Ben’s List for Entrepreneurs W52 – Selected

European biotech is experiencing a renaissance, with AI-driven drug discovery becoming the sector’s most compelling investment thesis. Against this backdrop, Oxford-based Scripta Therapeutics has secured €10.3 million in seed funding to revolutionise how pharmaceuticals approach early-stage drug development. The round, led by Oxford Science Enterprises and Apollo Health Ventures, signals growing European investor confidence in computational biology platforms that can compress traditional drug discovery timelines from decades to years. What makes this particularly noteworthy is the European provenance of both the technology and the capital. While Silicon Valley often dominates biotech headlines, Scripta’s approach demonstrates how European research institutions can spawn commercially viable ventures that compete on the global stage. Strategic investors back biotech seed funding innovation Oxford Science Enterprises, the University of Oxford’s venture arm, co-leading this round represents more than institutional backing—it’s a validation of academic-to-commercial translation potential. Their investment thesis centres on technologies that emerge from world-class research environments and can scale to address global pharmaceutical challenges. Apollo Health Ventures, known for backing European healthtech companies through complex regulatory landscapes, brings complementary expertise in navigating the intricate path from laboratory to market. Their portfolio strategy focuses on companies that leverage computational approaches to traditional life sciences problems. “Scripta represents the next generation of drug discovery platforms,” noted a representative from Oxford Science Enterprises. “Their computational approach to identifying novel therapeutic targets aligns with our investment focus on companies that can fundamentally reshape how we approach medical innovation.” The investor combination suggests this isn’t merely a technology play—it’s a strategic bet on European biotech’s ability to compete with established US platforms while navigating Europe’s distinct regulatory and commercial environment. Computational drug discovery targets European pharma market Scripta’s platform addresses a critical bottleneck in pharmaceutical development: the time and cost required to identify viable drug targets. Traditional approaches can take 10-15 years and cost billions, with high failure rates. Their computational methodology aims to compress these timelines while improving success probability. The European pharmaceutical landscape presents both opportunities and challenges for platforms like Scripta’s. While the region hosts major pharmaceutical companies like Novartis, Roche, and Sanofi, it also maintains complex regulatory frameworks through the European Medicines Agency that require sophisticated navigation. Founder statements suggest the funding will accelerate platform development and enable partnerships with European pharmaceutical companies seeking to enhance their early-stage discovery capabilities. This positions Scripta to capture value from the growing trend of big pharma outsourcing computational discovery to specialised platforms. The timing proves fortuitous, as European pharmaceutical companies increasingly seek AI-driven solutions to maintain competitive advantage against US and Asian rivals. Recent studies indicate European pharma R&D spending reached record levels in 2024, creating expanded market opportunities for innovative discovery platforms. This funding round exemplifies European biotech’s maturation—sophisticated computational platforms emerging from world-class research institutions, backed by investors who understand both the technology and the complex commercial landscape. For Scripta, the real test begins now: translating computational promise into therapeutic reality.

Finland’s gaming sector continues to demonstrate its global appeal, building on the legacy of companies like Rovio and Supercell. The latest example comes from Yrdvaab, an indie studio that has secured €130,000 in backing from the Centre for Economic Development, Transport and the Environment of Northern Ostrobothnia to advance development of their space strategy title Ephemeris. This funding represents a significant validation of Finland’s commitment to nurturing its next generation of gaming talent beyond the established giants. The backing comes at a time when European gaming studios are increasingly competing with well-funded counterparts from Asia and North America, making government support crucial for indie developers. Government Backing Supports Finnish Gaming Innovation The Centre for Economic Development, Transport and the Environment of Northern Ostrobothnia’s investment reflects Finland’s strategic approach to maintaining its gaming industry leadership. Unlike traditional venture capital, this government backing provides patient capital without the pressure for rapid returns, allowing creative studios to focus on product development rather than immediate monetisation. Finnish government agencies have consistently supported the gaming sector through various funding mechanisms, recognising games as both cultural exports and significant economic contributors. This €130,000 investment follows a pattern of targeted support for innovative gaming concepts that push creative boundaries. The backing enables Yrdvaab to continue refining Ephemeris, their ambitious space strategy title. Government funding at this stage typically focuses on product development milestones rather than market expansion, suggesting the studio is still in its creative development phase. Space Strategy Gaming Market Expansion Yrdvaab’s focus on space strategy gaming taps into a genre experiencing renewed interest globally. Strategy games have traditionally performed well in European markets, where players often prefer deeper, more complex gameplay experiences compared to casual mobile titles dominant in other regions. The European gaming market has shown particular appetite for strategy and simulation games, with titles like Cities: Skylines (another Finnish success) demonstrating the commercial potential. Ephemeris positions Yrdvaab to capitalise on this preference whilst exploring the popular space exploration theme. The funding will likely support continued development, team expansion, and preparation for eventual publishing partnerships. Finnish studios often leverage government backing as proof of concept before approaching international publishers or private investors for larger rounds. This investment reinforces Finland’s position as a European gaming hub, particularly for innovative indie studios willing to tackle complex genres. The combination of government support, technical talent, and creative ambition continues to distinguish Finnish gaming companies in an increasingly competitive global market.

