Our Team
Frank Wallrapp
Managing Director (CEO)
Frank is an accomplished bioinformatician with expertise in computational biology and data-driven research, currently managing Twogee Biotech. He earned his diploma in Bioinformatics from the Technical University of Munich in 2007 and his PhD from the University of Barcelona in 2011. From 2011 to 2014, he held postdoctoral positions at TUM and UCSF, focusing on computational biology. At Clariant, he led the Computational Biology division, contributing to the Sunliquid enzyme discovery and strain development programs. Now at Twogee Biotech, Frank is motivated to lead efforts in transforming the chemical industry toward sustainability.
Helge Jochens
Managing Director (CTO)
Helge is a highly skilled biochemist and biotechnologist with extensive expertise in enzyme discovery, engineering, and strain development. He earned his diploma in Biochemistry in 2006 and completed his PhD in Biotechnology in 2010 at the University of Greifswald under Prof. Bornscheuer. After a postdoctoral fellow-ship at Emory University focused on protein engineering, he joined Clariant in 2013, leading a protein engineering group and contributing to the development of Sunliquid’s enzyme and yeast strains. Now at Twogee-Biotech, Helge is dedicated to driving R&D to produce valuable chemicals from sustainable feedstocks.
Lukas Danzer
Head of Production
Lukas has nearly a decade of industrial experience in bioprocess development. He was responsible for process development, including the fermentation protocol of Clariant’s Sunliquid technology using the filamentous fungus Trichoderma reesei, as well as downstream processing technologies. His expertise spans from lab-scale fermenters to multi-ton, large-scale bioreactors and processing equipment. He supported multiple upscaling campaigns at contract manufacturers and contributed significantly to industrial scale-ups. At Twogee, Lukas will focus on establishing and implementing fermentation and downstream processing protocols from laboratory to production scale.
Julia Bollwahn
Molecular and Microbiology
Julia holds a Bachelor of Applied Science in Biotechnology and Bioinformatics from FH Mittweida (2011) and a Master of Science in Pharma-Biotechnology from FH Jena (2014). Since 2014, she has worked at Clariant, where she played a key role in developing enzyme mixtures, as well as optimizing filamentous fungal strains and yeast for superior performance. At Twogee Biotech, Julia is eager to leverage her extensive technical expertise to rapidly develop high-performance enzymatic solutions and production strains, driving innovation and efficiency in the company’s projects.
Katharina Stenzel
Scientist Strain Development
Katharina holds a Bachelor’s degree in Food Science and Biotechnology (2011) and a Master’s degree in Enzyme Biotechnology (2014) from the University of Hohenheim. After working for two years in the field of protein production and purification, Katharina joined Clariant in 2016, where she contributed substantially to improving enzymes and protein production strains for enhanced performance. At Twogee Biotech, Katharina applies her deep technical expertise and strong drive for innovation, focusing on the development of high-performing production strains and enhancing operational efficiency.
Rüdiger Schmidt
Director of Sales
Rüdiger supports Twogee as Director of Sales, bringing decades of hands-on experience in turning breakthrough bio-based technologies into market success. He has guided innovative companies through critical growth phases, transforming complex processes into compelling value propositions and strong industrial partnerships. With sharp market insight and a clear commercial drive, Rüdiger accelerates Twogee’s mission to scale climate-friendly, cost-effective sugar production. As a strong believer in Twogee’s technology, he reinforces the team with passion, strategic focus, and the determination to make bio-based chemistry a commercial reality.
Our Mentors and Scientific Collaborators
Dr. Günter Wich
Strategy and Business
Wacker Chemie AG (ret.)
Günter supports Twogee with decades of leadership experience in industrial biotechnology and chemistry. As former Head of R&D at WACKER Biotechnology, he brings deep technological and market insight at the interface of bioprocessing and chemical production. Günter strongly believes in Twogee’s approach, stating: “Twogee’s processes and technology enable more climate-friendly and cost-effective production of sugars as key raw materials for biotechnological processes. This is necessary for the long-term success of bio-based chemistry.” Convinced by both the technology and the team, he sees Twogee uniquely positioned to drive this innovation to industrial success.
Dr. Michael Hösl
Upscaling
AMSilk GmbH
Michael is a biotechnology executive with deep expertise in industrial enzyme and bioprocess development, leadership, and innovation management. He holds a Master’s in Molecular Biotechnology from TUM and a PhD from the Max Planck Institute of Biochemistry. After research stays in Berlin, Yale, and Paris, he joined Clariant in 2014, contributing to enzyme selection for the Sunliquid process. He later led enzyme innovation projects, valorizing biomass waste streams for global customers. Since 2023, he has headed Process Development at AMSilk, scaling biotech processes for sustainable biomaterials.