In this report, we present the detailed business case for PROMISE. This report outlines the business opportunity, market analysis, scalability, and the strategic value of the platform to various stakeholders, including pharmaceutical companies, healthcare providers, and cancer patients. It also highlights the steps we've taken to secure intellectual property, our commercialization strategy, and our plans for clinical development and market entry. Explore the full business case to learn how PROMISE can transform the future of immunotherapies.
We applied for a provisional patent for our innovation "a trained immunity vaccine using antigen-functionalized bacterial membrane vesicles" to protect our intellectual property and allow for commercialization in the future. Throughout the project, we had to be careful to keep our invention confidential and avoid disclosure. Together with the stakeholders mentioned below, we worked hard on a good description of our invention and a thorough patent search to eventually draft the patent application. We are proud to announce that our provisional patent has been filed on October 1, 2024, and is currently pending approval. This will protect the idea and allow us to gather more data the next year and secure a full patent.
To develop our business case, we engaged in various events, workshops, and meetings that offered valuable insights and guidance. Below are two of the most impactful events and their key takeaways:
Participation in the TU/e Contest significantly contributed to the development of our business case for PROMISE. Organized by TU/e innovation Space, the competition offered a well-structured platform to hone our entrepreneurial skills. Through various workshops, networking events, and pitching sessions, we refined our business concept while receiving invaluable feedback from industry leaders like ThermoFisher, IGS GeboJagema, and BOM. This feedback was instrumental in shaping key aspects of our intellectual property (IP) strategy and overall business case development.
We were proud to be selected as one of the top 10 finalists from over 40 participating teams, a recognition of our project’s entrepreneurial potential. Despite competing against teams closer to start-up implementation—particularly those outside the medical field—we stood out due to the innovativeness of our technology and our well-defined long-term vision. All the feedback we received was carefully integrated into our business case.
In July, we had the opportunity to participate in the iGEM Startups Summer School, which brought together over 120 iGEM teams from around the world. Over the course of two days, we engaged in workshops, lectures, and hands-on sessions that played a crucial role in shaping the entrepreneurial side of our iGEM project.
One of the biggest takeaways for us was understanding the importance of achieving product-market fit, which in our case means engaging directly with stakeholders like lung cancer patients and clinicians. This feedback is vital in refining our unique value proposition. We also learned how to structure a comprehensive business plan using tools like the Business (Lean) Canvas.
The summer school strongly emphasized the importance of pitching, especially the need for continuous practice and tailoring our communication to different audiences. We learned how to simplify complex ideas, use design to enhance clarity, and build confidence in presenting our project effectively. This inspired us to create a visual representation of our business case in the form of a Business Slide Deck, which we showcased on our wiki to communicate our ideas more clearly and professionally.
We want to thank two key organizations for their support in helping us file our provisional patent (reference number P101677GR). This is an important step for our project, as it helps protect our idea and ensures we can continue developing it. Filing the patent is also a key part of our long-term plan and will help guide the next stages of our work.
Throughout our project, The Gate, a tech start-up facilitator, provided essential guidance on intellectual property (IP) protection and helped shape our business case. With the expertise of Nataša Maršić and Bart van Grevenhof, they advised us on patent filing, emphasizing the importance of experimental data for patentability, and guided us through the patent process, confidentiality issues, and funding options.
As a result, we pursued a provisional patent, drafted an Invention Disclosure Form (IDF), and conducted patent searches. The Gate also helped draft Non-Disclosure Agreements (NDAs) to ensure confidentiality. With their support and funding from TU/e, we successfully submitted the provisional patent before the Grand Jamboree, marking a crucial milestone in protecting our innovation.
AOMB was responsible for drafting our provisional patent, ensuring that all legal documentation and claims were properly prepared and aligned with patent standards. Despite the tight timeline, AOMB went above and beyond to ensure that all necessary legal documentation and claims were completed and submitted before the deadline. They guided us through the process, providing clear instructions and support as we compiled the required technical documentation and experimental data for the patent filing.
Their expertise and dedication were crucial in ensuring the successful submission of our provisional patent, and we are incredibly grateful for their commitment to helping us protect our innovation within the time constraints.
Lastly, we want to acknowledge all the different stakeholders that helped us in developing our business case. We collaborated with a diverse group of stakeholders, each of whom provided valuable insights that helped shape our strategy, from patient-centered design to clinical implementation, market positioning, and scaling for commercialization.
More information can be found on our Human Practices page.
Images created with BioRender.com