Cordelia Biosciences Wins 2024 Big Idea Competition

UF Innovate | Accelerate client Cordelia Biosciences won first place in this year’s Big Idea Competition. Founded by ecological scientists Jessica Tittl Nielsen (PhD ’24) and Monica Schul (PhD ’25), Cordelia Biosciences is a biotechnical startup that uses natural, microscopic organisms from the ocean to create a sustainable chemical portfolio. The company seeks to safeguard the planet’s ecosystems while revolutionizing the chemical industry and, as a company founded, owned and operated by women, is also dedicated to giving female scientists and businesswomen the opportunity to reach their full potential.

“I think that in many ways winning this award is the ultimate validation of what we’ve built and accomplished with our company,” Tittl Nielsen said. “This is actually the third time we’ve competed in the Big Idea [Competition]. The first year we started out with the concept of being a consulting company to help chemical companies innovate using microbes and biomimicry, and when Monica joined in December of 2022 we pivoted to the idea of creating these chemicals ourselves and serving as the innovation arm for chemical companies.

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