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Spider Silk in BioTech · EU-Startups Podcast

• 0:00
  Speaker 1: You are now listening to the EU startups podcast.
• 0:13
  Speaker 1: Hello, and welcome to this episode of these starps podcast.
• 0:16
  Speaker 1: as always I'm your host Dave San Garcia.
• 0:18
  Speaker 1: theater at you.
• 0:19
  Speaker 1: start up today.
• 0:20
  Speaker 1: I chat with Jay Caterina Romanova.
• 0:23
  Speaker 1: She's the CEO and co-founder of The Latvian startup printy met Now printing.
• 0:27
  Speaker 1: it develops a health tech application from spider silk which if that surprises you not alone because I for one dino spider soap was or even its applications in health tech, not only health tech but cosmetics and things such as skincare.
• 0:44
  Speaker 1: And hair care either.
• 0:46
  Speaker 1: this has resulted In a partnership with Chanel For a cosmetic glove and Even further clans for labs in Saudi Arabia.
• 0:55
  Speaker 1: So they're very interesting startup and there are really getting started in Very Interesting ways making strides in the application of their technology and the way they're scaling.
• 1:05
  Speaker 1: Joe Cattery and I were able to chat over the applications that Spidersilk has within HealthTech, as well as the future of health tech within Europe—the challenges of its regulatory landscape —and even where she thinks Lapvia sits on a wider European
• 1:23
  Speaker 1: ecosystem.".
• 1:24
  Speaker 1: We are also able to talk about her involvement Women Tech EU program.
• 1:28
  Speaker 1: She is a previous alumnus of the women tech you program, she was one of only hundred and sixty winners selected from almost four thousand applications over the previous two years means who's on atop?
• 1:39
  Speaker 1: four percent successful applicants.
• 1:41
  Speaker 1: woman Tech use an EU funded funding scheme which supports women led deep-tech startups across Europe.
• 1:47
  Speaker 1: selected applicants receive accommodation of a seventy five thousand euro non dilutive grant.
• 1:56
  Speaker 1: WoomTechEU helps early stage innovators accelerate their growth through services such as one-to-one mentoring, business coaching investor connections network opportunities and support in tapping into further EU funding.
• 2:08
  Speaker 1: By opening the doors for diversity in deep tech, WoomtechEU says they are one of the most impactful tools in helping to shape a more competitive European ecosystem.
• 2:19
  Speaker 1: Hello Jakateria!
• 2:20
  Speaker 1: Welcome this special episode of The Eustarps Podcast.
• 2:23
  Speaker 1: It's pleasure have you here.
• 2:26
  Speaker 0: Well,
• 2:28
  Speaker 1: I'm looking forward to our conversation today because uh...I'll be honest.
• 2:32
  Speaker 1: I know nothing about spider silk.
• 2:35
  Speaker 1: in fact i'd say before Uh..i started the research for this episode i probably didn't even know what spider silk was.
• 2:42
  Speaker 1: so I'm kind of looking forward To you giving me a better introduction and a better look out as to where it is.
• 2:48
  Speaker 1: but Before that I want to give You a chance to present yourself And develop little bit About What I mean by Spider Silk.
• 2:57
  Speaker 0: Well, my name is Ekaterina Romanova.
• 2:59
  Speaker 0: I'm the CEO and founder of Printimet in Printimet.
• 3:03
  Speaker 0: Yes we are producing biomimetic spider silk.
• 3:06
  Speaker 0: well you definitely have seen it many times because its like Spiderweb let's say if were talking more simpler And i think that would definately at least one spider in your house who created some web.
• 3:25
  Speaker 0: So yeah, but we actually produce it in our lab.
• 3:32
  Speaker 0: We have this biotech startup because the spider web or spider silk is a very unique material which you can use either in medicine and defense textile and many other sectors.
• 3:48
  Speaker 1: Okay, well it's kind of sci-fi sounding to me.
• 3:51
  Speaker 1: you know a spider silica in health tech and medicinal application.
• 3:55
  Speaker 1: So its It's an interesting topic.
• 3:58
  Speaker 1: It's one the reasons really why we want to have you on the podcast.
• 4:01
  Speaker 1: And obviously relationship with women Tech U but that just what you do?
• 4:06
  Speaker 1: Really at an innovation levels very interesting.
