Get to know ACE startup founders & find out what drives them!
The ACE-List: We are proud and excited to introduce our awesome startup founders. The ACE-List is a regular installment where startup teams from the ACE Incubation Program introduce themselves and share a little insight into their startup journey!
Meet the founder!
Name(s): Jon Jieh-hen Tsung
Company: ScienceVisionary
Industry: Life Sciences & Media
Founded in: 2018
How did you come up with your startup idea?
My company helps biomedical scientists to explain their research and technology through visual media by using illustrations and animation. We are currently building a self-serving system in order to help them further. The idea came from my own experience as a neuropsychiatric researcher. After researching the genetics of heroin addiction for 3 years with 2 publications, I got very frustrated with the way scientific research is published. Also, the language used in scientific publications is not accessible to the greater public. So eventually I left my career in research and started painting to become an artist. Nowadays, I am combining science and art to help scientists communicate their brilliant innovations.
What is your company’s unique proposition?
Now we are focusing on providing a self-serving system for biomedical scientists. The self-serving system enables the scientists to utilize our tools in a do-it-yourself (DIY) method and in this way they are able to create high quality graphics and animations without any artistic training. We also focus on making science more social, which means through our tools, the scientists can increase their outreach via engagements on social media platforms.
What has been your ACE moment?
The Shark Tank pitch at the end of the ACE incubation bootcamp. I formulated a business plan and learned that I should ask for investment. It really changed my mindset from an academic scientist to an entrepreneur.
What has the shift from academia to entrepreneurship been like for you
They both involve exploring the unknown, but in a very different manner. Entrepreneurship is like a going on the show “Survivor” in a jungle. A lot of exploring and identifying resources while you know there are competitors that can take you down. Academia is like going through a maze with magical creatures. Many dead ends and surprises that can either inspire you or jeopardize you.
What is the best advice you could give someone who wants to start their own business?
Do it immediately when you have an idea. In this way you can quickly know: 1. if there is a market; 2. if running a business suits your personality. Running a business involves many unexpected administrative, interpersonal and risk management challenges. It can be overwhelming.
What are your next steps for the coming months/half year?
I just had a very successful workshop this Tuesday (December 3, 2019) with several biomedical scientist from UvA, VU Amsterdam and Amsterdam UMC. The participants gave me plenty of positive feedback and they are keen for more workshops. So in the coming months, I will engage with more biomedical researchers in Amsterdam. Next year, in February 2020 I am planning to do a “Let’s Tweet Science” event, so scientists can work together and tweet about their work and research!
Would you like to know more about ScienceVisionary?
Visit their website (link) or check out their social channels: LinkedIn, Twitter & Instagram.
Or connect with ScienceVisionary’s founder, Jon Jieh-hen Tsung through LinkedIn or contact him here.
