MIB Startup Studio: the first cohort gets to work
Marseille, 5 october 2026 – MIB Startup Studio’s first cohort began its programme with two days of discussions bringing together founders, biotech entrepreneurs, mentors and regulatory experts. The aim: to get to know each other, share experience and start working together.
Therapeutic antibody engineering, bacterial and viral immunotherapies, novel tumour antigen discovery, cell bioproduction technologies, immunometabolism, multi-omics and bioinformatics: this first cohort spans a range of approaches to innovation in immunology and health. They share a common goal: contributing to better treatments for patients.
First connections, even before the kick-off
For one startup, the work had already begun. Ahead of the two-day event, Christel Navarro, MIB’s Business Developer, had connected the team with partners to help advance its translational development—the process of turning research findings into medical applications.
This is one of the practical benefits of being part of MIB: connecting founders with resources that support their projects. For example, this can mean introductions to programmes offering early access to tumour tissue and blood samples, or to clinicians from expert centres at MIB’s partner hospitals.
Direct conversations with entrepreneurs and experts
Over the two days, founders had the opportunity to put their questions directly to Daniel Olive, MIB’s Scientific and Technical Director and co-founder of ImCheck Therapeutics, and Edwin Moses, an experienced biotech entrepreneur. An open Q&A in a small-group setting gave them access to first-hand insights from both speakers.
Cohort mentors Aniko V. Fejes and Nicholas H. Kirk also joined to meet the startups.
Regulatory and quality experts from Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany, including Houda Beltaief, Head of Biopharma Regulatory Experts, worked with the founders too, leading a workshop and offering one-to-one advice to the participating companies.
Next up: workshops and new industry connections
The work continues with a series of workshops and tailored support for the selected startups. An upcoming event will bring together industry business development and R&D teams, including those from mid-sized pharmaceutical companies, giving founders the opportunity to expand their network of partners.
Thank you to SATT Sud-Est, Inserm Transfert, Incubateur inter-universitaire Impulse, Aix-Marseille Université and RISE Partners for their contribution to this launch.
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