While many students spend their afternoons working on assignments, Iuliia Kuzminova is building her first company. The International Business and Economics bachelor's student at Otto von Guericke University Magdeburg is developing a startup together with her co-founder, Sajjad Khawari, with the aim of improving early cancer detection.
For Iuliia, Magdeburg was a deliberate choice. She was looking for a university with a strong reputation, an English-taught degree program, and a city that was neither too large nor too small. “The university offered exactly what I was looking for. I also really like the campus, especially the university library.”
One of the things she appreciates most about her studies is the flexibility. “The university also offers many opportunities for students interested in entrepreneurship. Startup programs, mentors, and a wide range of support services make it easier to develop your own ideas and take the first steps toward founding a company,” she says.
For Iuliia, starting her own business had always been a clear goal. She was particularly inspired by her mother, who built a successful career in the banking sector. “She showed me from an early age what confidence, independence, and leadership look like,” says Iuliia. After moving to Germany, she also discovered a startup ecosystem that encourages students to turn innovative ideas into real projects.
Her business idea is closely linked to a personal experience. “A few years ago, my sister was diagnosed with cancer. Thankfully, she has fully recovered, but she waited a long time before seeking medical treatment. That made me wonder whether there could be a low-threshold solution for early cancer detection.” Together with her co-founder, she developed the Startup Cancer EarlySignalLab. Users take a blood sample at home using a microsampling device, which is then analyzed for biomarkers. An AI system is designed to evaluate the data over time to detect changes early on, even before clinical thresholds are reached.
Her studies provide an important foundation for building the company. “The combination of business administration, economics, finance, and management gives me the tools I need to conduct market analyses, estimate costs, develop business models, and make strategic, data-driven decisions.”
She is also receiving support from the university's Transfer and Entrepreneurship Center (TUGZ). Starting in August, she will join the EXIST-Women program, where she will work with mentors and startup coaches. Workshops and individual coaching are already helping her further develop both the business idea and the company's strategy.
The founders also see Magdeburg as the long-term home of their company. “This is where I study, where I built my network, and where we found support for our idea. That's why it was only natural for us to establish our startup in Magdeburg.”
The team has already celebrated its first success. Cancer EarlySignalLab was selected as one of the Top 11 teams in Samsung Germany's Solve for Tomorrow – Tech for Life competition. Their next milestone is pitching their idea to the jury in Frankfurt.
At the same time, the founders are continuing to develop the technical concept, connect with researchers and medical experts, and validate their approach scientifically. They are also applying for additional startup programs and funding opportunities.
“Our long-term goal is to develop Cancer EarlySignalLab into a market-ready product. To achieve this, we want to build a strong team that works together with researchers and clinical partners to further develop and validate our technology. Ultimately, we hope to make our solution accessible to as many people as possible,” Iuliia concludes.
In addition, the team is participating in the Community Award category of the Samsung Solve for Tomorrow – Tech for Life competition and would appreciate your support. If you’d like to vote for Cancer EarlySignalLab, you can comment on the post on LinkedIn with a 🔬 emoji by July 13.