On 10 October, the City of Tartu presented awards to the best entrepreneurs at the gala in Athena Centre. Vectiopep OÜ, a company operating in the field of health technology, was awarded the title of the University of Tartu spin-off of the year 2024.
Vectiopep is developing a novel immunotherapy-based cancer treatment in which a unique patented chemical compound helps the patient’s immune system find and destroy tumour cells. Vectiopep co-founders are Kaido Kurrikoff and Piret Arukuusk, research fellows at the University of Tartu Institute of Technology.
Founded in 2022, Vectiopep raised its first major investment of €450,000 this spring. With the investment, the company intends to increase its research and development to scale up its technology. The researchers hope to take their technology to the clinical phase, that is, human trials.
The University of Tartu investment company UniTartu Ventures also has a stake in Vectiopep, thus accelerating the achievement of the start-up’s long-term goals.
Besides Vectiopep, two other University of Tartu spin-offs were recognised at the Athena Centre.
The investor of the year award went to Icosagen Cell Factory OÜ, which produces therapeutic antibodies and proteins for clinical trials in their 1,600-square-metre plant opened in June 2023.
Tartu Biotechnology Park elected OÜ Antegenes, a company collaborating with the world’s top research centres in developing personalised medicine, as the most successful business in the field of medicine and life sciences.
The City of Tartu has awarded the best entrepreneurs since 1998. The competition is based on the economic performance of all companies registered in the city and county of Tartu, which have submitted their data to the Business Register by the due date. The winner of the University of Tartu spin-off of the year title is selected by the University of Tartu Centre for Entrepreneurship and Innovation.