Wenzel von der Heydte
Wenzel, Co-founder and CEO, is a seasoned life science leader, entrepreneur, advisor, and board member. Previously, Wenzel was Vice President and Head of Finance at Auregen BioTherapeutics where he was responsible for strategy, operation, and all finance topics. Prior to that, he oversaw European Finance at Roivant and supported operations of several Vants. At MSD (Merck Inc. & Co.) he held several leadership positions including Finance Director for Saudi Arabia. Currently, Wenzel serves on the Board of Urovant Science GmbH. Wenzel is a graduate of Stralsund University of Applied Sciences, and holds an MBA from Kristianstad University, Sweden.
Thomas Kirmeier
Thomas, Co-founder and CSO, is an experienced drug discovery expert, entrepreneur, and clinician. During his tenure at the Lead Discovery Center Dortmund (LDC, Germany) he was responsible for onboarding, discovery, and commercialization of programs. In parallel, he was involved as a translational guide in setting up wings4innovation in Austria. Prior to this, he was a Senior Project Manager, Authorized Representative, and Consultant for HMNC GmbH and ALSTIN CAPITAL. Thomas began his career as a physician scientist at the Max Planck Institute of Psychiatry where he specialized in psychiatry, neurology and internal medicine after obtaining an MD degree from the University of Friedrich Schiller University Jena.
Robert Kirmeier
Robert, Co-founder, EvlaBio investor and Head of Operation, is an experienced DMD, investor, and entrepreneur. He has built and is currently leading an outpatient clinic (Oralchirurgie Kirmeier) in Munich, Germany. He is also a lecturer at the Oral Surgery and Orthodontics Division at the Medical University of Graz, Austria. Previously, he worked in several surgery practices in Germany and as a Senior Scientist at the Medical University of Graz. He is the author of numerous scientific publications in international journals. Robert holds a doctorate in dental medicine from the University of University of Tübingen. He is qualified as an Oral Surgeon, and holds a Master of Science and venia legendi in Dental Implantology.
Christoph von Einem
Christoph, EvlaBio investor, is an advisor and board member of EvlaBio. Christoph has been a successful business angel and investor for over two decades. He has co-founded and coached several start-ups in the fields of deep tech and healthcare, and has led them to successful outcomes. He has been a partner at law firm White & Case and ARQIS, Munich, for the past 15 years and is now Of-Counsel at ARQIS. He specializes in private equity and M&A, with a particular focus on venture capital and technology transactions. Christoph has advised the Bavarian and German governments on VC and PE issues and has been active in various PE associations; he was honored as a professor at Technical University of Munich where he taught "Entrepreneurship & Law".
Advisory Team
Margrit Schwarz
Margrit, EvlaBio advisor, is a life science executive, entrepreneur, and board member. Her recent appointments include C-level roles at HepaRegeniX, Draupnir Bio, and Genevant, as well as VP & Global Head External Innovation Roche, VP & Therapeutic Area Head Cardiorenal Boehringer Ingelheim, and Director Research Amgen, where she built and led the preclinical cardiovascular division that discovered and developed Repatha. Margrit has overseen the preclinical development and IND approvals of nine molecules, including two biologics in cardiovascular and renal indications. She is an EIR at Novo Seeds, and a contractual expert and startup coach with Innosuisse and the European Innovation Council. She holds a PhD in Biochemistry from the University of Cologne and an MBA from Columbia University.
Greg Elson
Greg, EvlaBio advisor, is a life science executive and a product development expert with 30+ years of experience in the biotech sector with a focus on BioManufacturing technologies and product development. Greg has extensive experience with CROs and CDMOs in all aspects of cell line and drug development. In the past, Greg has held positions as VP Manufacturing at AMAL Therapeutics, VP Biologics CMC at Glenmark Pharmaceuticals as well as Biotech Discovery and product developement (NovImmune and Pierre Fabre). Currently, Greg also works as Chief Technology Officer at Alentis Therapeutics. He is also the Co-founder of Prevail Biopharma Solutions, providing product development services to a portfolio of SME and startup ventures.
Greg is the author of over 50 publications in high impact peer-reviewed journals and numerous patent applications. He holds a PhD in Molecular Biology, from the University of Manchester, UK.