Erasmus MC spin-off Matriarch participates in Venture Challenge Spring 2025

Five teams have started the Venture Challenge Spring 2025, of which one spin-off from Erasmus MC and the Erasmus MC Technology Transfer Office: Matriarch. The starting Life Sciences entrepreneurs in the Venture Challenge will learn everything about building and pitching a business plan, and get a huge boost to take their idea to the next level. Not only does the Venture Challenge provide one-on-one coaching, the teams will also get the chance to pitch to investors and get in touch with seasoned entrepreneurs. 

From left to right: Jorrit Achterberg, Hessel van der Weide

Organoids—3D stem cell cultures that mimic the structure and function of real organs—are transforming biomedical research, drug development, and precision medicine. However, their growth depends on a hydrogel matrix that is still widely produced using mouse-derived tumour cells. This process is costly, ethically problematic, and leads to inconsistent results due to batch-to-batch variation.

Matriarch is an early-stage venture from Erasmus MC developing a cost-effective, animal-friendly, and eco-friendly alternative. Their hydrogel is produced using waste products from fetal calf serum production and has shown to be superior across all relevant criteria for culturing organoids. It offers researchers a reproducible and scalable material without the ethical concerns of current products.

Now participating in the Venture Challenge, the Matriarch team is taking the first steps toward commercialisation. With their technology, they aim to support a growing global demand for organoid research tools—offering a more consistent, sustainable, and humane solution for the future of biomedical science.

The Venture Challenge is an initiative from LifeSciences@Work, powered by Health~Holland. To learn more about all five teams participating in the Venture Challenge Spring 2025, click here.

Date: June 12, 2025
Source: LifeSciences@Work