Sofia Mayans, for how many years did you work with the incubator team?
“Our idea was accepted to the incubator during the spring of 2014 and we did our exit from the incubator in the fall of 2019. Both myself and my co-founder, Dan Holmberg, worked on the company from the start of the project until we had to close the business”.
What happened to your idea in the end?
“We managed to create a CRO that provided efficacy tests in inflammation and fibrosis. Our business was successful and we had most of our clients in the US. When the pandemic hit the world it hit us very hard, since none of our clients would do any work, meaning that we did not have any income anymore. Unfortunately, we had to close down the business in the fall of 2023”.
What did you most appreciate about the incubator environment at UBI?
“The help I got from UBI to transition from pure researcher to commercialization and leader of a company has been incredibly valuable. Without the help from UBI that would have been much harder and it would have taken much more time. I do also appreciate the networks, the help to find soft funding, the facilities, the coaching, and the great environment created by UBI and the small companies at Tvistevägen”.
What learnings have you taken with you from your journey in the incubator?
“Well, to be honest, I’m not sure if I really understand how much I have learned over the years with InfiCure Bio. When our project entered UBI I was not thinking of a business leader or business developer at all, but after working on the project/company for all those years I gained knowledge in numerous areas such as business development, how to attract capital, and business economics. I think that the most important learning is that I now know that I have the capacity to learn new things and take on new roles as long as I find the task interesting and challenging”.
What would you say to others wanting to utilize a research idea?
“Take the chance! It is a lot of hard work, but it is also a lot of fun and very rewarding to see your idea develop. Approach UBI or someone else in the innovation system and take all the help they offer you”.
Interview made in September, 2024.
