Framing Angle (from Research)
Eniola should apply not as a researcher but as the founder of TOPOLOGIX — her TDA-based drug-protein interaction platform with persistent homology, bipartite simplicial complexes, and hERG cardiotoxicity MVP — framing it as an early-stage computational TechBio startup targeting pharma R&D safety screening and target identification workflows, exactly the category DayOne funds. The CCT model and IMPRINT add depth (computational pharmacology expertise, addiction-liability screening) but TOPOLOGIX is the commercial hook: it directly addresses a Roche/Novartis pain point (hERG/cardiotoxicity safety prediction and multi-target interaction modelling) with a working prototype, published methodology, and collaboration with Berridge/Gershman/Daw as scientific validators. The pitch deck and business plan should position TOPOLOGIX as a drug safety/discovery intelligence tool that pharma can license or co-develop, not as an academic platform — DayOne's jury responds to 'our software shortens your preclinical attrition' not 'we have a novel mathematical model'.
Full Research →
The application materials are saved at .
Here is a summary of what was written and the key things you need to know before using it:
WHAT IS IN THE FILE
Five sections structured for the DayOne Health 4.0 (International) vertical:
1. Application Form Responses -- direct copy-paste answers for the online form fields (startup name, stage, problem statement, solution, prototype status, pharma relevance).
2. Startup Pitch Narrative (400 words) -- first-person founder narrative framing TOPOLOGIX as a hERG cardiotoxicity safety-screening tool using persistent homology over bipartite simplicial complexes, positioned as a pharma R&D software layer, not academic research.
3. Executive Summary (one-page format) -- structured snapshot for the selection committee: problem, solution, MVP, market entry, founder credentials, scientific validators.
4. Value Proposition Brief -- tailored specifically to Roche/Novartis discovery-phase computational chemistry teams, translating the TDA methodology into a "shortens preclinical attrition" commercial claim.
5. Checklist and Editor Notes.
CRITICAL DEADLINE FLAG
The 2026 DayOne call closed May 31, 2026. Selection days were June 25-26. These materials are for the 2027 cohort. Register 2027 interest now at dayone.swiss -- the expression-of-interest form is live. The 2027 call will likely open March 2027.
THREE THINGS TO RESOLVE BEFORE SUBMITTING
First: clarify which GitHub repository is the TOPOLOGIX/hERG MVP. The profile mentions GATE as a BCI safety tool, but the application frames it as the TDA drug-screening platform. The branding needs to be consistent before a selection committee sees it.
Second: address the solo-founder question. DayOne does not hard-exclude solo founders, but their alumni testimonials are uniformly co-founder pairs. Even an informal technical collaborator named in the application strengthens it.
Third: begin Schengen visa research now. Both in-person Basel events are mandatory for selected teams, and Nigerian applicants typically need 6-8 weeks processing time for a Swiss visa.