July 25, 2025
Bulletin interne de l'Institut Pasteur
A look back at Start-me up 2025: a spectacular 10th edition!
On July 3 and 4, 2025, the Startup division of the Technology Transfer and Industrial Partnership Department (DARRI) successfully organized the 10th edition of Start-me up. This event at the dynamic intersection of life sciences and technology, was held this year under the theme of “Tech Bio”.
A day of insights and innovation
The event kicked off on July 3 with expert talk sessions, combining Institut Pasteur researchers and key players from the innovation ecosystem. The morning session introduced the concept of Tech Bio, delving into its challenge and opportunities, as well as strategies for building businesses around open science projects. The afternoon session focused on key factors for transitioning fundamental research into to market-ready solutions. Participants then enjoyed a networking lunch at the greenhouse.
“Pitch your idea”: the highlight of this event
The standout feature of the event was the pitch session on July 4, where young researchers showcased their innovative work, laying the groundwork for future startups. Eight projects delivered compelling pitches, each talking a first step to transform their scientific results into business.
To prepare for this pitch session, the projects refined their concepts during the intensive “Value-up your idea” workshop (June 2-3, 2025), or through personalized coaching. The workshop was expertly organised and led by JongEun Ihm, Startup awareness manager. DARRI's expert mentors (Nicolas Mouz, Head of Technology innovation development division, Sotiris Missalidis, head of Vaccine innovation development division, Valérie Hélin, Strategic alliances manager, Thomas Miron, Business developper and Sierra Parker, in charge of business development and startup creation) played a key role in guiding each team to transform their idea into a viable buisness concept. Additional coaches provided further advice to perfect the pitches.
Jury’s feedback and award winners
On July 4, the finalists presented to an expert jury (Michel Perez, Head of Innovation development at DARRI, Kévin Plouchart, Europe & International project manager at Medicen, Inès Tazi, Associate in Deeptech non-dilutive funding at Bpifrance, Siau Baï, Early Innovation Partnership Director at Johnson & Johnson, and Adrien Clavairoly, Principal at AdBio Partners), receiving overwhelmingly positive feedback on the quality and potential of the projects presented.
These are the pitching ideas/projects:
1. PICCASO (Maria Isabella Gariboldi & Solène Bernard): AI-assisted imaged-based screening of immune cells
2. EBViome (Shaoni Bhattacharjee & Clarisabel Garcia Rodriguez): A breakthrough platform using patient-derived immune cells to predict responses to therapies for cancer and autoimmune disease patients
3. MATHIX Andréa Cottignies-Calamarte): Gene therapy to enhance immunotherapy treatments for cancer patients
4. Barrage (Alix Bouvier-Müller): Molecular barcode of age-related Neurodegenerative Disease (NDs)
5. CoreSignature (Justus Ninnemann, José Fernando García Rodrigo & Marielle Saclier): AI tools to analyze, generate, and predict profiles of cohorts of depressed patients from blood samples
6. Archane (Miguel Vicente Gomez-Raya Vilanova & Deniz Üresin): RNA printing: a machine that enables in vitro polymerization of ribonucleotides
7. Delta RNA (Duc Duy Vu): Robust and scalable manufacturing of RNA enabled by protein design with generative AI
8. Braincoder (Charly Lamothe & Anqi Zhou): High-resolution auditory restoration by a brain implant operated with a bio-mimetic deep encoder
The top three projects tool home prestigious awards:
• Gold: Braincoder (Charly Lamothe & Anqi Zhou)
• Silver: PICCASO (Maria Isabella Gariboldi & Solène Bernard)
• Bronze: MATHIX (Andréa Cottignies-Calamarte)
These winners, along with all participants, are invited to the Pasteur Startup Alumni networking event on October 2, 2025 (6pm-8pm at the The 25), where an award ceremony will be held in celebration of their achievements.
If you are interested in meeting entrepreneurs from the Institut Pasteur, please join it.
A special thank you to the mentors, jury members, and DARRI team for their support in making this year’s Start-me up a success. Congratulations to all pitchers for your creativity and hard work!
Discover participants’ testimonials
Alix Bouvier-Müller, postdoctoral researcher in the Bioorganic Chemistry of Nucleic Acids unit
Andréa Cottignies-Calamarte, postdoctoral researcher in the Antiviral Activities of Antibodies unit
Charly Lamothe, postdoctoral researcher in the Neural Codes and Dynamics unit
Duc Duy Vu, postdoctoral researcher in the Computational Structural Biology unit
Nicolas Mouz, Head of Technology Innovation Development division (DARRI)
Looking forward to meeting you at the 11th edition of Start-me up 2026 on July 2-3, 2026.
For those inspired to turn research into innovation, contact darri@pasteur.fr, they will be delighted to help you bring your idea to life!