Boosting innovation & commercialization

‍About 1NA: from a Columbia lab to the Dutch ecosystem. 1NA was founded to address a major bottleneck in single-molecule analysis. To scale up a promising method developed at Columbia University, the company needed access to specialized resources and expertise. This search brought 1NA to the Netherlands, with its strong nanofabrication ecosystem, world-leading expertise in biophysics, and a culture centered on collaboration and innovation. Despite its American roots, 1NA chose to build its future within the Dutch tech ecosystem.

International from the start

Remarkably, 1NA’s first collaborations were international from the outset. When the company applied for the International Kickstarter Call, it did not yet have any Dutch partners and was working solely with the American academic environment from which it originated. Although this collaboration provided a strong scientific foundation, it lacked independent validation and proof of broader market interest. It was precisely at this stage that both were crucial, and it became clear that expanding international collaboration was necessary.

Although startups are often advised to form local partnerships first, 1NA chose a different path. “Entering into a new international collaboration might not seem like the most obvious choice for a startup,” explains Ostrofet. “Many early-stage companies focus on local partnerships. Those also take a lot of time and effort, especially when you don’t have a proven track record yet. For larger SMEs, international collaboration is often more natural, but they are frequently hesitant to apply for smaller grants. In hindsight, this choice put us in an excellent position to take advantage of a funding opportunity that seems to receive relatively little attention.”

Stimulating new international collaborations

The International Kickstarter Call was developed by Health~Holland to stimulate new international public-private partnerships within the Life Sciences & Health (LSH) sector. The call specifically targets consortia in the early stages of collaboration with partners from strategic target countries, as outlined in the International Strategy 2024–2027.

By funding the initial steps of international collaboration through this call, Health~Holland aims to stimulate international R&D initiatives that contribute to valorization and sustainable economic and societal impact. The call addresses an existing need within the funding landscape and complements larger instruments such as Eurostars, Horizon Europe, and the PPS grant.

“1NA’s innovation journey clearly demonstrates why we started the International Kickstarter Call. It’s not just about supporting the development of new technologies, but also about laying a foundation for internationally connected, impact-driven innovation. That is exactly what 1NA has done by connecting American scientific excellence with the strength of the Dutch industry.” -Annebel Hendrix, Program Coordinator Health~Holland

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Seizing the International Kickstarter Call opportunity

1NA was introduced to the Unlock Incubation Program in Leiden Kickstarter Call through the Unlock Incubation Program in Leiden. This program connected the company with various funding opportunities aligned with the Dutch Innovation Agenda. The Kickstarter Call stood out due to its clear alignment with the impact areas 1NA focuses on: cancer, dementia, antibiotic resistance, and rare diseases.

“What ultimately tipped the scales for us was the accessible support we received from Health Holland when we inquired about the participation requirements,” says Ostrofet. “That initial, positive contact gave us the confidence to submit an application. For a young company navigating grant procedures for the first time, that kind of support is incredibly valuable.”

Initial results and long-term impact

For the International Kickstarter Call, 1NA partnered with the research group of Geraldine Farge, who has extensive experience with single-molecule techniques for studying proteins involved in mitochondrial functions and related disorders. Geraldine’s dual role made this collaboration especially valuable: she not only possesses the scientific expertise to effectively apply 1NA’s technology, but also has a strong network of key experts in the field of mitochondrial diseases and close ties to a company developing new therapies in this area.

1NA had three main goals for this collaboration: (1) to develop a proof-of-principle device and generate data demonstrating the platform’s relevance for drug development, (2) to gain access to new networks, and (3) to lay the foundation for international collaboration to strengthen the project’s credibility.

Although the project is still ongoing, 1NA has since validated the prototype and completed the first proof-of-concept tests: promising initial results.

View the project here

“Beyond the technical results, the Kickstarter Call acted as a catalyst for us. Together with funding from Biotech Booster, it was one of the first two funding instruments that laid the groundwork for a series of subsequent successful grant applications, including MIT R&D, KWF PPP, Holland High Tech PPP, Innowwide, and Eurostars. This momentum allowed us to navigate more competitive funding trajectories with greater confidence, such as a convertible loan from UNIIQ, and helped us align better with broader Dutch innovation and policy objectives. It also helped us better articulate the societal relevance of our technology, which has been a huge asset in later collaborations and funding discussions.” - Ostrofet

Advice: considering the Call? Apply!

Ostrofet strongly recommends that other startups take advantage of the International Kickstarter Call. Here are the main reasons:

• The financial contribution is accessible for early-stage companies.
• The funding for the international partner is limited enough to discourage collaborations focused purely on funding, yet provides enough room for meaningful partnerships.
• Jointly planning and writing the application ensures strong partner commitment and lays a solid foundation for successful execution.
• Participation increases credibility and visibility, precisely because funded international collaborations are relatively rare and generally difficult to realize.
• The first come, first servedprinciple lowers the barrier to submitting an application and offers participants the chance to gain experience as they go – which is particularly valuable for early-stage teams.