GeneNovate Investors' Day

The importance of gene and cell therapies as well as tissue therapeutics (Advanced Therapy Medicinal Products) is steadily increasing worldwide. In particular, patients with rare diseases - at least affecting 4 million people in Germany - and otherwise untreatable cancer patients can benefit from treatment in the long term. Technological advances, such as the expansion of the use of artificial intelligence, are further dynamizing the field.

Sixteen gene therapies and one cell therapy are currently approved in Europe (as of December 2024, vfa). The number of clinical trials worldwide is constantly increasing. Groundbreaking developments are on the horizon for this innovative business field, with sales of up to EUR 27.9 billion expected by 2026. The German government has also recognized the potential of these innovative therapies. In a National Strategy for Gene- and Cell-Based Therapies, concrete measures have been defined to improve the framework conditions, e.g. in research and development, regulation or manufacturing practice.  One initiative is the GeneNovate Entrepreneurship Programme in the field of gene and cell therapies, which, for the second time in 2025, prepares participants from research and science who are interested in founding a company for the topic of spin-offs from the academic environment and accompanies them for six months. Bringing together different stakeholders is another key pillar of the strategy to facilitate the dialogue across disciplinary, sectoral, regional and national boundaries and thus accelerates translation.

This is where the GeneNovate Investors' Day comes in: without smart investments and relevant expert mentoring, no new therapies! GeneNovate Investors' Day is a networking event for scientific, translationally oriented project teams, international startups, investors and experts from science, industry and politics. Discover with us the latest developments in the field of gene and cell therapies and promising investment opportunities.  Find out more in exciting panels on key topics such as the particular features of the value chain, investment specifics or international best practices. In the heart of Berlin, we create the right atmosphere for personal exchange!

Eligibility criteria

Eligible for (founded) startups and late-stage academic projects with signed term sheet with focus on gene and cell-based innovations

Application period: November 3rd, 2025 to January 16th, 2026

Focus on: International Start-ups and late-stage academic projects in the field of gene- and cell-based innovations and AI

Definition: Gene- and cell-based therapies (GCT) are defined here as the following methods, among others:

• Therapeutic approaches with advanced therapy medicinal products (ATMPs):
  • Somatic cell therapeutics (for example in the form of stem cells, immune system cells or mesenchymal stromal cells, among others)
  • Gene therapeutics in the form of substitution, addition or suppression therapies using viral and non-viral vectors or genome editing
  • Tissue engineering products such as the production of tissues for surgical use, including the use of novel biomaterials
• Therapeutic approaches with novel biological products, such as mRNA- and other nucleic acid-based methods, extracellular vesicles or exosomes
• Companion diagnostics for advanced therapies
• Oncolytic virus-based therapies, which employ genetically engineered or naturally occurring viruses to selectively infect and destroy tumor cells while stimulating systemic anti-tumor immunity
• Bacteria-based therapeutics, making use of naturally occurring or engineered bacteria (e.g. Clostridium, Salmonella) for targeted tumor colonization, local delivery of therapeutic agents, and immune modulation
• Integration of artificial intelligence (AI) along the GCT value chain, e.g. in:
  • the discovery and optimization of therapeutic targets and vectors,
  • predictive modeling of patient responses and therapy outcomes,
  • automation and quality control in cell and tissue manufacturing,
  • analysis of multi-omics data for personalized treatment strategies.

Benefits:

• Participate and pitch at GeneNovate Investors' Day on June 9, 2026 in Berlin.
• Connect with relevant key investors and industry leaders.
• Benefit from expert selection by a jury comprising academic representatives, public and private investors.
• Enhance your presentation with mandatory pitch training in May 2026.
• Travel support: We will take care of your accommodation and cover the travel costs for one participating person.

How to apply:

• Please use the embedded application platform or go to the following link.
• All applications submitted by the deadline will undergo a comprehensive review based on formal criteria.
• Projects and start-ups will be selected based on key factors: originality, differentiated clinical safety and/or efficacy and commercial viability.
• Submissions should include a pitch deck making sure to address the following aspects:
  Problem & Proposed Solution/ Innovation, Business Model & Strategy, Market & Competition, Team & Mentors, Achievements & Upcoming Milestones, Investments & Use of Funds

Take advantage of this unique opportunity to showcase your innovative ideas and accelerate your journey in the field of gene and cell-based therapies!

Start your application today!