CTO, co-fondateur.rice associé.e start-up biotech

Syntopia is an emerging start-up, spin-out from Laboratory of Biophysic and Evolution at ESPCI-PSL in Paris, France (PI : Dr Philippe Nghe). Syntopia’s mission is to revolutionize preclinical testing by providing advanced microfluidic solutions for high-throughput phenotypic screening. By developing microfluidic chips and complementary AI based tools that enable pharmaceutical companies to conduct extensive drug candidate tests with significantly reduced biological and chemical material, Syntopia aims to bridge the gap between in vitro results and in vivo effectiveness. The company’s ultimate goal is to facilitate the discovery and validation of new therapeutic options for complex diseases such as cancer, neurological disorders, and rare diseases.

We've been awarded a number of prestigious prizes (I-Lab 2024, ErC Proof-of-Concept, Sanofi iTech Awards, etc...) and have raised almost 1 million euros in grants.

At Syntopia you will be responsible for the vision, strategy, and execution of product development for microfluidic devices and related services. Managing the R&D team, the CTO will drive the industrialization of the product range and ensure smooth integration of Syntopia’s equipment into R&D laboratories in the pharmaceutical and biotech sectors.

Main Responsibilities

1. Define and execute product strategy, aligning with Syntopia’s mission and go-to-market approach.

2. Lead the product development lifecycle for our techbio platform, from concept to launch, with a user-centered design and customer-obsessed mindset

3. Coordinate R&D teams: Oversee development teams to ensure successful project delivery from ideation through commercialization.

4. Conduct user research and analyze market trends to stay ahead of industry developments and competitor activity.

5. Intellectual property management: Work with our legal partners to oversee patent development and ensure protection of innovations.

6. Cross-functional collaboration: Partner with the CEO, CSO, commercial department, and external partners to refine the market entry strategy.

7. Product performance monitoring and analysis: Implement performance indicators to assess product effectiveness and adjust offerings based on market feedback.

8. Industrialization and quality: Lead product industrialization preparation, including quality assurance processes and necessary certifications.

Education: A really strong background in cell biology, advanced degree in biotechnology, bioengineering, or a related field; expertise in pharmacology would be advantageous.

Experience: Minimum 8 years of experience in product development within biotechnology/pharmaceutical sectors, with expertise in drug screening, microfluidics, biological assays development or in vitro lab technologies.

Strongly Preferred: Experience as a key product leader in a fast-growing startup or previous founder experience. Startup mentality—flexibility, adaptability, and the ability to thrive in a fast-paced environment.

Technical Skills: Solid understanding of phenotypic screening technologies, biological assays, and pharmaceutical R&D practices.

Leadership: Proven ability to lead interdisciplinary teams and work in a startup environment, collaborating with research and industry partners.

Project Management Skills: Experience in the industrialization of biotech products, including quality assurance and intellectual property management.