Meet Readily3D co-founder Damien Loterie—a Venture Leader Deeptech who pushes the frontiers of biofabrication

05.11.2021 07:15, Isabelle Mitchell

Readily3D develops a rapid tomographic bioprinter to make biosciences research more efficient. Existing 3D printers print layer by layer, but Readily3D’s volumetric 3D printers produce an entire object at once—in 30 seconds. This process allows scientists to rapidly print an entire cell-laden volume at once and without impairing cell viability. Get to know Readily3D co-founder Damien, learn more about his expectations for the Venture Leaders experience, and discover the productivity plug-in that may change your life. 

The Swiss National Startup Team has 10 new deeptech members: An expert jury has chosen 10 companies whose innovative potential transforms engineering, robotics, supply chains, logistics, and sustainability. Before the startups embark on their investor roadshow to Munich and London later this month, we will introduce you to the Venture Leaders Deeptech 2021. 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: Damien Loterie 
Location: Lausanne 
Nationality: Belgian 
Graduated from: EPFL with a PhD in microengineering, 2017 
Job title: CEO of Readily3D
Number of employees: 8 
First touchpoint with Venturelab: In 2017, for a Venturelab Acceleration Workshop 
 
“Readily3D commercializes the fastest 3D printers in the world.”
 
How and where did you come up with the idea for your startup?  
During my PhD at EPFL, I worked on light-shaping algorithms for optical imaging, and my office mate Paul Delrot worked on microscale additive manufacturing using holography. Quite soon, we discussed the possibility of using tomography for additive manufacturing. But each of us needed to wrap up our PhD research, and we only found time to test this experimentally in 2017. When we saw that it worked from the first try, we realized we were onto something. 
 
What do you expect from the Venture Leaders roadshow, and how will it help you achieve your vision?
We now have a working product and our first customers in biofabrication. We are looking for partnerships and investments that will help us scale up our business. We want to develop a range of products at different price points, ramp up production, and reach more customers in our initial market. Then, we want to expand into new markets where this 3D printing technology can be applied. 
 
What is your favorite movie or TV show?  
This changes frequently. But currently, I’m telling all my friends to watch Hamilton, the musical by Lin-Manuel Miranda. It’s such an inspiring story with a beautiful human dimension. And it has so many catchy songs! 
 
What is always in your fridge?  
Yogurt and Sauce Andalouse. For separate occasions, of course. 
 
What advice would you give your teenage self?  
Try things, and stay positive. It’s easy to talk about what you don’t like, why something isn’t worth trying, or why something isn’t interesting. It’s harder to tell people about what you like, why something will work, and why they should pay attention. It’s even harder to convince other people to follow you. Don’t settle for easy. 
 
What is your favorite productivity tool?  
The LeechBlock add-on for Firefox and Chrome. Very useful if you’re trying to avoid wasting time on social media and news websites! 
 
What is the most challenging aspect of being a founder?  
Prioritizing and making decisions under uncertainty. At school, you get one problem, and there is one solution (or only a few solutions). In a business, there are numerous problems, but you only have time for some of them. There are hundreds of solutions, but not enough information to tell which is the best one. Defining a path in these circumstances is an art. 
 
What is the most important lesson you have learned as a founder?  
Well, in terms of lessons, it’s important to listen to founder stories, read books, and attend one or two classes about entrepreneurship. But it will be difficult to understand what all of these lessons mean—and to separate the good advice from the bad—before you try for yourself. There is no piece of advice that works all the time. So, it’s important to keep an open mind and get this information, but it’s equally important to confront yourself with reality and figure out what works and what doesn’t by trying. 
 
What is the best advice you have ever received?  
When I was younger, I once asked my family doctor how to cope with the responsibilities of a job like his, considering the consequences that a medical mistake might have. He said, “You should always do the best you can with the means available to you. Even so, you will still face bad outcomes sometimes. But then you need to find a way to make peace with it and carry on.” 
  
 
For more information and updates on Readily3D and the Venture Leaders Deeptech, follow the Venture Leaders Deeptech 2021 team with #VLeadersDeeptech on social media or subscribe to our newsletter. 
 
Venture Leaders Deeptech 2021 program is organized by Venturelab and supported by swissnex, EPF Lausanne, ETH Zurich, Helbling Group, Walder Wyss, the Canton of Vaud, and the Canton of Zurich.