At Pulmonavat, everything revolves around innovation in healthcare. Founder Alicia Valenzuela and her team are on a mission: to develop advanced in vitro models that closely replicate adult lung tissue. With this technology, they aim to speed up and improve the development of new medicines. “Our goal is to provide a more predictive system, so that new medications can reach the market faster and safer,” Alicia explains.
Personal motivation behind the startup
The motivation behind Pulmonavat is personal. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Alicia lost her father. “I realized that we were not at all prepared for these kinds of emergencies. The differences in how people experienced this disease in Mexico versus Canada really made me think. Personalized medicine can truly make a difference. I hope that one day we can develop personalized models to determine the best treatment for each patient.”
Lung diseases are still among the leading causes of death worldwide, with many conditions lacking a cure. “Many existing animal models don’t accurately reflect what happens in the human body,” Alicia says. Pulmonavat aims to change that, not just for patients and doctors, but also for pharmaceutical companies seeking to develop medicines more efficiently and reliably.
“I saw so much great research never moving beyond the university. I wanted to do things differently.”
How unlock_ helped Pulmonavat
The leap from academic research to a startup was an exciting one. “I saw so much great research never moving beyond the university. I wanted to do things differently. When we filed for a patent with the university and later won an internal prize to explore commercialization, it suddenly felt achievable.” During her last PhD phase in the Netherlands, Alicia connected with the Leiden Bio Science Park. “The energy and inspiration from other companies made it clear: this could go beyond the lab.”
unlock_ became a real accelerator for Pulmonavat. “You constantly have to engage with your potential customers, even if your product isn’t finished yet. That’s the only way to build something that people actually need,” Alicia says. During the program, she learned not only about funding but also about collaborations between universities and startups. “It was a real eye-opener. There are so many opportunities for partnerships and funding that I never knew existed.”
One training that made a particular impact was on company structure. “Coming from a scientific background, I never really thought about it, but having the right structure is essential to distribute risks properly.” The sessions with investors were also valuable: “It’s great to get feedback at an early stage, so you can prepare yourself and improve.”
Alicia has also learned a lot about herself. “I always thought the business side might not suit me, but I actually really enjoy it. It requires vision, adaptability, and resilience. Not everything goes as planned, but you need to stay flexible and keep going.”
The biggest challenge? The sheer amount of new information and knowing how to set the right priorities. “Everything seems equally important at first, but over time you learn where to start. It helps to realize you don’t have to do everything alone.”
“Thanks to unlock_, I’ve established valuable collaborations.”
Yet, there have already been significant milestones. “Thanks to unlock_, I’ve established valuable collaborations, such as a license agreement with the university to further develop the technology. The network and advice are directly applicable.”
In the coming months, Alicia hopes to dive deeper into co-development with larger companies and practical matters like regulations and the transfer of biological material. “There are still many questions and challenges for me in those areas.”
“You can’t grow on your own. You need the network and opportunities that unlock_ provides.
When asked to describe unlock_ in one word, Alicia doesn’t have to think long: “Helpful. The program is truly helpful.” Her advice to other startups? “You can’t grow on your own. You need the network and opportunities that unlock_ provides. I would absolutely recommend it to anyone who wants to move forward.”
If it’s up to Alicia, Pulmonavat will make a difference for countless patients in five years’ time. “My dream is that our models are not only used in the pharmaceutical industry, but that we can actually improve people’s lives. And why stop at the lungs? My wish is to eventually expand to other organs as well. If we can contribute even a little to solving these problems, I’ll be happy.”