganic chemist with expertise in metal-related diseases and peptide design. Michal earned her PhD from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem and completed her postdoctoral training at ETH Zurich. She later established her own research group at the University of Zurich, which laid the foundation for the creation of metaLead.

Dr. Agnes Zoller

Dr. Agnes Zoller is Founder and CEO of InnoGrant Advisors, a Swiss strategy and innovation consulting firm accelerating science-based ventures through public and private funding, strategic positioning, and business development. She has secured over €200 million in European funding and successfully navigated Swiss, Austrian, German, and UK national funding schemes, making her a sought-after expert and thought leader in innovation financing. With 20+ years of experience across corporate R&D, academia, and entrepreneurship, Agnes has led global innovation strategies, spinoff creation, IP negotiations, and market launches in biotech, medtech, chemicals, and advanced materials. She is a Venture Builder and entrepreneur in residence for green chemistry deeptech startup, a accredited EIC Business Mentor, and Innosuisse Innovation Mentor, supporting startups and scaleups through critical growth stages. Agnes plays an active role in strengthening Switzerland’s innovation ecosystem with collaborating with investors, policy makers, and companies from all sizes. Agnes is recognized internationally for translating breakthrough ideas into impactful ventures through technology commercialization, strategy, funding, and cross-sector collaboration. (She is also premium member of the Swiss Startup Association)

Irina Banzola

Irina Banzola studied Biology at the University of Bologna (Italy), where she also earned her PhD, focusing on the quantification of cell-free fetal nucleic acids for prenatal screening. She then joined the University Hospital Zurich (USZ), where she began researching the impact of inflammation on prostate cancer. Subsequently, she moved to the University Children’s Hospital Zurich as Biobank and Laboratory Manager, while simultaneously working part-time at USZ as Project Leader for ONtrack Diagnostics. In this role, she initiated and pioneered the development of a urine-based, non-invasive diagnostic test for the early detection of prostate cancer. Her work earned her multiple competitive grants (among others: Gebert Rüf Stiftung, Bio-Entrepreneur by UZH, Bridge by SNF, Innosuisse, Novartis Foundation for Medical & Biological Research). In January 2023, she founded ONtrack Biomedical AG, a spin-off of the University Zurich and University Hospital Zurich, where she currently serves as CEO.

Carlo Bertozzi

Carlo Bertozzi is a life sciences entrepreneur and co-founder of four (4) biotech companies. Among others he co-founded InCephalo, where he serves as CEO and Board Member to advance next-generation brain cancer therapies. With a background in biochemistry, biophysics, molecular biology, as well as economics, he combines deep scientific expertise with entrepreneurial leadership. Over the past decade, Carlo has signed several drug development deals, among others with Morphosys and Roche, and raised more than USD 50 million in funding for his companies. Next to his role as an entrepreneur, he advises the Swiss Innovation Agency, InnoSuisse, as well as is an Entrepreneur In Residence at Extend, an Italian-based biotech incubator.