From Science to Startup 🧬 How MetaSMIte is Tackling Cancer
Meet our Alumni by Huge Thing
Maria Mycielska has always had a clear mission: to transform cancer treatment and bring new hope to patients who face the most aggressive forms of this disease. With her extensive background in oncology research and an unstoppable drive for innovation, Maria founded MetaSMIte to take on one of the most daunting challenges in cancer care — metastasis. Today, we are excited to dive into her journey, her vision, and her unwavering dedication to changing the way we fight cancer.
🎙️ Can you tell us more about MetaSMIte? What does your company do, and who is it for?
Maria: At MetaSMIte, we’re tackling some of the biggest challenges in oncology, particularly focusing on metastasis. This is the part of cancer that makes it so dangerous, and it’s something that current therapies struggle to address. Our approach is all about targeting those cancer cells that manage to slip through existing treatments — the ones that cause relapses and lead to the disease spreading even further. We want to stop cancer from coming back and spreading.
Our technology is built to be both effective and as gentle as possible. That means fewer side effects, so patients can stay on treatment longer without compromising their quality of life. Ultimately, we work on a solution for patients who haven’t had many options before.
Initially, our work is aimed at oncology patients, but to get our therapies to those patients, we need pharmaceutical companies to help bring them to market.
🎙️ What makes MetaSMIte different from other startups in this field?
Maria: What sets MetaSMIte apart is our focus on metastasis and the specific way we target it. Most existing cancer treatments are focused on the primary tumor, which is understandable, but it leaves a critical gap in addressing the disease. We take a different approach by focusing on how these aggressive cancer cells adapt their metabolism to survive. They change the way they produce and use energy, which allows them to evade current treatments and continue spreading. Our technology disrupts metabolic balance, making cancer cells much more vulnerable to existing treatments and eventually leading to their death. Understanding this mechanism has been at the center of attention in cancer research for many years, and I am very proud that our team has solved the riddle and identified its targetable elements
🎙️ What inspired you to create MetaSMIte, and what were the beginnings like?
Maria: I have always hated cancer as a disease, witnessing the suffering it causes to people around me. At the same time, I found cancer cells fascinating and felt driven to study them. My dream was to understand them deeply enough to uncover their weak points, enabling effective targeting. Since cancer is often described as a metabolic disease, I focused on how cancer cells produce energy and essential substrates.
🎙️ How has the team evolved since the beginning?
Maria: We started with just a small group of passionate people, but today we have a team of over ten talented scientists, doctors and business specialists. Some of us have worked together for over a decade, which has been crucial in building a strong foundation.
Despite financial constraints, we continue to push forward, striving to secure sufficient funding to develop the best possible drug and transform this deadly disease into a curable condition. We have a clear public grant plan and are in the process of securing private contributions. We are also building an international consortium with top-tier startups and scientific institutes, which will apply for a major grant directly from the European Commission. We are also in discussions with various investors but remain open to conversations with potential new partners.
🎙️ What challenges did you face when starting MetaSMIte?
Maria: One of the biggest challenges was transitioning from academia to the startup world. I had to learn about the business side of things — how to pitch to investors, how to navigate the bureaucracy, and just the basics of running a company. I remember thinking, “I’ll write one grant application, and everything will be fine.” But the reality was much more complicated. I had to figure out how to apply for funding, learn about startup accelerators, and understand how the ecosystem works. It was overwhelming at times. There was a steep learning curve, especially understanding what support programs were available and how to properly engage with investors. It took a lot of trial and error to get it right and it is still an ongoing process. But most importantly, it’s about finding the right people to join the team, who can take over crucial tasks
🎙️ We were thrilled to hear that you recently received first place in the Deep Tech Challenge in applied science section. Can you share some other key milestones that have been important for MetaSMIte?
Maria: Thank you! Winning first place in the Deep Tech Challenge means so much to us. It’s a real recognition of all the dedication and hard work our team has put into this mission.
One of the key moments for us was participating in the Female Startup Pre-Accelerator by Huge Thing. It really helped me create a solid pitch deck and get ready for investor meetings. That experience was a real breakthrough. I learned that it wasn’t about diving deep into the technical details — instead, it was about presenting the problem we were solving in an understandable way, our solution, the market opportunity, and our team. That change in approach was critical in getting investor interest. It was also about connecting with people who are always willing to help, even beyond the program’s conclusion. This provides a strong sense of support, which is crucial during the transition phase. We were also extremely fortunate to meet Agnieszka Biskup-Zbikowska, who joined our team and is now leading the business side of the project. Thanks to her input, we restructured our approach. We identified several products (in addition to the drug) that can be developed relatively quickly and commercialized in the near term. This enables the company to start generating revenue within the next 2–3 years.
Needless to say, the turning point for MetaSMIte was establishing a collaboration with the National Institute of Oncology in Krakow. Working with such a prestigious institution and world-class experts elevated the project to a whole new level. This collaboration was also instrumental in taking significant steps toward clinical application.
🎙️ We are glad you enjoyed the Huge Thing program — and congratulations again on winning a grant in it! Can you share how participating in women-focused programs impacted your journey?
Maria: Being part of the Huge Thing program, which was specifically geared towards female founders, was incredibly valuable. After 25 years in science, especially in such a male-dominated field, I’ve come to really appreciate initiatives that focus on supporting women. In molecular biology, like in many areas of science, women are still underrepresented. Programs like Huge Thing provide us with the confidence and tools needed to navigate the startup landscape, which is often vastly different from the academic environment we are accustomed to. They also offer fantastic networking opportunities and strong support for female founders.
🎙️ What are your next steps for MetaSMIte?
Maria: Right now, our immediate priority is securing funding. We’re submitting applications and trying to get into accelerator programs. We’re also hopeful that the connections we’ve made with investors will grow into long-term collaborations.
MetaSMIte is a testament to how determination and scientific expertise can lead to real progress in developing modern therapies. “We want to keep pushing forward, despite the financial and organizational challenges, so that our treatment can reach patients as soon as possible,” Maria emphasizes. It’s a mission that has drawn the support of many in the medical field, as well as investors who believe in the potential of MetaSMIte to change the lives of cancer patients for the better.
If you, too, have dreams of making an impact and changing the world for the better, don’t wait any longer. Sign in for waiting list for the next edition of the Female Founders Fundraising Academy, supported by the #Visa Foundation, and join the ranks of inspiring leaders like the founder of MetaSMIte.
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