• 4:10
  Speaker 1: But before we get into the meat of all that I do kind of wanna touch on where you began because you have an interesting path to what your doing now, and that didn't begin in health tech.
• 4:21
  Speaker 1: You did not began in biotech or any of the things like banking and sales if I had it correctly.
• 4:27
  Speaker 1: so kind talk me about how this happened?
• 4:30
  Speaker 1: How do start in banking and sell?
• 4:33
  Speaker 1: end up founder a company who produces spider silk for medicinal applications.
• 4:39
  Speaker 0: Yeah...you are right!
• 4:41
  Speaker 0: Because i am master economics And yeah, I studied economics and then used to work in bank.
• 4:51
  Speaker 0: But at age of eighteen i started my first startup which was Posture Correction t-shirts.
• 5:01
  Speaker 0: I had the idea that i want to try and do some entrepreneurship but didn't have actual product or something.
• 5:18
  Speaker 0: So, went one incubator... I tried to apply there because it just wanted a company start-up so I could learn how things work.
• 5:31
  Speaker 0: But yes..I was alone have any, let's say idea or a new product.
• 5:38
  Speaker 0: They did not accept me and then I just drop in chat the message asking like hey perhaps there is someone else who was looking for some team mate?
• 5:48
  Speaker 0: And another girl with this t-shirt!
• 5:51
  Speaker 0: Who was looking at her teammate... Then we started working together.
• 5:56
  Speaker 0: and that how i found my first startup with this posture correction t-shirts, and it was not so much let's say medical but still a little bit medically related as we worked with the physiotherapists and doctors.
• 6:12
  Speaker 0: And from that point I started diving deeper.
• 6:16
  Speaker 0: after some years i founded my second startup which three D printed bone grafts for muscle facial operations.
• 6:24
  Speaker 0: This was much more medical related, let's say.
• 6:28
  Speaker 0: and yeah during that time I learned it a lot the regulatory on all things.
• 6:36
  Speaker 0: so like already you know For last ten years i'm working with different kind of medical startups sometimes still All The Time in this area And Im learning Developing myself, developing different skills and knowledges about the medicine regulatory and all aspects.
• 7:00
  Speaker 1: So then do you feel that your medicinal understanding has developed a lot more since?
• 7:04
  Speaker 1: Then or Do You still kind of really rely on Your economics understanding On your business understanding to bring value To these companies?
• 7:15
  Speaker 0: Well, actually both because still well I have learned it a lot but still i'm not the expert.
• 7:20
  Speaker 0: I am NOT the doctor and So in my team we have another lady who is a Doctor And We Have A Scientific Team Who Is Actually Working In The Lab?
• 7:31
  Speaker 0: Now Im More Let's Say Business-Oriented Person.
• 7:35
  Speaker 0: so I Am More Working With The Finances Grants Investors Customers And So On.
• 7:42
  Speaker 1: Well, when I kind of did research on your background and we were talking about banking sales or something.
• 7:47
  Speaker 1: There's some that kept popping up is you can't mention it.
• 7:51
  Speaker 1: there was mentioned they get a lot interest in artificial organs And then that was Something That Kind Of Has Carried Out Throughout Your Kind Of Career And Throughout Your Interest.
• 8:01
  Speaker 1: Why?
• 8:02
  Speaker 1: Is That Such A Very Specific Thing To Have An Interest In Right?
• 8:07
  Speaker 0: Actually, I don't know let's say how it does appeared because It is really weird.
• 8:13
  Speaker 0: Because when i started kind of diving deeper in all the medical world Let's Say...I had this idea that I want to work on artificial organs and I wanted develop them or somehow developed something which might be used for them?
• 8:30
  Speaker 0: let's say how and why.
• 8:31
  Speaker 0: because I'm definitely not some doctor, i don't know bioengineer or someone who actually could do this.
• 8:39
  Speaker 0: But I have a crazy idea in my mind!
• 8:44
  Speaker 0: Because you see the really big value on potential of it... And I don't want to spend ten, twenty, fifty years on doing, I don't know another app kind of which will be like my billion plus one app in the world who perhaps someone use or perhaps not.
• 9:07
  Speaker 0: but come on there is no such a big difference at least for me.
• 9:11
  Speaker 0: There are artificial organs this thing let's say People are dying and this stuff can really change the game.
