Sandra Starke

Dr Sandra Starke is part of CPI’s bid proposal development team, supporting young ventures to advance product development through collaborative R&D facilitated through public funding. Building on CPI’s HealthTech product development strengths, she is working with a range of start-ups/spin-outs and SMEs across Medtech, IVD and Healthy Ageing, focusing on funding from Innovate UK, NIHR and the European Commission. Sandra has an interdisciplinary research background including Biomechanics, Visual Perception and User Centred Design and has worked in both academic and private sector environments. Prior to joining CPI, she worked with more than 50 SMEs in the manufacturing space, delivering a Business-School-led business model innovation programme while studying for an MBA part-time. Before joining the Business School, she experienced the opportunities and challenges faced by start-ups in MedTech first hand in her role as Chief Scientific Officer for a start-up developing a wearable sight aid: progressing the product through clinical studies, regulatory compliance, technical development, multi-lateral collaborations and close work with early adopters, access to funding was the biggest challenge throughout that time. Through her broad experience, Sandra understands the balance between business-, technical and commercial needs when it comes to innovation and is eager to improve commercial success rates for spin-outs.