Europe’s healthcare technology sector continues its momentum with patient access platforms emerging as a critical bridge between pharmaceutical innovation and real-world medical need. As regulatory frameworks evolve and drug approval timelines remain lengthy, companies facilitating early access to treatments are attracting significant investor attention across European markets. myTomorrows, the Amsterdam-based patient access platform, has secured €25 million in growth equity financing to expand its mission of connecting patients with investigational treatments. The funding round was led by Avego, with participation from existing investors, marking a significant milestone in European digital health investment activity. Patient access funding attracts European growth investors The investment from Avego reflects growing institutional confidence in the patient access sector, particularly within Europe’s increasingly sophisticated healthcare technology ecosystem. Unlike traditional pharma services companies, myTomorrows operates at the intersection of regulatory expertise and digital infrastructure, positioning itself as essential infrastructure for pharmaceutical companies navigating complex global access requirements. “Patient access represents one of healthcare’s most pressing challenges, with millions waiting for approved therapies while promising treatments remain trapped in development pipelines,” noted the lead investor. The timing aligns with heightened regulatory focus on expanded access programmes across European Union markets, where national health systems are increasingly supportive of structured early access initiatives. The investor composition suggests confidence in myTomorrows’ European market positioning, with growth equity backing indicating the platform has achieved meaningful scale metrics. For Avego, this represents a strategic bet on healthcare infrastructure plays that benefit from regulatory tailwinds rather than fighting against compliance complexity. Global expansion strategy leverages European regulatory expertise myTomorrows’ approach differentiates itself by combining pharmaceutical industry expertise with patient-centric technology, creating what founder and CEO Michel van Houten describes as “a bridge between innovation and access that works within existing regulatory frameworks rather than attempting to disrupt them.” This positioning proves particularly valuable in European markets, where medical device regulations and pharmaceutical oversight require nuanced navigation. The €25 million injection will fuel international expansion, with particular emphasis on strengthening operations across key European healthcare markets including Germany, France, and the United Kingdom. Unlike many healthcare technology companies that struggle with fragmented European compliance requirements, myTomorrows benefits from regulatory complexity, as pharmaceutical companies increasingly seek specialised partners for multi-jurisdiction access programmes. “We’re seeing unprecedented demand from both pharmaceutical partners and healthcare providers for structured patient access solutions,” van Houten explained. “European regulatory frameworks are evolving to support earlier patient access, creating a significant opportunity for platforms that can navigate these systems effectively.” The funding positions myTomorrows advantageously against competitors in the patient access space, many of which remain focused on single-market solutions or lack the regulatory expertise required for complex multi-national programmes. With European pharmaceutical companies increasingly prioritising patient access as a competitive differentiator, specialised platforms like myTomorrows are becoming essential infrastructure rather than optional services. This funding round signals broader institutional recognition of patient access as a critical healthcare infrastructure layer, with European investors demonstrating appetite for companies that solve regulatory complexity rather than attempt to circumvent it. For myTomorrows, the capital provides runway to capture growing demand while European healthcare systems increasingly embrace structured early access programmes.