• 9:22
  Speaker 0: So, uh... This is something which it's worth to spend all those years.
• 9:28
  Speaker 0: so yeah I don't know i'm like a-I need big mission, big dreams And something big to go for It!
• 9:37
  Speaker 1: So then if we're talking practically Is that what you would say The biggest application of spider silk?
• 9:44
  Speaker 1: Is artificial organ?
• 9:45
  Speaker 0: Yes, this is actually our kind of big goal which we would love to achieve.
• 9:52
  Speaker 0: But of course we have started with some smaller steps forwarded.
• 9:57
  Speaker 0: you know... To develop a artificial organ it's quite hard and its organs are like complex that there're lots different things from which contains one organ.
• 10:08
  Speaker 0: so So yeah, but for the beginning we started with the membranes for organ on a chip solutions because this is let's say some faster to develop and also faster to enter the market.
• 10:22
  Speaker 0: Because of the regulatory and so then we use all our spiders for different wound dressings.
• 10:30
  Speaker 0: But of course, yes our long-term goal is to develop artificial organs and scaffolds.
• 10:36
  Speaker 0: For example we have made artificial heart walls prototype.
• 10:42
  Speaker 0: Also were working on the projects for artificial eye nerves.
• 10:46
  Speaker 0: So there are a lot stuff which can be Made from spider silk or also let's say the spider silk Can be used as basement of the next organ building, and so on.
• 11:03
  Speaker 0: Sure!
• 11:05
  Speaker 1: And I mean did you kind-of see all this from very beginning?
• 11:09
  Speaker 1: because if someone pitches to me a company that makes spider silk?
• 11:12
  Speaker 1: I'm not going be immediately thinking oh yeah heart valves and artificial organs...I feel like it would take me long time get into conclusion.
• 11:22
  Speaker 1: Did You See That From The Very Beginning When kind of made your co-founder and you thought about creating this company.
• 11:27
  Speaker 0: Yes, because all these kinds of ideas came out from the Institute for Organic Synthesis.
• 11:36
  Speaker 0: And our main scientist, Christophe Sjonsens was doing this.
• 11:41
  Speaker 0: When I saw him he was presenting kind of research about the spiders and so on.
• 11:48
  Speaker 0: He mentioned these artificial organs.
• 11:50
  Speaker 0: At that moment i realized This is something what I need That I really want to work with Him.
• 11:59
  Speaker 0: I wanted a team With Him To do company start-up.
• 12:06
  Speaker 1: So how much of this kind of technology and development was already made by the time you jumped on board?
• 12:14
  Speaker 0: Yeah, well at The Institute they did some basic research about spider silk as material such.
• 12:25
  Speaker 0: They have developed a process to produce these spidersilk using like this biomimetic way of the production.
• 12:38
  Speaker 0: So they mimics at that process how the spider produce, uh... The spider silk in-in nature but they do kind of the same but in lab and um.. At that moment I had just really some small samples of their potential material.
• 12:55
  Speaker 0: And yeah That's it.
• 12:58
  Speaker 1: And how did you convince them that you could join this?
• 13:01
  Speaker 1: Because if we're looking through his science background, right.
• 13:04
  Speaker 1: That's easy enough to quantify and say oh well I have a doctorate in this... ...and i can do that.. ..and add the research but your coming into it kind of with another understanding on other side business.
• 13:15
  Speaker 1: How did you convinced him they should kinda joined-in with us?
• 13:19
  Speaker 0: Well actually Christops he was willing somehow commercialize this research, so he participated in the Ignition event which was organized by commercialization reactor.
• 13:33
  Speaker 0: So it's a big event where scientists present their resources and there are And they are listening and trying to form some team, so this is the main idea of this event.
• 13:50
  Speaker 0: So he was already willing do something with his research.
• 13:57
  Speaker 0: He's looking for entrepreneurs because you know... Not know anything about the business and he's not ready to go out of his lab.
• 14:11
  Speaker 0: He wants still do research on all this, but for a good business you need someone who will be actually doing it so that they'll go with customers etc...
• 14:24
  Speaker 1: Right!
• 14:25
  Speaker 1: So I imagine anybody listening has been wondering how does this affect me?
• 14:32
  Speaker 1: At what point do I benefit from this kind of technology?
