Munich Startup: Who are you and what do you do? Please introduce yourselves briefly!
4Genes: Heimo Adamski, 63, Managing Director
Business Administration and Information Technology, many years of experience in international sales and marketing in corporations and Startups, Business Development, Organizational and Strategic Corporate Development.
Dr. Thilo Fischer, 56, Director Application Development
Biochemist, former professor at the Vienna University of Technology and the LMU Munich (Biochemistry and Plant Physiology), winner of the PRIZE 2010 and the INVENTUM Patent Prize 2012 of the State of Austria, author of 60 peer-reviewed publications and holder of several patents.
Dr. Fong-Chin Huang, 51, Director Research & Development
A molecular biologist specializing in pharmaceutical biology, she conducts research in the field of chemical and enzymatic synthesis of natural products, particularly the biosynthesis of glycosylated plant compounds. She has been involved in successful patent applications and has several years of industry experience.
Tobias Vallon, 41, Director Operations
Graduate biologist (to), long-time employee at the Institute of Biochemical Engineering at the University of Stuttgart, process development with various microbial systems from laboratory to pilot scale (300 L), cooperation experience with BASF SE and Evonik Industries AG, biotechnological production of fine chemicals.
The idea for the invention originated in 2013 from a research group at the Chair of Biotechnology of Natural Products at the Technical University of Munich, led by Professor Dr. Wilfried Schwab. At that time, the proof of principle was achieved through voluntary after-work research. In 2015, the team was completed, and public funding was acquired to develop the technology full-time. Dr. Huang and Dr. Fischer have known each other for many years from the Technical University of Munich. When the public funding application was submitted in 2015, Mr. Vallon and Mr. Adamski joined the team.
Munich Startup: What problem does your startup solve?
4Genes: When working with fragrance molecules, manufacturers of consumer products in the cosmetics and food market segments face four major challenges:
- the volatility of the fragrances
- the activatability of the fragrances
- the availability of natural fragrance glucosides
- stability during storage
Our solution provides an answer to all four challenges.
Volatility – Our technology platform allows us to use biotechnological processes to change the state of fragrance molecules, thus converting volatile fragrances into non-volatile fragrances. This occurs through a glycosidic bond, and the end product is therefore also referred to as an aroma or fragrance glucoside.
Stability – The fragrance glucosides we produce come in a variety of forms. For example, powder form makes them much easier to store and process. We currently estimate that these inactive fragrance glucosides can be stored for about 40 times longer.
Activation – Fragrance glucosides can be converted from their non-volatile state back to the volatile state by so-called triggers or trigger mechanisms. At this point, they are once again perceptible to humans.
The technology platform, with all its biotechnological processes, is suitable for both natural and chemically synthetic fragrances. However, natural fragrances are preferred today.
For the first time, 4Gene provides natural fragrance glucosides in large quantities and at an economical price for the development of consumer products.
Munich Startup: But that's been around for a long time!
4Genes: True, experiments have been going on for some time. Many companies produce long-lasting fragrances and activatable fragrances using different processes. Previously, this was possible by adding additional chemical substances or by encapsulating the fragrances. Some have also explored the production of fragrance glucosides, but their research projects have not achieved any relevant results.
4Gene: “The biggest challenge was focusing as a startup”
Munich Startup: What have been your three biggest challenges so far?
4Genes: The first challenge was certainly acquiring funding during our time at the Technical University of Munich. The funding (thanks to EXIST) enabled us to complete the proof of principal and proof of concept.
The subsequent move out of the university, negotiating the license agreement with the university, finding office and laboratory space, and gaining investors to finance the equipment for the laboratories was a real challenge.
Despite everything, the greatest challenge of all challenges was maintaining focus as a startup. Fragrances are used in almost every area of life today and are therefore processed in almost every area of life. The spectrum ranges from the use of glucosides as ingredients in food, in cosmetics, in industrial applications, and in personal and home care products. From scented tiles to overheating protection for machines; from lipstick to pizza scent – everything was possible. Focusing on deliberately selected target groups, and especially selecting these target groups with all their advantages and disadvantages, was certainly the most difficult, but also the most important, decision to date.
Munich Startup: How are things going?
4Genes: Unfortunately, due to the confidentiality agreement we have with major consumer goods manufacturers and other partners, we cannot reveal any details.
However, let's just say this: new ingredients in consumer products have a long lead time before they are actually offered for sale as part of the product on supermarket shelves. We are currently pursuing several projects, some of which are well advanced.
To ensure short-term success and team motivation, we have developed our own products and sell them through partners and our own online shop. Our primary focus here, of course, is our mask spray, given the current situation in the country.
“As a founding team, you can’t do without a certain degree of risk-taking.”
Munich Startup: How do you rate Munich as a startup location?
4Genes: For us at 4Gene, the Munich/Freising location is already ideal. Employees with the qualifications we require are easy to recruit, particularly due to the degree programs offered in Freising/Weihenstephan.
However, for employees from other parts of Germany and abroad, the cost of living and rent in Munich are a major obstacle when deciding whether or not to come to Munich for a job at a startup. Especially if the job, as is often the case with us, can be performed on-site in the lab, meaning it's not location-independent.
Based on our experience, Munich's universities and all other institutions supporting the startup scene can be described as consistently good. Of course, things could always be better, but compared to the information we heard at the EXIST meetings with other teams from across Germany, it's OK.
Munich Startup: Risk or security?
4Genes: As a founding team, you can't function without a certain degree of risk-taking. Taking risks doesn't mean making decisions without preparation, but rather consciously and purposefully implementing goal-oriented measures. With every successful measure that achieves the goal, self-confidence increases, and with it the certainty that you're doing the right thing and the important thing. One way to do this is to ask yourself "why" with every decision you make. Why are we doing this? Why is it good for our customers? Why can it only work this way and not another? At least for our team at 4Gene, the "why" has worked wonderfully so far and has allowed us to make the right decisions.
