News / biotech
Bristol biotech firm receives double recognition
A biotech company with its headquarters in Bristol has impressed judges at an awards event celebrating startups.
Ensilitech, based in St Philip’s Marsh, won the Innovative StartUp of the Year award at the StartUp Awards South West.
It also secured the overall South West StartUp of the Year title for the second year running.
A resident company at the Science Creates incubator, Ensilitech has recently attracted the attention of the global media and scientific community for its work in developing a vaccine for hantavirus.
Ensilitech, based at St Phlip’s Marsh, has received global recognition over the years for its patented technology to store vaccines without cold chain systems – photo: Ensilitech
When headlines were dominated by the MV Hondius outbreak in the Atlantic, co-founder Asel Sarbaeva featured in multiple interviews on news channels.
The judges of the awards event said: “Ensilitech is an exceptional innovative startup with the potential to transform access to vaccines and biopharmaceuticals globally.”
Judges were particularly impressed by the company’s patented technology, which removes the need for costly cold chain systems used to store vaccines and pharmaceuticals.
Kalina Biernacka, senior scienetist at Ensilitech, collecting the awards – photo: StartUp Awards
It is estimated that every year, vaccines worth billions of dollars are discarded due to denaturation.
Ensilitech’s technology, which forms a protective nanoshell around biomolecules, can store and transport vaccines without special arrangements.
Ensilitech said: “It is an incredible recognition to be named South West StartUp of the Year for the second time in a row. This validates our team’s drive to develop our biologics stabilisation technology.
“Thank you to the StartUp Awards organisers, judges, our investors, partners and collaborators for their continued support in championing our vision.”
Ensilitech was founded in 2022 by Asel Sartbaeva (pictured), Stephen Wells, Aswin Doekhie (pictured) and Matt Slade – photo: Ensilitech
The firm has raised £5.7m across two oversubscribed funding rounds to scale up.
Founded in 2022 by Asel Sartbaeva, Stephen Wells, Aswin Doekhie and Matt Slade, the team has grown to 12 employees.
Main photo: StartUp Awards
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