From Science to Startup: Martin Rahmel’s Journey in Green Chemistry Entrepreneurship

Martin Rahmel graduated as an industrial engineer with a major in technical chemistry from Technische Universität Berlin in 2005. Rahmel’s professional journey led him through various industry positions, including roles at Schering and Berlex Biosciences Inc. His pivotal role came as Managing Director of DexLeChem GmbH, a startup specializing in homogeneous catalysis. Additionally, he co-founded Dude Chem, serving as CEO and aiming to revolutionize the pharmaceutical industry’s environmental footprint. Rahmel’s entrepreneurial spirit and expertise ultimately led to his appointment as the Director of the Chemical Invention Factory at TU Berlin in 2020.

In our discussion with Martin Rahmel, key takeaways included the importance of translating technical solutions into viable business models for deep tech startups, and overcoming challenges like bridging research and industry gaps, securing R&D infrastructure, and developing business acumen. Martin emphasized the power of mindset in driving startup success, balancing conviction with critical reflection. He also discussed the transformative role of the Chemical Invention Factory (CIF), Germany’s first green chemistry incubator, in providing essential infrastructure, mentorship, and industry access to propel scientific discoveries into real-world applications.