IIM student Erik Gatenholm elected Young Entrepreneur West of the Year, 2016
Bild: Ines Sebalj
Erik Gatenholm, founder of CELLINK, was elected Young Entrepreneur West of the Year, 2016 on the Entrepreneur Awards West 2016. The business concept is to 3D-print fully functioning human organs and tissues. It is also to sell 3D Bio printers and related products, so that innovators around the world will be able to conduct research in order to find new ways to produce implants and human bodies. Read more here…
- "I am incredibly grateful for the award and the prize. It's always fun when others appreciate the hard work you put into the start-up of a brand new company, which is required in order to succeed. The prize was awarded by the Founders Alliance, which is a fantastic organization that brings together entrepreneurs from all over Sweden. When other entrepreneurs think that you are worth a prize for your work, it really means a lot. Then you are on the right path," says Erik Gatenholm.
Erik Gatenholm has a background at Virginia Tech and is now studying his last semester of the two-year Master's programme Innovation and Industrial Management (IIM), School of Business, Economics and Law, University of Gothenburg. He is currently writing his Master’s thesis, entitled "What Are The Key Success and Survival Factors for biotechnology and pharmaceutical SMEs in Sweden", in which he conducts research on what it actually is that makes biotech entrepreneurs to succeed in the pharmaceutical industry and the conditions required. After finishing the Master’s thesis, he will receive his Master of Science Degree in June, 2016.
Erik has during his studies developed the business together with Hector Martinez Avila, who has a PhD in Tissue Engineering with focus on biomedicine, tissues and bio prints, at Chalmers University of Technology. In recent months they have expanded their team with Ida Henriksson (Chief Bioink Officer), Master of Science in Chemical Engineering from Chalmers University of Technology with a specialization in materials chemistry, Jockum Svanberg (Chief IT Officer), Master of Science in Computer Engineering from Chalmers University of Technology, and studying the final year of a Master's in Computer Science and Gusten Danielsson (Chief Financial Officer).
The CELLINK team presented the research and the business idea on TV4, “Malou efter 10”, on 19 February. Watch the episode here.
Innovator of the year 2016
On 16 March, Erik Gatenholm also won the Danske Bank's prize; Innovator of the Year 2016. The award goes to a person who is passionate about innovation and who see new opportunities where others have stalled. Read the article here.
Cellink winner of place on 33- listan
Cellink has won a place on 33- listan. 33 listan appoints Sweden's most promising young technology companies. The competing companies are reviewed by the editorial staff of Ny Teknik and Affärsvärden, which also appoints the final winners. Read more here…