€10M non-dilutive hack, surviving deep expert "grilling," & avoiding the CapEx trap- Georg Schaumann

Episode 97: SenseUp Biosciences: Georg Schaumann on the €10M non-dilutive hack, surviving deep expert "grilling," and avoiding the CapEx trap 

In this episode, I sit down with Georg Schaumann, Founder and CEO of SenseUp Biosciences, a deep-tech platform developing bio-encapsulated double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) for targeted crop protection. Georg details how a serendipitous barbecue conversation led to their €3M Seed round backed by the Heister Family Office (the capital behind Aldi) and IT/AI specialist fund Capnamic. We dive into the reality of surviving deep technical due diligence when VCs hire 30-year agrochemical veterans to "grill" founders, the strategic blueprint for solving the solo-founder dilemma by embedding equity reserves for a future commercial co-CEO directly into the cap table, and how SenseUp leveraged €10M in German government grants to bootstrap six years of intense R&D. 

🎧 Listen to the full episode to hear Georg explain why founders should aggressively cancel their own non-essential patents to save cash. 

Key Facts Eatable Adventures:

• Georg Schaumann Cabañero: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dr-georg-schaumann-1638168a/
• Website: https://senseup.bio/
• Headquarters: Köln, Germany 
• Goal: To produce bio-encapsulated double-stranded RNA platforms that function as highly selective, effective, and non-toxic active ingredients for crop protection (fungicides, insecticides).
• Milestone: Closed a €3M Seed round led by Capnamic to finance expanded in vitro and greenhouse trials while preparing to onboard a dedicated commercial co-CEO ahead of a planned Series A in mid-2027.

Blurb

SenseUP is a biotech spin-off from Germany's Forschungszentrum Jülich (FZJ) tackling one of agriculture's most urgent problems: the $290 billion annual toll of crop losses caused by pests and pathogens. Where conventional chemical pesticides are losing efficacy and damaging ecosystems, SenseUP has developed a patented dsRNA biopesticide platform that delivers protection that's effective, affordable, and as easy to deploy as the chemical products it replaces — without the environmental cost. Led by founder and CEO Georg Schaumann, PhD, the Cologne-based team combines deep expertise in dsRNA biology, microbial production, and scale-up to bring next-generation crop protection from lab to field. SenseUP collaborates with leading agri-industry players on R&D trials across diverse applications — building toward a future where farmers achieve growth without compromise.