• 14:35
  Speaker 1: Where are you at that stage in terms?
• 14:38
  Speaker 1: the application, is it that hospitals started using it.
• 14:45
  Speaker 1: Had there been any real world applications to the technology yet?
• 14:49
  Speaker 0: Well we're still testing and so on because for medical applications long time to get actually through the patients.
• 15:02
  Speaker 0: So now we have started with these membranes for organ on a chip solutions, this is not for human use but more also kind of research used.
• 15:13
  Speaker 0: so there are specific organs in a chip.
• 15:16
  Speaker 0: it's kind of organ models.
• 15:18
  Speaker 0: let say which you're using the research to test different drugs.
• 15:25
  Speaker 0: So, because in the Europe there are no new regulatory that we need to use less animals and different drugs studies.
• 15:33
  Speaker 0: And so on... We create now this membranes for organonechip solutions do different testings and so forth with the drug.
• 15:45
  Speaker 0: This is our first application.
• 15:49
  Speaker 0: Let's say it is not already available on the market, but we are doing first pilots with our customers.
• 15:55
  Speaker 0: So really soon they will be available for research centres in pharma companies and so on.
• 16:04
  Speaker 0: But then of course next application is medical ones like different boundress things through the certification.
• 16:20
  Speaker 0: so it takes some time, some years.
• 16:25
  Speaker 0: So actually the patients will see our product within a year but hopefully never you know?
• 16:34
  Speaker 0: It's really nice and uh... You would be really lucky if you'll ever use your products!
• 16:40
  Speaker 1: Right well we'd be happy to have it If We Ever Needed.
• 16:45
  Speaker 1: let say like that.
• 16:49
  Speaker 1: Well, I mean and you've clearly seen support even if maybe haven't entered this kind of public testing phase.
• 16:56
  Speaker 1: You raised over one million according to my notes.
• 16:59
  Speaker 1: right in grants part is women tech EU program which i think it's a good moment to kinda touch on that.
• 17:07
  Speaker 1: And just...I wanna hear little bit more about how that kind of support helped printing it so much on the journey, and where you were at that moment.
• 17:17
  Speaker 1: And even beyond if you felt kind of a lasting support in effect from this program?
• 17:24
  Speaker 0: Yeah actually more.
• 17:26
  Speaker 0: now we have around two millions maybe more event because recently got also EIC grants woman TechU.
• 17:35
  Speaker 0: it was really nice program exactly for them young startups, let's say in the TRL four or five something.
• 17:48
  Speaker 0: Which are still also on research phase like who is not selling but they're doing their research and preparing to talk with first customers.
• 18:02
  Speaker 0: so I'm preparing for this.
• 18:04
  Speaker 0: sales.
• 18:07
  Speaker 0: Yeah, during this program we've got really nice sessions regarding the regulatory IP and so on.
• 18:15
  Speaker 0: Also grants in funding attraction.
• 18:18
  Speaker 0: then We also had the mentorship with our mentor who talked a lot about scaling of production process.
• 18:28
  Speaker 0: And yeah.
• 18:29
  Speaker 0: but the main thing This project led us to another project which I already mentioned, the EIC Pro Accelerator.
• 18:39
  Speaker 0: So this helped us prepare for kind of bigger grant a project that is seven hundred thousands euro because the women tech was seventy five thousand.
• 18:53
  Speaker 0: so it's... What's not so big amount of money for kind of scientific based projects because we need quite a lot Of money to do what you have planned.
• 19:07
  Speaker 0: but still this is very good like first second step To start with and then two get further.
• 19:15
  Speaker 1: So would you say that's the main benefit?
• 19:18
  Speaker 1: That you got from?
• 19:18
  Speaker 1: it was to kind of put You up on another level.
• 19:22
  Speaker 1: one continue on on a path.
• 19:24
  Speaker 0: Yeah
• 19:25
  Speaker 1: Okay, okay.
• 19:26
  Speaker 1: Well and with that in mind I'm curious to hear because you know we at EU startups We hear about all kinds of accelerators and programs wouldn't take you?
• 19:35
  Speaker 1: You've mentioned DIC accelerators.
• 19:36
  Speaker 1: there's plenty of them right?
• 19:38
  Speaker 1: From your experience in being involved With these what would you say is a gap or something That still could be improved To support?
