In our first spotlight on the 2024–25 Early Career Enterprise Fellows, we meet Carolina Gaudenzi, a PhD researcher in the School of Cellular and Molecular Medicine whose journey from fundamental neuroscience to biotech entrepreneurship is as inspiring as it is impactful. With a background in molecular neuroscience and a passion for bridging science and society, Carolina is using her Fellowship to explore how brain organoid technology can transform research – making it faster, more accessible, and potentially commercial.
From San Marino to Bristol: A journey of curiosity, courage, and conviction
Carolina’s academic path has been anything but conventional. Born and raised in the tiny republic of San Marino, she set her sights on studying in the United States from the age of 15. After earning a double major in biology and anthropology at Ithaca College in New York, she discovered a fascination with neuroscience – particularly the way it could help her understand her own mind and the human condition more broadly.
That curiosity led her to Bristol, where she pursued a master’s in molecular neuroscience during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, followed by a PhD exploring how neural stem cells commit to becoming neurons. But as her research progressed, so did her desire to make a more immediate impact.
“I started out loving the idea of knowledge for knowledge’s sake,” she reflects. “But over time, I realised I wanted to do something that could help people now – not just in some distant future.”
A company born from exhaustion and imagination
The idea for Carolina’s enterprise didn’t come from a business plan. It came from a moment of fatigue and frustration in the lab.
“My postdoc and I were caring for brain organoids late into the evening, and we joked, ‘Wouldn’t it be amazing if someone else could do this for us?’” she recalls. “We said it so many times that eventually it stopped being a joke.”
That offhand comment evolved into a bold vision: a company that offers bespoke brain organoid manufacturing services to researchers. The aim is to remove the technical and financial barriers that prevent many labs from using this powerful tool.
“Brain organoids are still a relatively new technology,” Carolina explains. “They require specialised training, equipment, and time. By offering a service that creates them to order, we can make this technology more accessible and accelerate research in areas like neurodegeneration, mental health, and personalised medicine.”
From pipettes to pitches: confidence, community, and a shift in mindset
Carolina’s journey through the Early Career Enterprise Fellowship has been nothing short of transformative. “It’s been thrilling,” she says. “Every time we had a workshop, I left feeling so inspired – so ready to conquer the world.”
One of the most surprising and valuable aspects of the Fellowship was the community of Fellows. “I thought I’d walk into a room full of business-minded experts,” she admits. “But instead, I found people just like me – scientists with big ideas and no business background. We were all figuring it out together and that made me feel like I belonged.”
The workshops themselves were a revelation. “They were so well organised and thoughtfully delivered. The concepts were new but never condescending. It was easy to understand, and everyone was so smiley, so genuinely excited to help us bring our ideas to life. That was such a breath of fresh air.”
But the transition from science to enterprise required a major shift in mindset. “In science, you need data before you make a claim. In business, you have to convince people before you have the data. At first, that felt inherently wrong,” she explains. “But having to pitch and persuade gave me confidence. I said it so many times ‘this will work’ that I started to believe it myself. It became a kind of self-serving manifestation circle.”
This confidence culminated in the Festival of Enterprise, where Carolina delivered a PechaKucha-style pitch. “Normally I’m a confident speaker, but this was nerve-wracking. Still, it was thrilling. Preparing that presentation helped me realise: this is real. This is happening.”
The feedback she received was invaluable – not just in refining her idea, but in building connections. “People came up to me afterwards saying, ‘I wish this existed now,’ or asking for help with their own organoid projects. It was moving and humbling to see people look at my idea and think it was good.”
The PechaKucha format itself left a lasting impression. “It radically changed the way I think about presenting. It added back the entertainment factor that’s so often missing in academic talks. I’ll definitely use elements of it in future presentations.”
Perhaps most importantly, Carolina found empowerment in a space where her voice was heard. “In academia, I often felt dismissed – not just because of my gender, but because of my position as a PhD student. You’re at the bottom of the pecking order. But in this enterprise space, it didn’t matter. People listened. They treated me like an expert. That was life-changing and I realised I could be a CEO.”
That sense of empowerment, of being heard, respected, and taken seriously was one of the most profound outcomes of the Fellowship. “It was such a reversal. And it felt amazing.”
Reimagining research and reclaiming purpose
For Carolina, the Fellowship didn’t just open a new career path it reignited her passion for science. Before joining the ECEF, she had begun to feel disconnected from the impact of her research. “I used to think my work was just a tiny drop in the ocean,” she says. “Maybe useful someday but far removed from anything tangible.”
The Fellowship shifted that perspective dramatically. “I realised my research could have a huge impact now, not just in the distant future. That was a complete change in how I think about science.”
This shift wasn’t just intellectual, it was emotional. “When you’re working on something that feels like an academic exercise, it’s easy to lose motivation. But when you see your idea take shape, when people respond to it, when it starts to feel real, that’s when the love for research comes back.”
Carolina also began to reflect more deeply on the kind of scientist she wants to be. “I’ve learned that I don’t want to be the kind of researcher who waits decades for impact. I want to work on science that helps people now. That’s where I find joy and purpose.”
The Fellowship gave her the space to ask big questions not just about her project, but about her identity as a researcher. “It helped me see that science isn’t just about accumulating knowledge. It’s about solving problems, creating tools, and making life better. That’s the kind of science I want to do.”
Looking ahead: from PhD to CEO
As the Fellowship ends, Carolina is clear about her next steps. First, finish her PhD. Then, build her company.
“I used to think this was just a side project, an escape from academia. But now I know it’s my future,” she says. “The Fellowship gave me the tools and the confidence to say: I can do this.”
She’s also passionate about showing others that they can do it too. “You don’t need to be special. You just need an idea and the willingness to try. The worst that can happen is it doesn’t work and you still have your PhD.”
Advice for future Fellows: just go for it
Carolina is unequivocal in her recommendation for the ECEF.
“Whether you want to start a company or not, this Fellowship is invaluable. It gives you a new perspective on your research, your skills, and your potential,” she says. “It shows you that science doesn’t have to stay in the lab. It can live in the world.”
And her final message?
“Doctor. CEO. Why not both?”