Microsoft Innovation Center Brussels

Once Upon A Time, not so long ago, I used to be the product manager for a global provider of bioprocess solutions. I was responsible for a single-use bioreactor and I used basic shapes in PowerPoint to show my prospects how my product could integrate their process and fit in their production unit. I was product manager in a leading company and all I had to help my potential customers visualize their future solution were rectangles, circles and squares.

A few years later, I am the happy founder of OUAT!, an innovative marketing agency specialized in the field of life sciences, that I started in 2014 with a former colleague, Nicolas. Together, we combine scientific knowledge with marketing background to reinvent the marketing of our clients and enable them to create memorable, convincing experiences for their customers. I guess the souvenir of the crappy squares and circles was still strong when we started to design the HakoBio configuration platform.

Simplifying Bioprocess Design

Imagine if designing bioproduction unit was as easy as creating your kitchen using Ikea 3D planner. Imagine if product managers could replace basic shapes by highly realistic 3D models. Imagine if in a few clicks, process engineers could drag and drop these models to design the most efficient processes. And last, but certainly not least, imagine if biomanufacturers could enter those virtually created environments, even though they do not exist yet. This is what we currently offer with Hakobio.

HakoBio is a responsive web and mobile application to configure bioprocesses, create biomanufacturing units in 3D mode and enter the created environment by using virtual reality. This interactive tool is unique on the market as it combines intelligent, customizable configuration and it enables a direct translation from 3D to virtual reality. To ensure a straight experience, the online interface for the virtual facility simulation does not require any specific software. Developing the platform was quite a challenge for the rookies that we are in information technologies. To keep full flexibility we have used standard and highly secured technologies like the Cloud services and ASP.NET through the BizSpark program for startups.

With the emergence of new biologics combined with the spread of single-use technologies over classical stainless steel ones, there is an expected need to review existing processes. The market is also becoming more global, and with a growing pressure on healthcare costs manufacturers have to find ways to develop simple, less expensive and flexible biomanufacturing units. We performed an extensive Voice of the Customer research with various players in the market. They confirmed that there is a need to visualize early in the design phase the product platform footprint, the compatibility between equipment and the process flow. We believe that HakoBio can meet these needs. And that the beauty of the platform lies in the easy customization and integration of specific plug-ins to cover various applications and targeted groups, from biomanufacturers (vaccines, proteins and antibodies producers), to technology suppliers and engineering offices.

The promises of a successful story

We are just back from a major bioengineering tradeshow (Achema, Frankfurt) where we introduced the platform through our first customer, PALL Lifesciences, a global supplier of end-to-end bioprocess solutions. We received plenty of positive feedbacks from various players and came back with promising opportunities. Last week, we also won the Grand Prize of the MIC Brussels Acceleration Program.

HakoBio is still at the dawn of its story but these recent achievements are strong signs showing that we are heading in the right direction. It drives us to continue to work on the next plug-ins to complete our solution. And participate in the Industry 4.0 through a full digital biomanufacturing facility.

OUAT! about us?

We are OUAT! – Pronounced like WHAT. We are a creative marketing agency. And by creative, we mean that we build up the best team of creative talents to deliver the most effective, the most beautiful, and the most remarkable experience to our customers. No matter what it takes technologically.

You can follow us on www.ouat.eu or on LinkedIn.

Let’s discuss over a coffee on how we may reinvent your customer experience and develop high value and personalized marketing tools.

Nicolas and Matthieu’s advices

• Remain focused on your objectives, but ready to adapt the plan.
• Do never underestimate any opportunities, whatever they are.
• Develop your service/product by exploring your ecosystem. Be hand to hand with a least one customer, it will provide you precious feedback. Do not hesitate to work with Impulse Brussels and the Microsoft Innovation Center Brussels, that will bring you more visibility and credibility in addition to precious advices.

Contacts information:

Matthieu Egloff

@: [email protected]

GSM: +32 491 37 04 32

Nicolas Vertommen:

@: [email protected]

GSM: +32 475 56 89 58

Website http://www.ouat.eu/live-science

LinkedIn: http://linkd.in/1H3yPLx

OUAT! Rue d’Alost, 7 - 1000 Brussels, Belgium