DEÜ Venture Receives Investment Support

Investment Support for DEÜ Startup Dokuz Eylül Üniversitesi Teknoparkı (DEPARK) operating company's screen-printed electrode-based biosensors receive KOSGEB and individual investment support. The AGON team operating in Dokuz Eylül Üniversitesi Teknopark has secured grant support from KOSGEB for their screen-printed electrode-based biosensors. The AGON team, which has also attracted investor attention, began workshop establishment work after receiving individual investment support from Ege Genç İş İnsanları Derneği (EGİAD) and EGİAD Melekleri Ağı Board Member Filip Minasyan.

Screen-Printed Electrode-Based Biosensors Produced at DEÜ Secure Investment Support

The AGON Team operates within Dokuz Eylül Üniversitesi Teknopark (DEPARK). The team previously drew attention by developing a product capable of detecting Staphylococcus Aureus bacteria, commonly known as hospital-acquired infection. Now the AGON team has developed screen-printed electrode-based biosensors and qualified for grant support from KOSGEB with this project. In addition to KOSGEB, the team has secured individual investment support from Ege Genç İş İnsanları Derneği (EGİAD) and EGİAD Melekleri Ağı Board Member Filip Minasyan. With this support, the team began work to establish their workshop. The screen-printed electrode-based biosensors developed by the AGON Team can be used in many fields such as pharmaceutical and chemical sectors, research laboratories and health centres. Screen-printed electrode-based biosensors serve many areas including disease diagnosis, detection of biomolecule levels such as enzymes, and identification of banned substances in forensic cases. The company, which produces highly selective and reliable biosensor types, previously secured grant support from DEÜ Rector Prof. Dr. Nükhet Hotar in addition to support from Dokuz Eylül Üniversitesi Teknoparkı (DEPARK) and Dokuz Eylül Üniversitesi Vakfı.

"We Will Continue Supporting Our Entrepreneurs"

DEÜ Rector Prof. Dr. Nükhet Hotar made statements on the matter. Congratulating the team, Prof. Dr. Nükhet Hotar said; "We are proud of this team that has achieved significant milestones on their path while still university students, and whose successes have caught the attention of the business world. We sincerely congratulate them. Every success story written by our entrepreneurs with our university's intensive efforts shows us we are on the right path. We will continue to support our entrepreneurs who adopt the understanding of national and domestic production and undertake work that serves our country and humanity."

"With This Investment, an R&D Centre and R&D Personnel Will Be Secured"

Aleyna Yıldız from the AGON Team, a Dokuz Eylül Üniversitesi Faculty of Engineering graduate in Metallurgical and Materials Engineering, said, "Before establishing our biosensor development company, we received support from our Rector Prof. Dr. Nükhet Hotar. Shortly after, we established our company with support we received from TÜBİTAK. Immediately following, we received both financial investment and support for production facility establishment from Filip Minasyan, one of the EGİAD Angels. With this investment, an R&D centre and R&D personnel will be secured. We also received support from KOSGEB recently, and now we are setting up our workshop." Aleyna Yıldız noted that the biosensors they produce are divided into two categories: "bacterial biosensors" and "screen-printed electrochemical biosensors," and said "The support we received from Filip Minasyan and KOSGEB covers screen-printed electrochemical biosensors. This product is used by universities' pharmaceutical, chemical and research laboratories, as well as scientists and academics. Our priority sales areas cover production areas."

"I Believe It Will See Serious Demand Abroad"

Filip Minasyan, EGİAD Board Member who previously provided mentoring and investment support to the team, also made statements. Minasyan emphasized that they are working with a very successful team and said, "The team knows their business well. They previously received support from TÜBİTAK. In TÜSİAD's 'There is a Future in This Youth' project, I provided mentoring to them representing EGİAD. We came first in the Aegean final. I informed the EGİAD Angels of my desire to personally invest in the company and made a personal investment. The point the company has reached continues to draw the attention of EGİAD Angels. Machines purchased with KOSGEB support will be installed in the space allocated at EFE Endüstri ve Tic. A.Ş's facilities. I believe that in 2022 the company will achieve good revenues, show very rapid growth and see serious demand abroad. In fact, requests have already started coming in."