What happens when you mix brilliant MedTech innovators, fearless female founders, and a room full of entrepreneurial energy?
You get one unforgettable evening at the UT Founders MedTech Event, hosted by the University of Twente Entrepreneurial Alumni Group (EAG) in partnership with Novel-T.
From inspiring stories to surprise guests, this event was a celebration of what makes the University of Twente so special: innovation, collaboration, and a bold vision for the future.
The evening began with opening remarks from Rudina de Lange, a seasoned supervisory and advisory board member for international manufacturing companies. Machteld Roos, Vice-Chair of the University of Twente Management Board, followed with a keynote emphasizing the university's commitment to fostering entrepreneurship, with a special focus on empowering female founders.
Showcasing alumni Founders: Sanne Both and Lea Milovich
Two trailblazing female founders, Sanne Both of Hy2Care and Lea Milovich of Flowbeams, shared their entrepreneurial journeys: Sanne shared how Hy2Care’s innovative hydrogel technology is transforming the recovery process for cartilage defects in joints, and Lea highlighted Flowbeams’ groundbreaking needle-free injection device, a significant leap forward in patient-friendly medical technology. Their stories underscored the complexities of bringing medical innovations to market, from navigating regulatory approvals to understanding unique funding challenges in the healthcare ecosystem.
The evening continued with an engaging panel discussion featuring seasoned MedTech founders and investors, the panel tackled pressing topics, including securing funding and forming strategic partnerships with large corporations, offering valuable insights to aspiring entrepreneurs in attendance.
Expert panel
- Merel Boers (TG'10), director & founder of Nicolab
- Jasper van Weerd (BME'07/PhD), CEO & founder of Lipocoat
- Suze Linders (BSK'89), member of Borski fund healthcare committee
- Raoul Zaal (IEM'87), experienced business leader & health-tech entrepreneur
A surprise highlight of the event was the attendance of Theo Peters, the Dutch Consul General in San Francisco. After hearing about the event from Vinod Subramaniam, Chair of the University of Twente, Theo decided to join and stayed until the very end. His presence was especially meaningful, as many MedTech start-ups and scale-ups aim to expand into the US market alongside their European operations.
The plenary session concluded with pitches from three promising start-ups:
- Kiki Liu, co-Founder of Twente Medical Optics, introduced a handheld laser perfusion imager.
- Olga Koshkina, co-Founder of Phos4nova, showcased expertise in Polyphosphoester (PPE) technology.
- Sandra de Vos, co-Founder of VosFox Medical, presented her company’s specialization in low-volume contract manufacturing for medical devices.
The event wrapped up with informal networking over drinks and pizza, where attendees connected with the founder presenters, panelists, and alumni experts. It was a vibrant exchange of ideas, knowledge, and potential collaborations.
This event wasn’t just about MedTech or entrepreneurship—it was about the people who make it happen. The University of Twente has always been a place where innovation thrives, and nights like this remind us why.
About the Entrepreneurial Alumni Group
The Entrepreneurial Alumni Group (EAG) connects University of Twente alumni who are founders of scale-ups. Through quarterly company visits and an annual event spotlighting female role models, the EAG fosters visibility, knowledge sharing, and mutual success. For more information about EAG, contact Mireille Kinket.
Further reading
- To continue the momentum, we’ve compiled the entrepreneurs' messages and the picture selection of the event. We encourage you to take a look and explore potential opportunities to connect and contribute.
- U-Today 20/01/2025 ‘We willen vrouwelijk talent een podium bieden’ (in Dutch)
- U-Today 22/08/2024 Alumni willen UT op de kaart zetten: ‘Landelijke onbekendheid niet oké’ (in Dutch)
