Mid-Year Summary 2024

As we approach summer and vacations (at least for some of us in the office and most industry people here in Sweden), we wanted to take a moment to look back at the first half of the year. Here are some highlights of the year so far:

As we approach summer and vacations (at least for some of us in the office and most industry people here in Sweden), we wanted to take a moment to look back at the first half of the year. Here are some highlights of the year so far: 

RETREAT

  • We started the year with a retreat in Hällsnäs to kick-start 2024. It was a great way to focus on teamwork while enjoying the beautiful views. 
  • Takeaway: Spending time outside the normal work setting can have a huge impact on more efficient teamwork. 

NEW CEO

  • We said goodbye to Gustav and welcomed Pontus Rehn as the new CEO. 
  • Takeaway: Different types of skill sets are needed in different phases of a company’s journey. 

CATALYST SCALE-UP PROGRAM

  • We applied, we pitched, and we got into the prestigious Business Sweden Catalyst program—a scale-up program to explore a new market. Our focus? The UK 
  • Takeaway: Entering a new market is never an easy task and might require more time than expected. 

TECH ADVANCED SCALE-UP PROGRAM

  • We were selected for Tech Advance, a scale-up program with educational workshops initiated by Business Region Gothenburg. This program was done for the first time, and we were happy to be a part of the first round. 
  • Takeaway: What does a scale-up actually mean? How to master teamwork and ensure everyone feels seen and heard? How should you reason when raising money and aiming for a long runway? These were some questions answered during the program. 

TEAM GROWTH 

  • The team has grown with the addition of a new QA/RA manager and a new research engineer! 
  • Takeaway: Our time is limited, and to be able to deliver, we need more hands! 

VINNOVA GRANT

  • We were awarded a Vinnova grant through the Swelife strategic innovation program to strengthen Life Science in Sweden and improve public health. The project, titled FIRM Liquid Biopsy, aims to improve health outcomes and survival rates for lung cancer patients by monitoring their response to immunotherapy. 
  • Takeaway:  Academic research(ers) + Simsen Diagnostics –> only the sky is the limit. 

BIOSTOCK GLOBAL SUMMIT

  • Pontus Rehn presented our solutions at BioStock to a large investor crowd. 
  • Takeaway: Networking is everything. (And presenting on a stage is actually quite fun).  

OSLO CANCER CLUSTER

  • We visited Oslo Cancer Cluster to enhance cross border relationships and met with some interesting and smart people. 
  • Takeaway: It’s no secret that running a biotech company is not always easy. The important thing is to have a very clear direction of where you are going and to keep navigating toward that goal. 

ORION CORPORATION

  • We initiated a collaboration with Orion Corporation, a major industry player. 
  • Takeaway: Being trusted by such a significant industry player has shown us the potential of our solution and our contribution. This has made us hungry for more. 

NEW TYPES OF PROJECTS AND CUSTOMERS

  • We have signed contracts with both an academic group researching gynecological cancers at Sahlgrenska University Hospital and Biovendor to evaluate our kit solution. 
  • Takeaway: Trying out new projects and approaches is possible while focusing on our core business. 

OVERALL FEEL

While working day to day and constantly striving for the next step, higher levels, more customers, more progress, more, more, more, it is sometimes easy to forget what you’ve achieved so far. We need to give ourselves a pat on the shoulder, celebrate milestones, and then continue working towards new goals. 

Thank you for following us so far. We promise there is more to come. 

Have a great summer and recharge your batteries for what’s next. 

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Pontus Rehn

Chief Executive Officer (CEO)

Pontus Rehn has over 20 years of experience in commercial leadership roles in the medical device and IVD industries, including global and regional positions like VP Market Development, Chief Commercial Officer, and Director of Commercial Strategy. 

Lina Said

Laboratory and Quality Manager

Lina Said, a licensed Biomedical Scientist, brings 18 years of experience from Sahlgrenska University Hospital to her role as the Lab and Quality Manager at Simsen Diagnostics. Her primary focus is ensuring quality assurance and fostering an optimal work environment for the lab. 

My Vu

Lead Laboratory Technician

My Vu is currently doing a master’s degree in biotechnology and demonstrates expertise in laboratory procedures. Her previous experience includes analyzing COVID samples and conducting her bachelor’s thesis at Fraunhofer. My is analyzing all the samples that comes to the lab.  

Stefan Filges

Chief Technology Officer (CTO)

Stefan Filges, an accomplished bioinformatician with a Ph.D. in ultrasensitive sequencing, became part of Simsen Diagnostics in 2022. He played a crucial role as a co-author in the original publication of SiMSen-Seq, which was published in Nature Protocols. 

Camilla Hietanen

Head of Sales and Marketing

Camilla Hietanen holds an M.Sc. in Business Development from the Chalmers School of Entrepreneurship. Her academic background encompasses studies in Sports & Nutrition, and she brings prior experience from various Start-ups. Within Simsen Diagnostics, her primary focus lies in Sales and Marketing. 

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