Umeå Biotech Incubator (UBI) has appointed a new Business Coach and Community Manager.

“The pressure is on! Right now we have a lot of ideas developing at our incubator and several of our companies are looking to take the next step. That’s why it is so important we have sufficient resources to handle this growth,” says Jennie Ekbeck, CEO of UBI. “These recruitments will strengthen our team with new skills, such as sales and marketing. We have very ambitious goals, which means every team member has an important role in helping achieve them. Our ambition is for the life science sector in Umeå to thrive. Today life science companies here have a combined turnover of SEK 450 million and employ around 200 people. Our goal is for a combined turnover of at least SEK 1 billion by 2030, with more than 600 people employed in the life science sector.”

Andreas Lindberg and Christin Grundström

The new appointments are Andreas Lindberg and Christin Grundström. Christin Grundström joins as Laboratory Engineer and Community Manager, responsible for UBI’s premises, work environment and laboratories. Her previous role was as a Laboratory Engineer at Umeå University’s Department of Chemistry.

“UBI is an incredibly innovative environment where there is so much room to develop ideas. It feels really exciting to be part of the innovators’ efforts to develop their companies. It’s my responsibility to make sure they have all the equipment they need to succeed,” says Christin Grundström.

Andreas Lindberg has been appointed a new Business Coach and will offer support to companies that have progressed to a more advanced stage in their development. He is a business economist with a background in sales and marketing in the pharmaceutical and medtech industries, having also worked with sales in disciplines such as surgery, urology, gynecology, gastroenterology and pulmonary medicine. He joins UBI from Kungshusen Medicinska.

“Coaching life science startups is always inspiring. My goal is to bring new ideas to market, while at the same time helping Umeå build a stronger life science sector. In my new role at UBI I will focus on attracting financing for our companies as well as helping them develop market strategies. It is here my expertise in sales and marketing will complement my new colleagues’ knowledge,” says Andreas Lindberg.

Umeå Biotech Incubator currently employs seven people, three of whom are Business Coaches. Right now there are some twenty companies at UBI at various stages of the incubation process.

Photo: Patrick Trädgårdh