Kick-off Meeting

Michal Pohludka is a Czech manager, investor, writer, scientist, and inventor with a strong focus on management and extensive expertise in the clinical diagnostics market. For over a decade, Michal held senior management roles at a global American company Bio-Rad Laboratories, a global leader in scientific and clinical diagnostics. As Business and Managing Director, he successfully led operations across the Czech Republic, Hungary, and Slovakia. He also served as a business skills trainer for the European region, Middle East, Africa, and Russia.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, he co-founded the spin-off company GeneSpector in collaboration with Charles University. GeneSpector quickly became the fastest-growing university spin-off in Czech history, achieving groundbreaking results in PCR testing and advancing molecular diagnostics. Michal now focuses on expanding GeneSpector and its special-purpose vehicles, including Lab On Card and SeveriDx.

Michal’s passion for innovation led to the establishment of Macromo, a company leveraging genetic testing, blood markers, and lifestyle data to help prevent chronic diseases.

Until late 2024, Michal served as Vice-Chairman of the Board at Charles University Innovations Prague, promoting technology transfer at Charles University and other Czech institutions. He stepped down to fully concentrate on GeneSpector and its associated projects.

Michal holds degrees from prestigious institutions (details available on his LinkedIn profile) and is a prominent figure in Czech science and innovation (Wikipedia entry).

Nicolas plays multiple roles within EnviBooster, from scouting to Innovation Readiness Level diagnostics. He also serves as a startup guide and leads two workshops.

A seasoned entrepreneur and investor, Nicolas has a sharp eye for high-potential opportunities in startups, investments, and tech innovation. Passionate about venture capital, he excels in scaling products, building strong teams, and driving impactful growth.

Beyond his career, he enjoys baking, staying active at the gym, and exploring his passion for aviation.

You can reach out to Izabela whenever you have any questions about the organization, such as where the program will take place, on which platform we will meet, who the mentors are, what the program will entail, details about the contract, how to connect with the partners, etc.

Izabela Lupieńská studied International Relations and European Studies at Masaryk university. During her studies, she gained extensive international experience, for example studying at Sciences Po Grenoble and UZH Zürich. While interning at the Representation of the South Moravian Region to the EU in Brussels, she focused on environmental issues and related legislation. This experience sparked her interest in how agendas discussed at the European level are implemented locally, bringing her back to her home region.

Motivated by her desire to contribute to meaningful change, Izabela was given the opportunity to join MSIC. This allowed her to be part of creating programs that make sense, aim to reshape the region’s structure, and have a real, tangible impact.

In addition to her focus on sustainability, Izabela enjoys spending time in nature, especially through outdoor sports like hiking, biking, and swimming.

Adéla is in daily contact with startup founders and entrepreneurs, so feel free to reach out to her whenever you have specific individual needs related to your business.

Adéla currently works at the Moravian-Silesian Innovation Center, where she started as a specialist in international cooperation, preparing and leading projects for programs like Horizon Europe and Erasmus+. She has also worked as a developer in the field of business support and innovation. Now, she leads the startup acceleration team and is responsible for services for startups as well as managing projects such as:

-CEE Startup Network – cross-border platform to boost international cooperation and interconnect startup ecosystems.

-EnviBooster acceleration program for early-stage envi-tech, climate-tech and circular economy startup projects.

-Lab Zero that aims to create high-quality environment for tech transfer and commercialization of research results and motivates students to take up entrepreneurial path and validate new products on the market.

Adéla enjoys sewing with sustainable and innovative materials in textile applications, loves going to the cinema, and hiking in the mountains.