Interview: Dorota Dardzińska / Jakub Kaczmarski & IQ Biozoom

The interview with Dorota Dardzińska & Jakub Kaczmarski from Polish startup ⁠IQ Biozoom⁠, improving personal health management through non-invasive diagnostic tests.

Dorota Dardziński,  Co-founder & CEO at IQ Biozoom, serial enterpreneur, sales & marketing expert.

Jakub Kaczmarski,  Phd, Co-founder & CTO,, engineer, science manager, TFT expert, principal investigator, proposal evaluator.

You can listen to the episode of the EmpoWomen podcast featuring IQ Biozoom founders:

Or read the interview.

Pitching IQ Biozoom

IQ Biozoom develops biosensing technology for non-invasive, real-time diagnostics at home. Thanks to new technology and science, we can measure the exact levels of selected biomarkers, similar to a laboratory, but from saliva. This is crucial because it allows us to measure glucose, lactate, steroid hormones, and CRP protein levels directly from saliva.

This technology enables patients to comfortably and painlessly monitor important biomarkers at home, providing lab-quality results to manage various chronic diseases. Our device is highly portable, like a thermometer or smartphone, and includes a detachable stripe.

Inside the device, the core technology consists of thin-film transistors developed by us. Users can view the concentration measurements from saliva on the screen by licking the functionalized strips and inserting them into the device.

The information is then sent to a mobile app, where it can be recorded and analyzed, either by the doctor or the patient. Additionally, by correlating different biomarkers, we can personalize treatment for each patient. This also enhances diagnostics, as we can gather data from many patients and make new observations on specific diseases.

Business model 

Our business model is B2B. We do not plan to sell our devices directly but are instead seeking partnerships with medical companies, distributors, or manufacturers interested in adding this groundbreaking innovation to their portfolios. This includes offering non-invasive tests for monitoring leukemia, hormonal disorders, and various other chronic diseases.

Story of IQ Biozoom

The story began during the pandemic. While the pandemic is often said to have separated people, in our case, it brought us, the three co-founders, together. Dorota, Kuba, and Kasia — who is a bioengineer—spent a lot of time discussing what to do and what the future might hold. Eventually, we decided to work together on something truly meaningful, something of great value.

All of us have family members or friends who struggle with health monitoring and diagnosis. We noticed the many challenges associated with diagnosing and monitoring conditions like diabetes or leukemia at home, which often involve painful procedures like finger pricks.

So, we decided to leverage modern science to help people and create something impactful. Kuba had been working on using thin-film transistors for biosensing, and we realized this could be a great opportunity to make a difference.

The secret sauce of IQ Biozoom

We are working on semiconductor and microelectronic technology that can be extracted from conventional infrastructure. When we think about semiconductors and microelectronics, we often picture large factories in places like Taiwan. However, the materials we are working with can be fabricated at room temperature in a chemical lab.

We’ve developed a technology for producing a specific type of semiconductor without the need for a clean room environment. We’ve invented new semiconductor devices called thin-film transistors with a special architecture. After modification or functionalization, these transistors can be enhanced with external functionalities, turning them into biosensors — devices that are sensitive to biomarkers and biochemicals.

Additionally, we have a team of young engineers and PhD candidates with innovative ideas who can harness the potential of these materials and transform them into real solutions for home diagnostics. So, yes, combining new technology with fresh talent has led to our groundbreaking solutions.

Working with semiconductors 

It’s the so-called consumer electronics. Of course, the semiconductors we are producing are not conventional, meaning they aren’t intended for use in microprocessors for cell phones, computers, or cars. However, they can be used in everyday objects because they can be fabricated at low temperatures and on flexible substrates. This allows them to be integrated into everyday items, forming part of the Internet of Things (IoT).

Our technology is quite versatile. It’s not limited to just one or two biomarkers — we can measure the levels of around 100 selected biomarkers by simply changing one technological step. The future of biotechnology and the use of semiconductors as biosensors is truly immense.

Team 

There are three co-founders: Dorota, a serial entrepreneur; Jakub, the semiconductor guy, inventor, and author of this technology; and Kasia, a biomedical engineer who translates the language of doctors into the language of engineers.

In addition to the three co-founders, we have a team of young engineers and PhD candidates — mostly chemists, electrochemists, and biomedical engineers—working full-time in our lab to develop the technology. These are very creative and innovative people, without any mental boundaries, who generate plenty of ideas. My main job is to rein in their ideas and keep them focused.

