Meet MUVON Therapeutics co-founder Deana Mohr and discover how she advances treatments for the regeneration of skeletal muscle tissue

10.08.2021 07:30, Isabelle Mitchell

Deana Mohr-Haralampieva co-founded MUVON Therapeutics, a Venture Leader Medtech that optimizes autologous cell therapy to regenerate skeletal muscle tissue. MUVON’s technology enables the targeted isolation of muscle precursor cells from muscle tissue, the controlled expansion of these cells, and the regeneration of muscle tissue through injection of the expanded cells. Learn more about Deana’s expectations for the Venture Leaders Medtech experience, and find out what a bad internet connection has to do with entrepreneurial success.

To boost the innovative power of the Swiss medtech industry, medtech startups now have their own Venture Leaders roadshow to Boston, one of the world’s major life sciences hubs and the ideal springboard for ambitious startups on their way to global expansion. Our profile series features the 10 Venture Leaders Medtech 2021, and we will introduce you to the inaugural graduates of the program. To learn more about the startups, we asked each entrepreneur to complete a short profile and choose at least six questions from a questionnaire about their personal and professional life.

Name: Deana Mohr-Haralampieva
Location: Zurich
Nationality: Bulgarian and German
Graduated from: ETHZ, Dr. sc. ETH in Radiopharmaceutical Sciences, 2015
Your job title: Co-founder and CEO of MUVON Therapeutics
Number of employees: 8 (as of 08/2021)
Money raised: CHF 6.8 million, and about the same as non-dilutive funding (as of 08/2021)
First touchpoint with Venturelab: 2019, at a startup creation course in Basel
 
“MUVON Therapeutics is a clinical-stage life-science startup that develops and commercializes a low-risk, minimally invasive, personalized cell therapy for the regeneration of skeletal muscle tissue, focusing initially on the treatment of stress urinary incontinence.”
 
How and where did you come up with the idea for your startup?
The project started for me 9.5 years ago during my PhD. Securing Horizon 2020 funding right after my defense allowed me to onboard my first co-founder, Dr. Jenny Prange. And then, three years ago, during the hot summer of 2018, my entrepreneurial spirit was awakened at the Bioentrepreneurship Course of UZH (Elke Zappe: thanks again!). This is where I met the second of the current co-founders, Dr. Steve Kappenthuler, and we won our first pitch prize. From this moment on, I knew we could make it work!
 
What do you expect from the Venture Leaders roadshow, and how will it help you achieve your vision?
The Venture Leaders Medtech roadshow will be a unique opportunity for me to expand our network towards the US, meet like-minded entrepreneurs, and tie valuable investor connections for the ongoing and upcoming fundraising rounds.

What would be the title of your biography?
WIFE::MOM::LEADER. 
It is a pretty amazing experience to be given the luck to learn from every “position” and translate the learnings into the other two. It never gets boring; however, the “slow-down” moments are also highly appreciated.

What is always in your fridge?
Cottage cheese, boiled Swiss eggs, and chocolate.

What are you most proud of?
Managing to juggle life with my fabulous, supportive husband and our two energetic kids, keeping us awake at night a bit more than we would like to. During daytime: Both of us have our own firms to handle, so it never gets boring.

What advice would you give your teenage self?
“Never say never” and “Just try it, you can only win”!

How and where do you clear your mind?
In the mountains: fresh air, a bad internet connection, and playing with my kids. It is the most effective re-charging therapy!

What is the most rewarding aspect of being a founder? 
The moment you have the yearly employee evaluation, and you hear: “I am honored to be part of the journey and imagine myself growing within MUVON.” Being part of an extraordinary, supportive, motivated, and growing team, bringing together a life-changing treatment to millions of people, is the most rewarding part.

What is the most important lesson you have learned as a founder?
If one door closes, another opens. Flexible pivoting is the core of being a startup founder.

What is the best advice you have ever received?
“Hire slow and fire quickly.” One of the first pieces of advice relating to corporate governance from my mentor Daniel Häring. Essentially true and important.

Last but not least, could you show us your workspace?  



For more information and updates on MUVON Therapeutics and the Venture Leaders Medtech, follow the Venture Leaders Medtech 2021 team with #VleadersMedtech on social media or subscribe to our newsletter. 
 
Venture Leaders Medtech 2021 is organized by Venturelab and supported by EPF Lausanne, ETH Zurich, Hansjörg Wyss, Kellerhals Carrard, Paul Scherrer Institut, Swissnex Boston, University Zurich, Canton of Vaud, and Canton of Zurich.