Alfons Felice

Co-Founder of DirectSense GmbH

Background

  • Current Position: Chief Technical Officer & Co‑Founder, DirectSens GmbH
  • Focus: Development, scaling, and commercialization of innovative biosensor systems
  • Role in the Company: Strategic technology planning, head of R&D, interface between development and commercialization
  • Education: Biotechnology, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna (BOKU)

Expertise

  • Biotechnology & biosensing
  • Enzymatic systems and electrochemical detection
  • Technology transfer & IP strategy
  • Product development in the life sciences
  • Building and leading technical teams
  • Interface management between R&D, commercialization, and production
  • Company formation & strategy development in the deep‑tech environment

Marcus Lebensmühlbacher

Co‑Founder and CEO of Holloid GmbH

Background

  • Current Position: Co‑Founder & CEO, Holloid GmbH
  • Focus: Building the business model, incubation, go‑to‑market, financing; team building from scratch; IP and patent management (15 granted patents); legal affairs
  • Role in the Company: Operational management
  • Education: WU (Vienna University of Economics and Business): MSc/MIM International Management/CEMS; University of Vienna: International Development (diploma program); CFA Charterholder

Special Expertise

  • Cornerstones of company formation: Alignment of founders’ interests (commitment, equity, roles) and stakeholders (IP, market access)
  • Funding: Bootstrapping, grants, venture capital, financial planning
  • Business model, go‑to‑market, market entry

 

Eva Sommer

Entrepreneur and Experienced CEO

Background

  • Entrepreneur and experienced CEO in FoodTech and biotechnology with a focus on deep tech
  • Built two deep-tech companies; successfully sold one for €15 million
  • Raised over €10 million in venture capital
  • Expertise in scaling complex technologies in regulated markets—from scientific innovation to operational execution

Expertise

  • Building and scaling technology-driven startups
  • Operational excellence and KPI-driven leadership
  • Fundraising and investor relations
  • Precision fermentation and industrial biotechnology
  • Research Grants

Fun Fact


My comfort zone begins where others get nervous—walking barefoot alone through the desert, with no signal and no set destination.

Pinar Frank

Co-founder and CPO of Holloid GmbH

Background

  • Current position: Co-founder & Chief Product Officer, Holloid GmbH, Vienna
  • Focus: Development of market-oriented deep-tech products, cross-functional project management, and the establishment of development, production and technical support
  • Role within the company: Technical management, product definition, technical implementation, management of complex projects, team building, and acting as the interface between technology, customers and commercialization
  • Education: PhD in Biophysics, BOKU, and Master’s degree in Technical Physics, JKU Linz 

Expertise

  • Operational management in deep-tech start-ups
  • Deep-tech product development
  • Establishment and leadership of interdisciplinary technical teams
  • Project management in interdisciplinary and international contexts
  • Technical customer communication, training and application-oriented development
  • Microscopy, spectroscopy, biophysical analytics and data-driven evaluation of complex systems 

Roman Kittl

Co-Gründer von DirectSense GmbH

Background

  • Studied Food and Biotechnology at BOKU Vienna; graduated in 2003 as Diplom‑Ingenieur (equivalent to an MSc). PhD in 2008 (Dr. nat. techn.) in Biotechnology/Biochemistry with a focus on enzyme engineering and biocatalytic processes.
  • Active in academic research from 2004–2019, including roles as postdoctoral researcher and project lead at BOKU, with stints in Canada (UBC, Vancouver) and the USA; led several competitive research projects with a strong application focus.
  • Key insight in 2013: Many excellent technologies fail to make the leap from the lab to the market.
  • Co‑founder of DirectSens GmbH; since then COO responsible for operational build‑up, technology transfer, industrialization, and establishing robust company and team structures; development of biosensor solutions based on university research.

Expertise

  • Biosensing and enzyme technology (especially oxidoreductases, laccases, directed evolution)
  • Technology transfer from academic research and scientific ideas into market‑ready products
  • Founding, building, and scaling deep‑tech start‑ups and spin‑offs from academia in the life‑science domain
  • Operational leadership (COO) at the interface of research, technology, and the market
  • Building structures, processes, and teams in research‑ and technology‑driven start‑ups
  • Many years of experience bridging science and business

Fun fact

Spent years optimizing enzymes—and now applies the same patience and systematic approach to business models and teams.

Elisabeth Wächter

CCo-founder of dendro.at OG

Background
●    Studied Wood and Natural Fibre Technology at BOKU University
●    Long-standing member of staff at the Institute of Wood Technology and Renewable Resources, specialising in tree-ring analysis and timber quality
●    Co-founder of dendro.at, a spin-off from BOKU University focusing on dendrochronological timber dating

Specific expertise
●    Dendrochronological timber dating (including international collaboration)
●    Examination of artefacts, ranging from wooden structural elements to archaeological finds
●    Analysis and synchronisation of living trees, as well as the creation of new regional chronologies
●    Processing, analysis and presentation of dendrochronological datasets
●    Translating university research expertise into specialised services and establishing a position in a niche market
●    Balancing interests and conducting negotiations amidst the conflicting interests of various stakeholders
●    Linking research with business practice, and collaborating with various clients and project partners in the context of historic monuments

Fun Fact

I don’t need much to work: just a standing desk, a microscope and an espresso machine

 

Sebastian Nemestothy

Co-founder of dendro.at OG

Background

● Many years’ experience at the Institute of Wood Technology and Renewable Resources, specialising in dendrochronology and timber quality, at BOKU University and in the private sector

● Research into historical timber use, processing techniques and timber quality in collaboration with international partners

● Co-founder of dendro.at, a spin-off from BOKU University specialising in dendrochronological timber dating

Specific expertise

● Dendrochronological investigation of historic buildings and timber structures; analysis of historical timber use, working techniques and timber quality

● Coordination of interdisciplinary research projects

● Filming and documentation of scientific and craft-related topics

● Science communication and the dissemination of specialist knowledge to various target groups, including within the framework of citizen science projects

● Translating university research expertise into specialised services and establishing a presence in a niche market

● Balancing interests and conducting negotiations amidst the conflicting interests of various stakeholders

● Linking research with business practice, and collaborating with various clients and project partners in the context of historic monuments

Fun Fact

Combines the patience of wood with the finesse of diplomacy – and mediates in team meetings until absolutely everyone is happy with the outcome.