Empowering European Life Science Founders as Leaders

From Science to Success:

How
A conference room filled with formally dressed people working on laptops and engaging in discussions, with tall bookshelves filled with books and a large fireplace in the background, high ceilings, and multiple hanging lights.

Europe’s Life Science Challenge:

Translating research into scalable commercial success

“Europe’s scientific publications are 2x those of the U.S. and 3x of China, yet struggles in translation and execution persist.”

— McKinsey & Company, 2023

Laboratory technician working with scientific equipment in a laboratory with white walls, shelves filled with labeled boxes, and multiple lab machines on the countertops.

The European Founder Conundrum:

Inexperienced leaders are expected to build complex ventures without the necessary entrepreneurial support

Founders face multiple hurdles:

  • Scattered network of sub-scale innovation hubs

  • Mindset, risk aversion and limited talent pool of experienced venture builders

  • Lack of mentor, peer, and capital support

A small boy wearing a hat, striped shirt, and shorts standing at the bottom of large stone steps with a high wall behind him.

nextGEN - A Catalyst for Change:

To succeed, founders must expand their horizons beyond the confines of their local ecosystem

nextGEN leverages the experience and breadth of the LifeScience ORG CEO community to support early-stage founders systematically and at scale.

Business professionals working and conversing in a modern conference room with wooden walls, white chairs, and small tables.
Apply to nextGEN

Our Ambassadors

  • Headshot of a man with short brown hair, blue eyes, wearing a dark suit and black shirt, against a dark background.

    "I wish I had nextGEN when I was founding my company because I lacked role models who had successfully built biotech companies as active CEOs. Tapping into this decision-making experience with nextGEN will give you more options and clarity on your own mission as well as strengthen your confidence—as other innovators can see a path to what you envision despite hundreds of others calling your vision impossible."

    - Josua Jordi, former CEO of EraCal Therapeutics (Zurich, Switzerland)

  • A middle-aged man with glasses and a white beard, dressed in a patterned blazer and a light blue floral shirt, posed against a plain grey background.

    “One of the reasons I value nextGEN is the ability to connect with life science entrepreneurs outside my own ecosystem, including both sector expertise and geography (particularly Europe). Our scientific culture across the European ecosystem is rich and diverse, arguably one of the best in the world. The ability to learn from and plug into this culture is something I value and exploit when building my companies.”

    - Tom Weaver, Serial Founder & Former CEO (Cambridge, United Kingdom)

  • Professional portrait of a woman with short light brown hair, wearing a dark blazer and a white top, against a dark background.

    “I’m proud to support nextGEN as an Ambassador because success as a founder begins with a growth mindset and the right network. nextGEN connects experienced CEOs with the next generation of founders while building a unique virtual community for entrepreneurs across Europe to foster learning, expertise sharing, and meaningful connections throughout their leadership journey."

    - Danuta Jeziorska, former CEO and Founder of Nucleome Therapeutics (Oxford, United Kingdom)

  • A man with shoulder-length brown hair and a mustache, wearing a white shirt, standing indoors.

    “I wish I had nextGEN when I was founding my company because I had 1,001 questions and no one with experience to ask. Learning from experienced CEOs helps me grow personally and set realistic goals for my company. Connecting with life science entrepreneurs outside my own ecosystem helps me understand my business better. Input from the outside often makes the difference.”

    - Philipp Baaske, Co-Founder & Executive Chairman of NanoTemper (Munich, Germany)

  • Close-up portrait of a smiling woman with blonde hair and blue eyes.

    “Connecting with life science entrepreneurs beyond my own ecosystem brought fresh perspectives, accelerated my learning and development, and made the founding journey much more fulfilling – and fun! There’s so much to think about, so learning from experienced CEOs is invaluable. nextGEN will help you enjoy the ride!”

    - Katrien Reynders, Former CEO of Pan Cancer T (Antwerp, Belgium)

  • A man with short brown hair, wearing a black suit and white shirt, standing against a gray background.

    “I wish I had access to nextGEN when I was building my company because it provides a unique space to pause, reflect, and learn from the experiences of others amidst the high-paced life science world. As a CEO, there are very few people you can openly share challenges with—employees are looking to you for direction, and the board expects well-thought through options. Having a community to test ideas and gain fresh perspectives is invaluable. Additionally, nextGEN offers a rare chance to focus on personal growth and skill development, even in the busiest of times. The connections and insights gained there truly help you navigate the complexities of leadership in life sciences.”

    - Klaas Zuideveld, CEO of Versameb (Basel, Switzerland)

Learn more

Supported By:

GSK logo with white text on an orange and yellow gradient rounded square background.
The word "Cooley" written in large, bold red letters on a white background.