On April 3rd, the EPFL community joined at the Rolex Forum to welcome Samantha Anderson, co-founder and CEO of DePoly and recipient of the 2024 EPFL Alumni Award, for an inspiring Campus Lecture entitled: "From the Bench to a Startup: Growth and Challenges of Scaling Chem Tech."
After a Bachelor's degree from the University of Winnipeg and a Master's from Queen’s University, Samantha Anderson completed her studies with a PhD from EPFL in 2019. A few months after completing her thesis, she co-founded DePoly, a startup she currently heads as CEO. DePoly is dedicated to revolutionizing plastic recycling through innovative chemical processes. Their technology converts PET plastics and polyester textiles into raw chemical components, without the need for pre-washing or sorting, creating a sustainable circular economy for plastics . In 2023, the company raised CHF 12.3 million to develop its technology, and in 2024, it ranked 1st in the Top 100 Swiss Startup Award. That same year, Samantha was honored with the EPFL Alumni Award for her remarkable unique contribution to the international success of the School.
During her talk, "From the Bench to a Startup: Growth and Challenges of Scaling Chem Tech", Samantha shared how her initial research evolved into a growing startup. She reflected on key challenges, including securing funding, hiring the right team, and navigating growth pains, while highlighting the lessons and strategies that have shaped DePoly’s roadmap so far.
The evening concluded with a warm and engaging aperitif, offering space for connection, conversation, and networking.
Many thanks to Samantha for her inspiring lecture, and to everyone who contributed to making this evening a success!
📸 Relive the event highlights in pictures.
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