“Now we can move forward faster”

One is working to detect organ disease earlier.

The other is working to improve farmland by harnessing its biology.

What they have in common is that Innovation Fund Denmark is now backing them both: Yan Yan and Marcela Mendoza-Suárez from AU Life Science Hub have each been awarded DKK 430,000 through the Innofounder development programme.

In addition to having their salaries funded, the two researchers will take part in a 12-month programme featuring workshops, mentoring sessions, and feedback from fellow entrepreneurs.

“The programme can help us hone our strategy and test our business model. Combined with access to laboratories and guidance from AU Life Science Hub, it will allow us to move forward faster,” explains Yan Yan, who heads the startup EVGenomics.

The young company is developing a technology that, in simple terms, isolates the particles released into the bloodstream by individual organs. This will enable EVGenomics to identify precise biomarkers for the healthcare sector, making it possible to diagnose diseases earlier and monitor treatment more effectively than is currently possible.

But first, Yan Yan and the rest of the EVGenomics research team must turn the science into a real-world solution – and the development programme is designed to help the company do just that.

“So, I’m thrilled to have received the grant,” says the CEO of EVGenomics.

A crucial step

Marcela Mendoza-Suárez sees the support from Innovation Fund Denmark as a seal of approval for the spin-out SymbioMatch. This is despite the four-person company having already attracted external investment.

Using automated analyses of crops, bacteria, and soils, SymbioMatch can tailor biostimulants to specific seeds, helping farmers get far more from their fields.

“With support from Innofounder, we can maintain our momentum and identify the right growth strategy. It is a crucial step towards de-risking the business,” says the CEO of SymbioMatch.

AU Life Science Hub was established a year ago to shorten the journey from research to business. Based at the Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, the 600-square-metre hub comprises six advanced laboratories, modern office facilities, and access to administrative support.

As the head of the department responsible for the hub, Erik Østergaard Jensen hopes Innovation Fund Denmark’s backing of EVGenomics and SymbioMatch will encourage more entrepreneurs to seek funding and guidance through the Innofounder programme.

“This allows startups to test their ideas at an early stage – and if they do so within the hub, they can put those ideas into practice without having to make an initial investment.”

Facts: Innofounder

• Innofounder is a 12-month full-time programme for entrepreneurs with a higher education qualification.
• Participants must have set up a company by the time the programme begins. The company may be no more than three years old at the time of application.
• In the first half of 2025, eight Aarhus University startups were admitted to the programme: AgroAnt, EVGenomics, Nordico, Sofina, Firon, Greenguard, Entoprime, and SymbioMatch.