Meet Our Accelerators
Rebeca Varela Lores, Investment Associate at Ventures Accelerated
“Stay curious and open to opportunities outside of your comfort zone - that’s where the most meaningful growth happens.”
Meet Rebeca Varela Lores, a bioentrepreneurship professional bridging science and business. With a background in Biomedical Sciences and now pursuing a master’s in Bioentrepreneurship at Karolinska Institutet, Rebeca combines scientific insight with a passion for innovation. Her international experiences have shaped her global perspective on healthcare and entrepreneurship.
In this interview, Rebeca shares what inspired her shift from science to innovation, key lessons from working in early-stage ventures, and what drives her in her role at Ventures Accelerated.
You started with a bachelor’s in Biomedical Sciences and are now pursuing a master’s in Bioentrepreneurship, what inspired you to move from science into business and innovation?
During my bachelor’s, I was very focused on the scientific side of healthcare. I enjoyed research and the rigor it requires, but I also realized that many great ideas in science struggle to make it beyond the lab bench. That sparked my interest in understanding the “translation” side of innovation, how discoveries can be developed into products, scaled, and brought to patients. Pursuing a master’s in Bioentrepreneurship felt like the natural next step, as it allows me to combine my scientific background with business strategy and innovation.
You’ve had international experiences living abroad, tell us a bit more about them and how did those shape your academic and professional outlook?
Spending time abroad was a transformative part of my education. During my bachelor’s, I completed my thesis at the National University of Singapore, where I worked in a virology lab, and I also did an Erasmus exchange in Leiden. These experiences pushed me out of my comfort zone and taught me how to adapt to new environments, cultures, and ways of working. Professionally, they gave me a global perspective on healthcare and research, showing me how innovation is shaped by local needs but also benefits from international collaboration.
Before joining Ventures Accelerated, you worked as a Business Development Associate in a start-up. What did you learn about early-stage ventures from that experience? How did that experience shape your understanding of what it takes to bring an innovation from concept to market?
Working in an early-stage start-up was a very eye-opening experience. I was involved in market research, competitor analysis, and engaging with stakeholders, which gave me a front-row seat to the challenges founders face. I learned how crucial it is to validate assumptions early, understand the competitive landscape, and build partnerships that can drive growth. It also taught me that bringing an innovation to market requires more than just a strong scientific foundation, you need strategy, agility, and a clear understanding of the unmet need you’re addressing.
Now that you’re part of the Ventures Accelerated team, what excites you most about working with life science ventures?
What excites me most is the opportunity to evaluate such a diverse range of ventures and see first-hand how new ideas are shaping the future of healthcare. I enjoy applying both my scientific background and my business training to assess a venture’s potential from the science behind it to the market opportunity and scalability. Being part of the Ventures Accelerated team also means contributing to the growth of innovative companies at a very early stage, which is both impactful and motivating.
Finally, what advice would you give other students or young professionals who want to build a career at the intersection of science and business?
My advice would be to stay curious and open to opportunities outside of your comfort zone. It’s important to build a strong scientific foundation, but also to actively seek experiences that allow you to develop business and strategic skills whether that’s through internships, student organizations, or innovation programs.
One of my most recent formative experiences for me was participating in the Incube Challenge (organized by the ETH entrepreneurship club), a five-day innovation program in Switzerland where multidisciplinary teams live and work together inside a glass cube to develop a start-up idea from concept to pitch. The experience was both intense and rewarding. I had never met my teammates before, so we had to quickly learn how to communicate, divide tasks, and make decisions under pressure. Navigating the challenges of teamwork while innovating in such a fast-paced environment taught me the importance of adaptability, collaboration, and creative problem-solving.
Similarly, when I moved to Copenhagen to work as a Business Development Associate at an early-stage start-up, I once again had to step into a new environment, find my footing, and build connections from scratch. These experiences have shown me that growth happens when you challenge yourself, take initiative, and embrace uncertainty. The life sciences field moves fast, and being proactive, curious, and resilient will open the door to countless opportunities to make an impact.