• 19:48
  Speaker 1: specifically when were talking About women building start-ups
• 19:57
  Speaker 0: It's hard to say, actually.
• 20:01
  Speaker 0: Because you know always the first question is financing because let's see it doesn't depends woman building we're not start up but still You need to have kind of a lot of financing if your building these tech startups.
• 20:17
  Speaker 0: But regarding the women For me, it's really hard to answer this question.
• 20:27
  Speaker 0: Because in Latvia we have more women I mean... In the science and some leading positions on so-called men bands Really?
• 20:37
  Speaker 0: That
• 20:37
  Speaker 1: is great!
• 20:39
  Speaker 0: But situation if you are comparing with other countries.
• 20:43
  Speaker 0: So yeah.
• 20:48
  Speaker 0: But overall, if we think then just I think like from the very beginning it's really good to have such programs which are specifically for women to encourage them more.
• 21:01
  Speaker 0: To have this community with also other let say peers' womens who you can talk and understand with another mentor woman.
• 21:11
  Speaker 0: Also we need somehow show good examples and best practices of other women to have some role model, perhaps as well.
• 21:21
  Speaker 0: Because if you think now let's say just imagine that your young entrepreneur has a role model who would be like Elon Musk maybe or Bill Gates?
• 21:36
  Speaker 0: but it is men.
• 21:38
  Speaker 0: so do any woman?
• 21:42
  Speaker 0: I
• 21:44
  Speaker 1: mean, on that kind of scale?
• 21:46
  Speaker 1: No.
• 21:49
  Speaker 0: So this is the problem with my team.
• 21:52
  Speaker 0: first off all but i think there are still a lot of great women's.
• 21:57
  Speaker 0: okay maybe not in that kind or skill But we can look at Europe and so on.
• 22:04
  Speaker 0: We will find some great examples And somehow to promote them more
• 22:10
  Speaker 1: Definitely, I mean just with our podcast... Just
• 22:12
  Speaker 0: to ensure another woman that they can also do this.
• 22:16
  Speaker 0: Not only Elon Musk and Man's can do it but there is a place for them as well.
• 22:21
  Speaker 1: Yes yes It's part of the reason for this episode But we try hard so we can feature women voices too.
• 22:30
  Speaker 1: There are plenty of women entrepreneurs out here who have plenty interesting and insightful kind commentary to give.
• 22:37
  Speaker 1: But it is harder to find, you know?
• 22:40
  Speaker 1: I think that's true!
• 22:42
  Speaker 1: It's naturally easier for men and interviewees or entrepreneurs as well but we try our best on R&D to feature and promote these voices accelerator and the economic on the financing side, which is its own kind of promotion.
• 23:06
  Speaker 1: And it does feel like there's still a ways to go... ...and they're still ways forward to find that balance.
• 23:13
  Speaker 1: but it's great to hear about Latvia!
• 23:14
  Speaker 1: That's amazing that you have more women in these roles than science.
• 23:21
  Speaker 1: maybe this should be the insight from this episode.
• 23:24
  Speaker 1: so we all need to be like Latvia.
• 23:28
  Speaker 0: Yeah, in this sense yes.
• 23:31
  Speaker 1: Okay we'll keep it at that!
• 23:34
  Speaker 1: Well then...
• 23:35
  Speaker 0: If you will look all other let's say economic measurements then Latvia would be like kind of the last one somewhere with Romania and Bulgaria.
• 23:46
  Speaker 0: Wow
• 23:47
  Speaker 1: I've never visited Latvia so i can't speak to them but uh But it doesn't
• 23:52
  Speaker 0: look good.
• 23:52
  Speaker 0: Latvia is really nice to visit.
• 23:55
  Speaker 0: It's a really beautiful and green country.
• 23:57
  Speaker 0: And where are you from actually?
• 24:00
  Speaker 1: Spain, we're based in Barcelona.
• 24:02
  Speaker 1: yes
• 24:02
  Speaker 0: Yeah so now in Spain it is like plus forty.
• 24:06
  Speaker 1: Its getting there.
• 24:07
  Speaker 1: its not quite there yet but were feeling it.
• 24:11
  Speaker 0: So yeah Latvia have no plus twenty one, twenty three.
• 24:15
  Speaker 0: You definitely should come back.
• 24:17
  Speaker 0: We've got nice altitude here and it isn't that hot.
