【TTU LinkedIn Series】🎥 Startup Fun Fact 2 - Most Startups Begin with a Team 🎥

date 24 April 2026
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They begin with a team — the right mix of perspectives, skills, and expertise.

 

🌐Global Example: PVP Biologics (USA)

 

Founded in 2016, PVP Biologics set out to develop an oral enzyme therapy (KumaMax / TAK-062) to help people with celiac disease safely break down gluten.

 

From day one, the founders brought together complementary strengths:

• Ingrid Swanson Pultz — computational enzyme design and scientific translation

• David Baker — world-leading protein design expertise

• Justin Siegel — protein engineering and real-world enzyme performance

 

No single founder could cover the full scope — from computational design to clinical translation. It took the full team to turn a promising idea into a real therapeutic that later advanced with Takeda Pharmaceuticals.

 

📍Local Example: Immuno Cure (Hong Kong)

 

Founded in 2015 and based in the Hong Kong Science Park, Immuno Cure is developing innovative DNA vaccines and immunotherapies for infectious diseases and cancer.

 

Co-founded by Prof. Zhiwei Chen (HKU AIDS Institute, Principal Scientific Advisor) together with a strong complementary executive team:

• Dr. Xia Jin (Co-Founder & CEO) — drives clinical development and translational research

• Dr. Percy Cheng (Co-Founder & Chairman) — provides strategic leadership

• Mr. Peter Tang (Co-Founder & Director) — handles corporate finance and partnerships

 

The team successfully combined deep academic discovery, clinical know-how, and business execution — powering their PD-1-enhanced DNA vaccine platform forward.

 

💡Key Takeaway

 

Big ideas rarely start alone.

What’s your frustration — and who could help you solve it?

 

At HKUMed Technology Transfer Unit | TTU, we see this every day: the most promising innovations often emerge when researchers and clinicians team up with the right partners in translation, business, and development.

 

We’re here to help you find those teammates and turn your idea into impact.

 

👉 Which story resonates more with you — PVP Biologics or Immuno Cure?

Or drop a comment: Who would you want on your dream startup team?

 

Follow us for Episode 3 of Startup Fun Facts — more real stories from biotech and health-tech.

 

#BiotechStartups #HealthTech #Teamwork #Innovation #HKUMed #PVPBiologics #ImmunoCure #TechnologyTransfer #HongKongSciencePark