Yessica Klein
8 min read
09 November 2025
From an early age, Dr. Daniela Marino knew she wanted to dedicate her life to research. Originally from Agrigento, Sicily, she pursued a biotechnology master’s in Milan and completed her PhD at the Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences at ETH Zurich, she joined the Tissue Biology Research Unit (TBRU), a team pioneering tissue biology research. Her work there contributed to early breakthroughs in personalized skin therapies. Her transition from bench scientist to entrepreneur was fueled by a desire to directly impact patients, a path that would eventually lead her to cofound CUTISS AG in 2017 alongside Dr. Ernst Reichmann, the head of TBRU; Dr. Fabienne Hartmann-Fritsch, who was leading clinical trials; and surgeons Dr. Martin Meuli and Dr. Clemens Schiestl.
Under Daniela's leadership, CUTISS has achieved remarkable milestones in tissue engineering and regenerative medicine. The company’s flagship product, denovoSkin™, is a personalized, bioengineered skin graft designed to revolutionize care for severe burns patients and patients requiring reconstructive skin surgery. Following a successful Phase 2 readout, it is now progressing through Phase 3 trials across Europe, supported by the recent CHF 56 million (~$81 million) Series C funding that brings the company’s total raised capital to over CHF 125 million ($145 million). The proceeds will go towards advancing commercialization, scaling up the world’s first automated platform for personalized tissue therapy, and preparing for the launch of VitiCell®, a novel treatment for skin-pigmentation disorders.
How did you find your way into founding CUTISS?
During my postdoc at the University of Zurich, I was confronted with challenges that pushed me out of my comfort zone. My world was behind the bench, but I found myself writing grants, filing patents, organizing conferences and traveling across Europe to establish partnerships. That’s when I realized I enjoyed this second life of translating research into something impactful. Creating CUTISS was about taking what I had already built to the next level.
What were some of the greatest challenges when starting CUTISS?
The company was born just two months before giving birth to my second child, so balancing family and company leadership was a real challenge. Early on, I also faced a little mistrust from investors: they wondered if I could manage a startup with a newborn and no prior entrepreneurial experience. I had two choices: let it frustrate me or make light of it. I chose to use humor in pitches, talking about breastfeeding and kindergartens, which helped people warm up and move on.
And what came naturally to you in building the company?
Networking was easy for me, maybe thanks to my Sicilian background. I could just talk to anybody – call, text or reach out at any time. Many founders from academic backgrounds struggle in crowds or events, but I found that connecting with people came naturally. That allowed me to quickly grow my network and gather support for the venture.
"Authenticity is everything. Stakeholders, whether investors or partners, can sense if you’re pretending. It’s important to be yourself and follow your instincts."
How did your ecosystem support the company’s growth in the early days?
I was fortunate to have partners, mentors and coaches from the industry, and I participated in many competitions. Those were like full-immersion classes: they taught me how to improve my business acumen from pitching to team building. Today, the ecosystem is even more structured, international and supportive, with more women taking leadership roles. It’s evolving in the right direction, and I’m glad to see that.
Can you tell us about the mentors who shaped your journey?
My first coach called himself my “business father.” After a talk in which he said, “If your startup involves work in GMP, you better stop now,” I approached him right away in despair and explained my idea that clearly involved GMP [Good Manufacturing Practices, a set of guidelines and regulations concerning medicines, food and cosmetics]. He became my coach, helping me build the very first business plan and identify the first gaps and needs. Since then, I’ve connected with experts worldwide who, while not being officially mentors, have been invaluable in guiding me and even joined the team.
How did you assemble your founding and executive team?
The founding team came from the same lab. I was CEO from day one, Fabienne Hartmann-Fritsch handled manufacturing and clinical work, and three professors advised on science and clinical needs. Later, I realized that academic experience alone wouldn’t be enough, so I sought industrial experts with hands-on experience in skin tissue and product commercialization. Thanks to my network, I could recruit a top-notch team very fast, one that has driven CUTISS forward.
What was it like navigating the transition from phase two to phase three trials?
Phase three is a massive undertaking. Between phase two and three, compliance, production scale and operational complexity increase exponentially. Running a big operation with limited funding while fundraising is extremely challenging, but we’ve managed to survive and progress. It’s a learning curve that made me deeply appreciate the value of planning, persistence and having a reliable team.
“I was very sure I wanted to be in a lab trying to find a cure for diseases. That was pretty much set in my brain.”
How do you handle the pressures and uncertainties of running a company?
There are good days when you feel on top of the world and bad days when you question why you do this. My family has been my anchor. Without them, I would constantly be at the office. I also rely on top experienced executives to keep me grounded, so there’s a balance between excitement and reality. Having the right people around you is critical; you can’t be your own best counselor all the time.
What advice would you give to founders starting out today?
Love what you do. Evaluate risks quickly, take action and don’t dwell on mistakes. The key is to keep moving and learn from each step without regret. That mindset has been crucial in both my personal and professional journey, and it applies to anyone building a startup.