The EU-Startups Podcast | Interview with Jekaterina Romanova, founder & CEO of PrintyMed
For today’s podcast, produced in association with the Women TechEU scheme, we sit down with Jekaterina Romanova, CEO and co-founder of Latvian biotech startup PrintyMed, to discuss biomimetic spider silk, its medical potential, and the challenges of scaling deep-tech innovation in Europe. The Women TechEU scheme is an EU-funded project supporting women leading deep tech […] The post The…
In the latest episode of the EU-Startups podcast, presented in collaboration with the Women TechEU initiative, host Jekaterina Romanova, the CEO and co-founder of Latvian biotech company PrintyMed, discusses her innovative biomimetic spider silk technology and the challenges of scaling deep tech in Europe. Women TechEU is a European Union-funded program aimed at fostering inclusive innovation by supporting women-led startups, especially those in underrepresented deep tech sectors and regions.
Throughout the discussion, Romanova shares her unconventional journey into biotechnology, beginning with an economics degree and a banking career, before venturing into entrepreneurship at the age of eighteen with a posture-correction clothing startup. Later, she co-founded PrintyMed, leveraging her experience in medical regulation, funding, and commercialization.
PrintyMed's groundbreaking technology revolves around biomimetic spider silk, which mimics the natural process of how spiders produce silk. The company has set its sights on developing artificial organs, biological scaffolds, artificial nerves, wound dressings, and regenerative medicine. Their first commercial venture focuses on membranes for organ-on-a-chip systems, which enable pharmaceutical companies and researchers to test drugs while minimizing animal testing. These membranes are already being tested in pilot projects.
Funding has played a significant role in PrintyMed's growth trajectory. The company has received approximately €2 million in grants, including €75,000 from Women TechEU and around €700,000 through the European Innovation Council programme. This financial support has bolstered PrintyMed's expertise in regulation, intellectual property, scaling, and fundraising.
Additionally, the company is exploring opportunities beyond Europe by establishing partnerships in Saudi Arabia, where a burgeoning biotechnology sector and government-backed initiatives could facilitate international expansion.
Romanova advocates for faster regulatory pathways in Europe to accelerate medical innovation without compromising patient safety. She also notes the potential of spider silk in the cosmetic and skincare industry, following discussions with Chanel regarding a regenerative cosmetic glove. The podcast underscores the pivotal role of European funding programs in advancing PrintyMed's research, regulatory knowledge, and production capabilities, while also highlighting the importance of fostering innovation through controlled fast-track testing environments.
Written by urgent.news from EU-Startups's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — it may contain errors, so check the original before relying on it.
