Andrei Slipchenko

Director of Regulatory and IP Strategy @ SMEY

About

With 14+ years of experience in business development, innovation, product-market fit, strategic partnerships, and supply chain strategy, I’m passionate about turning complex scientific ideas into high-impact, market-ready solutions. At SMEY, an AI-driven biotech company pioneering sustainable cultivated oils through precision fermentation, I lead the commercialization and industrial scaling of innovations for cosmetics, food, and lubricants. Our microbial oils unlock over 100 unique, high-performance ingredients — natural, sustainable, and free from the environmental toll of tropical agriculture. As cocoa butter becomes increasingly scarce and costly, these alternatives offer resilient, future-proof solutions with standout sensory and efficacy benefits. Biomanufacturing enables this shift — delivering cleaner, traceable, animal-free ingredients with unique properties and lower costs. Previously, I’ve launched 7+ new products and technologies, led industrial projects with CapEx budgets of up to $100M, secured multi-million dollar partnerships, and achieved over $4M in cost optimization across R&D and supply chain operations. I also hold a patent in advanced polymer hydrogenation. I enjoy tennis, backpacking, traveling, meeting new people, and pushing my limits — whether in a negotiation or a home workout.

Country

Germany

City

Planegg

Industry

Biotechnology

Skill

Mergers & Acquisitions (M&A), Biotechnology, Strategic Business Development, Business process development, R&D budgeting, Project Planning, Feasibility Studies, Project Portfolio Management, Project Management, Business Strategy, Product Development, Innovation Management, Business Planning

Experience

Director of Regulatory and IP Strategy

SMEY

2025-11 - Present · 11 mos

Planegg, Bavaria, Germany

Head of Business Development

SMEY

2024-3 - 2025-11 · 1 yr 9 mos

Munich, Bavaria, Germany

Lead the development and implementation of the company’s business strategy, scaling business processes and driving customer development across the cosmetics, food, and lubricant sectors.

Biochar project founder

CarbonScience

2023-4 - 2024-7 · 1 yr 4 mos

Istanbul, Türkiye

Driving global decarbonization by scaling biochar production in Turkey and launching smart, ML-powered agri-products that boost soil fertility and advance sustainable agriculture.

Independent Industry Consultant

ExactValue

2023-6 - 2024-5 · 1 yr

Istanbul, Türkiye

New product development, R&D portfolio and InvestOps in Chemicals, Rubbers, Composites, Food/Feed & Agritech, Construction industry, Steel industry

Director of strategic supply chain

Mighty Buildings

2021-6 - 2023-3 · 1 yr 10 mos

Oakland, California, United States

- Led the relocation and setup of a blue-sky R&D center in material science, driving innovation, operational efficiency, and sustainability. - Developed and executed an upstream optimization strategy with a strong decarbonization focus, streamlining the supply chain and reducing costs in the production of prefabricated components. - Successfully launched the first facility (“train”) in the new location, attracted a core investor to support scale-up, and completed two major cost optimization projects. - Initiated and implemented a CO₂ neutrality roadmap while building strategic partnerships with key players in the corporate sector to strengthen upstream integration

Head of New Business Development

UralChem

2020-2 - 2021-5 · 1 yr 4 mos

Moscow, Moscow City, Russia

- Led the acquisition of new technologies in the protein space and built a strategic investment portfolio across emerging sectors such as feed-tech, food tech, and agri-tech. - Structured projects through VC and private equity vehicles, with a focus on alternative proteins—including insect protein, pea protein, and single-cell proteins—as well as urban and smart farming technologies like vertical farming, controlled-release fertilizers, and bio-stimulants. - Successfully launched a pea protein project with pilot unit investments, signed strategic partnerships in insect protein and urban farming, and achieved $1M in R&D cost savings through targeted optimization initiatives.

Business Development

SIBUR

2014-4 - 2020-2 · 5 yrs 11 mos

Moscow City, Russia

- Led the acquisition of new chemical technologies and drove the development of the iC4/C4 value chain program. - Coordinated FEED processes and led the launch of multiple high-impact industrial projects. Initiated a JV MoU for an SEBS project with Sinopec and launched a new iC4-chain product generating $1M in annual revenue. - Delivered $3M in annual R&D cost savings through process optimization and cross-functional collaboration.

R&D Portfolio management, Senior Expert

SIBUR

2011-6 - 2014-4 · 2 yrs 11 mos

Russia, Moscow

R&D portfolio budgeting and management, valuation of R&D projects, valuation of technologies and technology licensing support. Project management: Pipeline plug with internal bypass, Epoxy resins

Head of Project management department

NIOST

2008-2 - 2011-6 · 3 yrs 5 mos

Russia, Tomsk

R&D portfolio management, coordination with BU, project management: HNBR, PP & NBR TPV, Petroleum resins. Marketing of petrochemicals and chemicals

Manager / Head of department

Tomsk technology transfer center

2005 - 2008 · 3 yrs

Russia, Tomsk

Project management: Positioning device. Marketing Promotion and Sales of new products (medicine, electronics, new materials, energetics, cosmetics) Business planning and fundraising (venture funds)