• 24:21
  Speaker 0: Yeah,
• 24:22
  Speaker 1: yeah.
• 24:23
  Speaker 1: Well I'm wearing this blazer but i am near close to breaking a sweat here and just want it look nice.
• 24:31
  Speaker 1: But get back on track with Printimid And we had kind of briefly discussed over email.
• 24:41
  Speaker 1: It's an interesting side is the future of Printimide in that you seem have begun partnership and discussion about opening labs And I kind of want to hear about how that came across.
• 24:55
  Speaker 1: Can you don't hear about it often?
• 24:57
  Speaker 1: A European startup has started and raised some funding, getting involved in accelerators... ...and then a partnership with Saudi Arabia feels like an outlier to me!
• 25:08
  Speaker 1: So just to hear more on this.
• 25:11
  Speaker 0: Yeah so we were participating two years ago in Dubai in the Expand North Star exhibition
• 25:20
  Speaker 1: where
• 25:20
  Speaker 0: we met our potential investor from Saudi Arabia and he invited us to come to Saudi Arabian, check what opportunities they are offering there because now Saudi Arabia wants one of the leading countries in the biotech.
• 25:43
  Speaker 0: So there are many interesting opportunities and programs for the startups in the biotech now.
• 25:49
  Speaker 0: I mean funding, mentoring different opportunities to partner with universities so on... We came here at the beginning let's say to explore or understand whether it fits us.
• 26:08
  Speaker 0: We understood that actually Saudi Arabia might be very interesting place for us.
• 26:14
  Speaker 0: Because as soon you get the certification there, it's kind of similar to FDA.
• 26:20
  Speaker 0: so It opens your both Saudi Arabian and American markets which are really big And afterwards is also much easier to get European certification later on.
• 26:34
  Speaker 0: So, we are also working there with the local universities and research centers on development of different applications.
• 26:48
  Speaker 0: And yeah... We're looking forward to go through this certification process there.
• 26:56
  Speaker 1: Okay well that's an interesting angle then in terms of the European comparison.
• 27:02
  Speaker 1: Do you feel then that's a barrier for health techs in Europe?
• 27:06
  Speaker 1: Is the kind regulatory landscape and difficulties may be
• 27:11
  Speaker 1: scaling?".
• 27:13
  Speaker 0: Yes, I definitely think so because now... In Europe it is the hardest and strictest part where we can get certification or some medical let say applications for medical devices.
• 27:33
  Speaker 0: And I think we definitely need to think in Europe, some new initiatives or some new laws which would allow somehow to fast track some new solutions.
• 27:51
  Speaker 0: of course it still needs be safe tested and so on but i think there might or I don't know, are some specific let's say playgrounds where these companies could test faster and to work more efficient.
• 28:13
  Speaker 1: Especially if it results in companies going outside of Europe to kind of grow and find funding and all the things...I would imagine that is not something that Europe wants to promote?
• 28:25
  Speaker 1: And we want this company sustain and be feel free.
• 28:30
  Speaker 1: you're right that there also has to be an element of safety, especially when we talk about health applications more than anything.
• 28:36
  Speaker 1: But yeah... That's one side of it.
• 28:41
  Speaker 1: and then the other side which surprised me was skin care and healthcare applications.
• 28:48
  Speaker 1: another thing I just had no idea spiders still could use for And i saw mentioned a partnership with Was it Chanel for cosmetic love?
• 29:02
  Speaker 1: It designed to support skin regeneration.
• 29:04
  Speaker 1: So how does that work?
• 29:07
  Speaker 0: Well, yeah we were participating I think last year in the Hello Tomorrow in France and We pitched our solution.
• 29:16
  Speaker 0: And afterwards we've got email from Chanel That they are interested In creation of let's say for the cosmetic applications which would regenerate skin, scars and so on.
• 29:35
  Speaker 0: And they were asking if it was possible to produce from spider silk?
• 29:41
  Speaker 0: But actually, I'm now saying this and not sure whether i am allowed to say it.
• 29:47
  Speaker 1: Oh okay.
• 29:47
  Speaker 0: Whether we can include all of these information in the podcast?
• 29:51
  Speaker 1: Okay well you let me know afterwards.
• 29:55
  Speaker 1: And uh... We could cut out if we need to.
