112. 3rd Wednesday: Wie Start-ups Investoren überzeugen

112. 3rd Wednesday: How start-ups convince investors

2 months ago

Innovation exchange, networking & new impulses

In April, the Biomedizin Zentrum Dortmund opens its doors again and invites you to 112th edition of 3rd Wednesday to you. You can look forward to an inspiring evening with fresh impulses from business, science and innovation - and to exchanging ideas with founders, companies and investors in an open atmosphere.

📍 Biomedizin Zentrum Dortmund
📅 Wednesday, 15 April 2026
🕕 Admission from 17:30 hrs | start of event: 18:00 hrs
📌 Address: Otto-Hahn-Straße 15, 44227 Dortmund

Programme

What really convinces investors? Which points are critically scrutinised? And why do good ideas sometimes fail anyway? These questions are examined Nico Hemmann, Managing Director of VORNvc, in his keynote speech. VORNvc is a regionally anchored venture capital fund that specifically supports technology-orientated start-ups in the early stages. In addition to capital, the fund contributes entrepreneurial know-how, SME expertise and a strong network with the aim of actively shaping the economic transformation of the region.

The next item on the programme shows how these requirements prove themselves in practice: Dr Matthias Stein-Gerlach (CEO of KyDo Therapeutics) and Dr Michael Hamacher (CEO of KHAN Management) report on their successful financing case. The Dortmund biotech start-up KyDo develops novel, high-precision inhibitors for cancer treatment in the field of drug research using an innovative covalent-allosteric drug platform. As a spin-off of the TU Dortmund brings KyDo The company translates cutting-edge academic research into application and specifically addresses resistance mechanisms in oncology in order to enable new therapy combinations.

The latest seed financing round totalling EUR 4.45 million was supported by a high-calibre consortium of investors - including KHAN, an internationally orientated early-stage fund for life sciences. KHAN focuses on the translation of academic research into marketable therapies, combining scientific excellence with experienced drug discovery expertise. The fund has exclusive access to leading European research institutions and supports young companies in their technological realisation.

The third item on the programme is designed by a Dortmund founder from the Start-up centre of the Dortmund Economic Development Agency. Get to know another exciting start-up project from Dortmund and be inspired by the vision of a female founder who is going her own way to convince investors.

Networking & exchange

Following the presentations, the evening will move into the open networking part. Snacks and drinks provide the opportunity to pick up on the evening's ideas, deepen discussions and make new contacts. In a relaxed atmosphere, founders, investors and experts can talk to each other - and perhaps the next important contact for your company will be made.

Organisational matters

The event will be accompanied by photography. By registering, participants declare their consent for photos and/or film recordings to be made of them, which may include the TechnologieZentrumDortmund before, during and after the event for the purposes of reporting in the press and in the media organised by the TechnologieZentrumDortmund media and online channels.