Beyond our engineering team, we also have support staff responsible for communication, project management, and office management. We work closely with consultants who assist with certification, compliance, and strategy. Additionally, we have an advisory board composed of two types of globally recognized professors: one group of medical doctors who ensure our devices meet medical standards, and another group of experts in microelectronics and biomedical engineering who guide the technological development.

Thanks to all of them, we believe this technology has great potential and could be ready within three years, bringing meaningful change to daily diagnostics. These scientists work without barriers or mental limitations—they believe anything is possible. With this attitude, we are confident that the technology will develop properly and quickly.

The business environment in Poland for women entrepreneurs

Poland is somewhat unique. We have a long history of very independent women, spanning the last 300 years or more.

Being an independent woman and an entrepreneur is a huge challenge here. It’s almost the norm. You may know that before World War II, Poland held the first election in Europe where women could vote. So, the history of women’s independence is quite long.

This legacy has been helpful for leading companies and running your own business. But, of course, it’s not without its challenges, especially in technical fields, which are traditionally male-dominated. However, I don’t think this is entirely due to barriers, but rather the nature of the field.

According to statistics, 58 percent of university students in Poland are women, but only 35 percent of those studying STEM courses are women. While 35 percent isn’t a small number, it does stand out when compared to 58% overall.

This situation isn’t strictly gender-related. Poland ranks third in Europe for the lowest gender pay gap. Given our traditions in business, entrepreneurship, and technology, I believe Poland offers a good environment for both women and men to start businesses and commercialize science.

Overall, the situation is fairly balanced. But what’s crucial, is the inspiration and motivation for women. The growing focus on women-led startups and businesses, and women as leaders, is new and very motivating. This focus also fosters new opportunities for cooperation, networking, and initiatives.

So, these movements supporting women leaders are very valuable and meaningful, as they help women find new strength and motivation to pursue their goals, even when motivation is sometimes lacking.

Being inside of the EmpoWomen Programme

It’s a wonderful, very helpful, and valuable program that helps women entrepreneurs organize all aspects of leading and operating startups. It provides valuable tools, assistance, and the opportunity to learn new skills, making them better prepared to enter the market.

From the perspective of technology development, since we are at an early stage and deal with R&D every day, we often apply for grants from European sources, like Horizon Europe or the European Innovation Council. For these grants and calls, we need international partners, preferably from widening countries. This is where EmpoWomen becomes crucial — it’s a platform for networking, finding partners, building consortia, and applying for R&D funding together.

Advanced high-tech development isn’t something that can be done in isolation. We need the expertise and experience of partners from other countries. Thanks to EmpoWomen, we can build these consortia and apply for funding collectively.

There’s also a social aspect to this program that we truly appreciate. The other participants are incredible women — wise, with great personalities — making it a privilege to be part of such a team. We learn from each other and share our experiences in leading deep tech companies, which is invaluable.

I also want to highlight the materials we received from the organizers, including those from Sploro. They are top-notch — well-prepared and incredibly helpful. The networking opportunities, the chance to meet others, and the ability to participate in conferences have been a significant help to us as we start our journey.

IQ Biozoom at conferences 

We are active in international scientific conferences related to thin-film transistors, biosensors, and consumer electronics. For example, we will be attending the Materials Research Society meeting in Boston this November, where we discuss advancements in our semiconductor technology each year.

On the other hand, we also participate in market-related conferences, such as MedTech conferences and events like Medica in Germany. These are the places where we are actively present.

You can also connect with us on social media, such as LinkedIn, and reach out if you have any ideas for collaboration. We’re ready and available to respond.

Additionally, there is one specific conference in Lisbon this November where we will be exhibiting our technology.

A milestone for IQ Biozoom

We aim to achieve TRL 9 in three years, meaning we will be ready to go to market and accept applications for our device by then. This is our major goal for the coming years.

In the immediate future, we plan to focus on preparing for medical experiments and achieving TRL 6 or 7 by the end of the year.

As a startup, we constantly need two things: time and money. If anyone in the audience can provide either of these, we would be more than happy to discuss further.

Raising the funds necessary to advance our TRLs and shorten the distance between the laboratory and the market can be challenging. We are actively seeking investors and also looking for partners to apply for grants. If you represent a scientific unit, university, research institute, or another company developing high-tech technology, we could collaborate on grant applications.

If you are an investor interested in deep tech solutions and democratizing home diagnostics, we are also open to discussions about investment opportunities.