• 29:57
  Speaker 1: oh!
• 29:57
  Speaker 1: Well I did read this.
• 29:59
  Speaker 1: It's already online.
• 30:00
  Speaker 1: I read from an article that was published in twenty-five.
• 30:05
  Speaker 1: so yeah I don't think it's confidential if it is.
• 30:11
  Speaker 1: It has been out there for a while now, but you can check back in and then we can edit this out if need be.
• 30:20
  Speaker 0: Well once i have already said that somewhere...
• 30:25
  Speaker 1: Yeah well i mean its an interesting side of the company.
• 30:32
  Speaker 1: They had been kind of following saying, oh yeah.
• 30:34
  Speaker 1: Health tech applications.
• 30:35
  Speaker 1: and then you tell me there's a cosmetic.
• 30:37
  Speaker 1: There is skincare application.
• 30:38
  Speaker 1: it really expands the breath Of what?
• 30:41
  Speaker 1: You can do.
• 30:42
  Speaker 0: Yeah actually we are working also by ourselves on The cosmetic application.
• 30:48
  Speaker 0: so they're Producing spider silk like hydrogel which Can be used as the ingredient for cosmetic to produce different cream, shampoos and whatever because spider silk helps to regenerate.
• 31:03
  Speaker 0: so the new cells are very good attaching it in growing.
• 31:07
  Speaker 0: So yeah there is a bunch of applications where spider silk can be used.
• 31:14
  Speaker 1: Okay well now cause we're already pulling up thirty two minutes I wanna kinda throw out last question at you here which to me's kind Here to use startups, we actually don't hear about that many Latvian start-ups.
• 31:32
  Speaker 1: It's not a very common country of origin for the companies that we see getting funding.
• 31:37
  Speaker 1: so I kind of wanted to ask you what national startup ecosystem looks like in your eyes and maybe what it still has to accomplish to become more prominent?
• 31:51
  Speaker 0: Well... I think in Latvia we have strong basement of the research, but then regarding startups and companies there is some problems.
• 32:06
  Speaker 0: And this also what are trying to achieve?
• 32:09
  Speaker 0: I'm actively working on participating different initiatives somehow To make our ecosystem better and to help the deep tech startups grow, because in Latvia unfortunately we don't have so much funding opportunities.
• 32:35
  Speaker 0: And for the startup let's say which just spent out from the lab it is very crucial.
• 32:43
  Speaker 0: In Latvia for example We do not have a hundred percent grants So you need co-found, co-finance them all the projects and so on.
• 32:53
  Speaker 0: And their amounts of grounds are also really small.
• 32:58
  Speaker 0: It's hard because unfortunately we don't have such big support as some other bigger countries or opportunities.
• 33:11
  Speaker 0: That is why I would like to look around And unfortunately, many startups are relegating to another countries because of all these problems.
• 33:26
  Speaker 0: But now we're actively working on changing this system and hopefully soon there will be some more programs for the deep-test startups.
• 33:42
  Speaker 1: Yes, yes.
• 33:43
  Speaker 1: Well we at EU startups will keep our eye out for Latvian start-ups.
• 33:47
  Speaker 1: Hopefully as you say We'll see more and more of them in the coming future.
• 33:51
  Speaker 1: So on that note check out the demo one.
• 33:53
  Speaker 1: Thank You very much For Coming On The Podcast.
• 33:56
  Speaker 1: It's a it's been pleasure to have you on And it's Been Quite Informative At Least For Me Who Knew Nothing About Spires Of Before.
• 34:03
  Speaker 1: Now.
• 34:04
  Speaker 0: Thank You David.
• 34:05
  Speaker 1: thank you bye
• 34:07
  Speaker 0: Bye.
• 34:08
  Speaker 1: Before we let you go, We want to remind that applications for the Women Tech EU program are currently open.
• 34:13
  Speaker 1: The eligibility strand remains open until the thirteenth of July in twenty-twenty seven with weekly cutoff dates.
• 34:20
  Speaker 1: eligible applicants can then proceed to apply from one of four full submission deadlines and will be issued over next year With the closest being the sixteenth September twenty twenty six.
• 34:29
  Speaker 1: So if your a woman founder leading an early stage deep tech startup In an eligible country visit the women Tech EU website To learn more about the program Check your eligibility and apply.