About Technoventure: the story behind the website
Wat is the story behind the website Technoventure.eu?
About Siert Bruins
Hello, I'm Siert Bruins, from Groningen, the Netherlands and I've been running the Dutch version of this website since 2009, as a hobby, where I've written quite a few texts. Over the years, I've come to believe that the challenges and problems faced by novice entrepreneurs with innovative ideas are universal and apply worldwide. That's why I'm currently add pages on this English version of the website, technoventure.eu, aiming to share insights and resources with a broader international audience.
I'm no stranger to the world of innovation and entrepreneurship. However, my original background is in medical biology, and I earned my Ph.D. in clinical diagnostics in the field of Immunology and Pathology from the University of Groningen, Netherlands. A long time ago, my research specialization was in analyzing medical images for diagnostic purposes using advanced computer technology which was at those days (1995) pretty cool and cutting edge. The fluorescence microscope system was equipped with a MATROX MVPAT processor and a black-and-white Fairchild CCD camera. The images were processed and analyzed on an 80486 IBM-compatible computer. Yep, I am that old.....:-). I remember that when I started my PhD research project, we needed a hard drive of 20 MB (!) to store the images. That high-end part costed 5.000 Dutch guilders (about 2.200 US dollars) at the time, and the administrator of the medical faculty asked: what are you going to do with that? You'll never fill up that hard drive! Times have changed...
What truly sets me apart is my personal journey as an entrepreneur. I've learned through trial and error, and I embrace my mistakes as valuable learning experiences. Now, with a wealth of experience in business development in the life sciences and healthcare sectors, I have been primarily focussed on developing and validating medical devices, including sensors for home diagnostics. At the moment, I am founder and COO of Life2Ledger B.V., a Dutch company that uses blockchain technology for monitoring the authenticity and provenance of (medical) datasets that are used in AI-applications.
Our Technology
Life2Ledger has developed software, built as a modular system, that addresses the changing landscape of healthcare. Our solution enables monitoring the authenticity, origin, and ownership of medical datasets, crucial in a decentralized healthcare model. This responds to the increasing generation, transmission, and processing of datasets, often in conjunction with AI applications and minimal human intervention.
Our trust technology provides a reliable and transparent data tracking and logging system, which is essential for developing trustworthy AI Applications and compliance with the EU AI Act. Moreover, it facilitates the sharing of datasets and collaboration between actors in a data supply chain. The system monitors that datasets used in AI applications remain authentic, identifying any corruption or manipulation that could compromise healthcare quality.
We have developed and thoroughly tested the software up to the Proof-of-Concept level and TRL-level 4/5. Now, we are setting up test projects with interested companies, healthcare institutions, and governments to demonstrate the integrated system's value in a relevant care environment.
Functionalities include:
- Verifiable authenticity and origin of datasets, ensuring integrity throughout the data chain.
- Compliance with GDPR regulations, allowing de-identification of personal data.
- Immutable archiving for audit purposes and assessing algorithm performance over time.
- Automated administration and payments to streamline operations.
- Modular structure allowing customization based on specific needs.
- No vendor lock-ins, providing flexibility to switch tools if desired.
My path has led me through complex projects, often operating at the intersection of academia and industry. I've learned how to embrace and overcome the challenges of entrepreneurship, and I'm determined to share my knowledge with others who have similar ambitions for an innovative startup.
In summary, I'm not just an experienced professional in innovation and combining this with entrepreneurship, but I hope also to be a source of inspiration for anyone looking to learn from the highs and lows of the entrepreneurial journey. When you want to know more or contact me, please, take a look on my Linkedin page.