How wonderful would it be if we could treat diseases before people have even one symptom? For Jolke Beijnvoort, founder of VINDI biosystems, that is the ultimate goal. With his team, he is working on a technology that can continuously measure biomarkers in the blood, allowing doctors to intervene even before symptoms appear.
From reactive to proactive care
The current healthcare system is mostly reactive: only when someone gets sick does treatment follow. Jolke wants to change that. His first focus is on intensive care, where now only vital functions such as heart rate and temperature are continuously measured. “By monitoring biomarkers such as lactate, intervention can take place earlier and complications may be prevented,” Jolke explains.
The technology
At the heart of VINDI biosystems’ innovation is Integrated Photonics: a chip that uses light instead of electricity to measure minute changes. This allows the concentration of specific substances in liquids to be determined with extreme precision. The ultimate goal is a portable sensor such as a glucometer, but initial applications are focused on IC systems that continuously analyze blood.
from idea to startup
The idea originated in the 4TU Ideation Lab, where Jolke was paired with researchers. Together with two fellow students, he began a project on continuous biomarker monitoring. Their findings quickly grew into a startup-in-waiting. After participating in startup competitions and talking with Delft Enterprises about intellectual property, Jolke chose unlock_ashis next step.
"It was a wake-up call: regulations have to be right from the start, or you'll have huge problems later."
Learning and growing within unlock_
The past few months at unlock_ have given him many insights. The sessions on Regulatory Affairs were especially valuable. “It was a wake-up call: regulation is something you have to get right from the start, otherwise you’ll have huge problems later.” He also learned to negotiate better and his self-confidence in pitching and networking grew.
He also discovered the importance of structure. “I can move quickly and work on many things at once, but I have to do so within a clear framework. Regular appointments help me keep that structure.”
"I want 100 major hospitals worldwide to use our technology."
Future plans and ambition
In the coming months, Jolke is focusing on four main goals: further technical development of the technology, applying for grants, raising a pre-seed round of €500,000 to obtain full IP rights from TU Delft, and forming a consortium with investors and funds.
His dream for five years from now is clear: “I want 100 major hospitals worldwide to use our technology.” To that end, he is also looking at markets outside Europe, such as the US. “Our technology is new and costs a lot to develop. Then you have to aim for a big market where you can make an impact quickly.”
Advice for other entrepreneurs
His message to other startups considering participating in unlock_ is simple: “Just do it. Don’t hesitate, because the worst that can happen is that you learn a tremendous amount.”