From Lab to Launch-Bridging the Gap Between Science and Entrepreneurship

Today I was invited to attend the event From Lab to Launch: Bridging the Gap Between Science and Entrepreneurship.

To be honest, I wasn't initially planning to join — I felt our application and research results were not mature enough yet to introduce to the market. But I also told myself: if this is something new for me, why not take the chance to learn?

Event Highlights

The event began with a presentation from Brugge Inc., introducing the support they offer to spin-offs.
Following that, Dr. ir Rudi Cuyvers, Head of Spin-off & Innovation from KU Leuven Research & Development, gave an insightful talk about the assistance available from KU Leuven.
He also provided a brief overview of the start-up process and emphasized the key points important for building a successful company.

We were then inspired by two keynote presentations:

• CoMoveIT: A KU Leuven spin-off, born exactly from our lab.
• Nozzle: A company from Vivas designing 3D-printed customized chairs.

It was exciting to see how research ideas evolved into real-world products!

Project Presentations

After the keynotes, it was time for project presentations — three groups, including ours, shared their ideas.
The Q&A session was intense and overwhelming in the best way.
The audience asked many thought-provoking questions and even offered some valuable suggestions.

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Notes on Entrepreneurship

When preparing for a go-to-market strategy and business plan, these elements are essential:

• Mission and Vision: Why do you exist? What future do you want to create?
• Products and Services: What are you offering?
• The Market, Customers, and Competitors: Who are you serving and competing with?
• Marketing Strategy: How will you reach your customers?
• Company Organization: Who is in your team, and how is it structured?
• Financial Plan and Required Funds: How will you fund your operations and growth?
• Exit Strategy: What is your long-term plan?

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Key Questions from the Audience

Some of the questions we received included:

1. What is the impact on other parts of the body if we change the shape of the insole?
2. Are we “reinventing the wheel” — doing something that already exists without added value?
3. What differentiates our insole from others already on the market?
4. Have we considered the high costs of product testing and the need to first convince the medical field before addressing the general public?

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Personal Reflections

One thing I noticed about myself:
I’m not yet very good at handling aggressive or provocative questions — especially when I feel the person asking is trying to challenge me rather than understand.

This is something I need to work on in the future.
I must focus on the question itself, not the tone or intention behind it.
And most importantly: stay confident in what I’m doing and always trust myself.