With just a few weeks to go until InnovationACT kicks off, we thought we'd catch up with some of the program's successful alumni. We asked them what they enjoyed most and where their journey has taken them since.
Tell us a bit about yourself, and how you ended up participating in InnovationACT?
We are scientists and entrepreneurs working at the interface of biotechnology, protein chemistry and sustainable biomanufacturing. Joe leads a research group focused on engineering microbes to make valuable proteins and materials at scale, while Alex brings a deep knowledge of silk protein structure and biophysics. Our mentor Prof Adam Perriman (Alex's PhD supervisor and CSO of Hone Bio) brings a commercial and strategic lens to translating science into real-world products. We joined InnovationACT because we wanted to pressure-test a startup idea outside the lab. The program gave us a structured way to move from being purely focused on the interesting science to thinking about how we could realistically turn it into a company people would buy from, invest in and support.
Talk us through your startup, what does it do, and where are you currently in your journey?
Hive Biosciences is developing silk-inspired protein materials made using precision fermentation. The goal is to create high-performance, biodegradable ingredients that can replace some petrochemical-derived materials in consumer products, starting with personal care and cosmetics. We are still early, but the foundation is strong: the science works at laboratory scale, the market need is real, and the commercial pathway is becoming clearer. Our current focus is on improving production, validating product performance with industry-relevant partners, and building the evidence needed for investment and scale-up.
What kind of progress did you make with IACT?
InnovationACT helped us sharpen the company around a clear first market, rather than trying to sell the technology as a solution to everything. That was important. Platform technologies are exciting, but they can also become vague very quickly. Through the program, we refined our customer proposition, built a more disciplined pitch, tested our assumptions with mentors and potential stakeholders, and became clearer about the milestones that matter next: manufacturability, product performance, market validation and a credible pathway to scale.
According to you, what aspect of participating in IACT should participants look forward to most?
The most valuable part is being forced to explain your idea to people who are not already convinced by the science. That can be uncomfortable, but it is exactly what early founders need. InnovationACT gives you access to mentors, peers and structured feedback that helps expose weak assumptions early. Participants should look forward to that process. It is not just about polishing a pitch; it is about learning how to think like a founder, define a real customer problem, and make your idea commercially sharper.
What questions related to entrepreneurship and building a startup did you have answered at the workshop?
The biggest questions were around focus and evidence. What makes a scientific idea investable? How do you choose the right first market? What proof does a customer or investor need before they take you seriously? The workshops helped us understand that a startup is not built by adding more features or more possible applications. It is built by identifying the smallest credible market entry point, proving value there, and then expanding from a stronger position. That was a useful mindset shift.
What did you do with the prize money?
We are using the prize money for practical next steps that move the company closer to commercial validation. That includes early product and application testing, customer discovery, business development and the work needed to prepare for future investment conversations. At this stage, every dollar needs to reduce risk. The prize money helps us do that by supporting the experiments and market-facing activities that turn a promising research outcome into a clearer commercial opportunity.
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