EriCa Ecosystem Breakfast: Building the Commercial Engine of Deep Tech

Drawing on his personal journey from academic research into the deep-tech start-up and corporate world, Kevin challenges the common assumption that commercialization is simply the last step of innovation. Rather, Kevin argues that customer discovery, market validation, IP strategy, business-model design, and commercial thinking should evolve alongside the technology itself. Using practical lessons from his own experience across biotechnology, diagnostics, life sciences, and deep technology, he explores how founders, researchers, investors, and innovation leaders can reduce commercial risk, identify market opportunities earlier, and build the capabilities needed to scale.We will discuss questions such as: When should commercial thinking start in a deep-tech venture? How can customer discovery and technology development support each other? How do you identify promising markets and applications early enough? What capabilities does a deep-tech team need to move from lab to market? The morning combines Kevin’s perspectives and practical examples with an open discussion among participants. Who is it for? Researchers, founders, start-ups and spin-offs, corporate innovation and R&D professionals, investors, and others working with deep-tech commercialization. Program 08:30 Breakfast & networking09:00 Building the Commercial Engine of Deep Tech – Kevin Eboigbodin09:40 Discussion & Q&A10:00 Networking / event ends About Kevin:Kevin Eboigbodin is a commercial executive, scientist, and deep-tech commercialization leader with 15+ years of experience turning scientific breakthroughs into scalable businesses. He holds a PhD in Biological Engineering, an MBA from Aalto University, and an Adjunct Professorship at the University of Helsinki. Author or co-author of 30+ scientific publications and contributor to multiple patents, he has driven more than €300 million in commercial impact across life sciences, diagnostics, and biotechnology. Today he advises founders, investors, and corporate innovators on deep-tech commercialization strategy, growth, and the lab-to-market transition.