On May 7, 2025, the RTZ Cologne once again became a hub for forward-thinking ideas, ambitious startups, and experienced professionals from the life sciences sector. The event “New Kids on the Block”, organized by BioCologneand LifeScienceNet Düsseldorf, had already proven to be a major success the year before: a fully booked venue, dynamic exchanges, and a wealth of inspiring input made it a true highlight for the life sciences community.

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A Format that Connects

With the goal of making innovation visible and fostering direct dialogue between founders, industry experts, and investors, New Kids on the Block has established itself as a key event in the life science ecosystem. The format provides a platform where biotech startups can present their visions and receive valuable feedback from the broader network.

Program Highlights

Following the welcome by the two organizing networks, the event kicked off with a series of compelling startup pitches:

• Dr. Victor Bustos, Refoxy Pharma
  New therapies for old diseases – Treating age-related disorders by activating “younger” biology

• Dr. Fabian Mohr & Dr. René Hägerling, LIMAA Technologies
  Next Generation Pathology – Advanced diagnostic solutions

• Dr. Till Matzat, Plasmidsaurus
  Innovations at the cutting edge of sequencing technology

• Dr. Elisabeth Rohbeck, CureDiab Metabolic Research GmbH
  A revolutionary compound for the treatment of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD)

This was followed by a high-caliber panel discussion on current challenges and key learnings in the life sciences sector. Featured panelists included Dr. Achim Plum (High-Tech Gründerfonds – HTGF), Dr. Nicole Faust (Peppermint Venture Partners GmbH), and Tim Hiddemann (Gateway Factory).

Expert Moderation

The evening was expertly moderated by two seasoned professionals from the startup and innovation scene:
Martin Kretschmer of KölnBusiness guided the audience through the program with a keen sense for relevant topics. He was joined by André van Hall of BioCampus Cologne & RTZ Köln GmbH, who led the panel discussion with confidence and clarity, encouraging a lively and insightful exchange among the experts.

Get-Together & Networking

At 6:00 PM, the event transitioned into a relaxed get-together where networking, collaboration, and conversation took center stage. In an open and inspiring atmosphere, participants made new connections, developed ideas further, and laid the groundwork for future partnerships – all in the spirit of the event’s guiding principle:
“Innovation begins with dialogue.”

Organized by:

BioCologne
The central network for biotechnology, life sciences, and health tech in the Cologne/Bonn region – promoting innovation and visibility for a sustainable life sciences future.

LifeScienceNet Düsseldorf
An interdisciplinary network dedicated to facilitating collaboration between research, business, and investors in North Rhine-Westphalia.

With support from:
KölnBusiness Economic Development · BioCampus Cologne · RTZ Köln · Life Science Center Düsseldorf

In cooperation with:
BIO.NRW · BioRiver e.V. · Gesundheitsregion KölnBonn e.V. · Medizin.NRW · IHK Düsseldorf

Looking Ahead

The overwhelmingly positive feedback, full venue, and inspiring discussions confirm it:
New Kids on the Block is more than just an event – it’s a community.
We look forward to the next editions and to many more fresh impulses for the life sciences in North Rhine-Westphalia and beyond.

‍

On May 7, 2025, the RTZ Cologne once again became a hub for forward-thinking ideas, ambitious startups, and experienced professionals from the life sciences sector. The event “New Kids on the Block”, organized by BioCologneand LifeScienceNet Düsseldorf, had already proven to be a major success the year before: a fully booked venue, dynamic exchanges, and a wealth of inspiring input made it a true highlight for the life sciences community.

‍

A Format that Connects

With the goal of making innovation visible and fostering direct dialogue between founders, industry experts, and investors, New Kids on the Block has established itself as a key event in the life science ecosystem. The format provides a platform where biotech startups can present their visions and receive valuable feedback from the broader network.

Program Highlights

Following the welcome by the two organizing networks, the event kicked off with a series of compelling startup pitches:

• Dr. Victor Bustos, Refoxy Pharma
  New therapies for old diseases – Treating age-related disorders by activating “younger” biology

• Dr. Fabian Mohr & Dr. René Hägerling, LIMAA Technologies
  Next Generation Pathology – Advanced diagnostic solutions

• Dr. Till Matzat, Plasmidsaurus
  Innovations at the cutting edge of sequencing technology

• Dr. Elisabeth Rohbeck, CureDiab Metabolic Research GmbH
  A revolutionary compound for the treatment of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD)

This was followed by a high-caliber panel discussion on current challenges and key learnings in the life sciences sector. Featured panelists included Dr. Achim Plum (High-Tech Gründerfonds – HTGF), Dr. Nicole Faust (Peppermint Venture Partners GmbH), and Tim Hiddemann (Gateway Factory).

Expert Moderation

The evening was expertly moderated by two seasoned professionals from the startup and innovation scene:
Martin Kretschmer of KölnBusiness guided the audience through the program with a keen sense for relevant topics. He was joined by André van Hall of BioCampus Cologne & RTZ Köln GmbH, who led the panel discussion with confidence and clarity, encouraging a lively and insightful exchange among the experts.

Get-Together & Networking

At 6:00 PM, the event transitioned into a relaxed get-together where networking, collaboration, and conversation took center stage. In an open and inspiring atmosphere, participants made new connections, developed ideas further, and laid the groundwork for future partnerships – all in the spirit of the event’s guiding principle:
“Innovation begins with dialogue.”

Organized by:

BioCologne
The central network for biotechnology, life sciences, and health tech in the Cologne/Bonn region – promoting innovation and visibility for a sustainable life sciences future.

LifeScienceNet Düsseldorf
An interdisciplinary network dedicated to facilitating collaboration between research, business, and investors in North Rhine-Westphalia.

With support from:
KölnBusiness Economic Development · BioCampus Cologne · RTZ Köln · Life Science Center Düsseldorf

In cooperation with:
BIO.NRW · BioRiver e.V. · Gesundheitsregion KölnBonn e.V. · Medizin.NRW · IHK Düsseldorf

Looking Ahead

The overwhelmingly positive feedback, full venue, and inspiring discussions confirm it:
New Kids on the Block is more than just an event – it’s a community.
We look forward to the next editions and to many more fresh impulses for the life sciences in North Rhine-Westphalia and beyond.

‍