Meet our Scientist Entrepreneurs
Scientists get funding for one year to achieve proof of product. After that, they have a choice: start a business or open source their findings - both with our support.
Our scientist entrepreneurs are:
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Dr. Ali Azakbakht, since September 2025
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Dr. Ignacio Reyes Raffo, since March 2025
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Dr. Leonardo Castellanos, since October 2026
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Dr. Thijs Varkevisser, since July 2026
Dr. Ali Azadbakht
“I grew up in a country under international sanctions. We didn’t support the government’s actions, yet we, the ordinary people, were the ones facing the consequences. We couldn’t just buy the tools we needed; we had to make them ourselves.
Now, I’m applying that creativity to microscopy. For Wfront I work on open-source optical tweezers: a microscope setup that uses focused laser light to hold and move tiny objects. I am building instruments that allow independent researchers and citizen scientists to explore the invisible world without the barrier of cost.
By opening up the “black box” of hardware, I hope to add a new piece to the puzzle of science—showing that innovation shouldn’t be limited by politics or budget, but only by your curiosity.”
More on the optical tweezer at precisometer.com.
Dr. Ignacio Reyes Raffo
“I trained as a theoretical physicist to understand Nature at its most fundamental level. During my PhD and early postdoctoral years, I worked on black holes and quantum mechanics—an intellectually intense and formative period. Over time, however, I began to feel a growing disconnect between elegant theory and observable reality. While the research was strong, it had drifted far from experimentation and application, and the academic system left little room for risk or genuinely new directions.
Wfront enables scientists to move ambitious ideas toward working technology on short timescales. With their support, I am now developing a proof of concept for high-precision optical methods to observe and track difficult-to-detect objects in orbit — a capability that is becoming increasingly critical as orbital activity accelerates.”
Dr. Leonardo Castellanos
Leonardo Castellanos is developing a portable and cost-efficient laser diagnostic system to measure temperature and chemical composition in extreme environments. Think of rocket combustors, plasma thrusters, and high-speed compressible flows.
“Measuring what happens inside these environments is challenging. Developing better propulsion technologies starts with understanding the physical processes behind them. Advanced laser measurements can help engineers improve their designs, validate simulations, and accelerate the development of more efficient and reliable systems. I use a laser-based technique known as CARS, which measures gas temperature and molecular composition without disturbing the flow, even where conventional probes struggle.”
Leonardo’s hybrid femtosecond implementation aims to make this technique more accessible beyond specialized research laboratories. His dream is to develop a portable, turn-key system that researchers and engineers can use around the world. In the future, he also hopes to expand its capabilities to measure velocity and pressure.
Dr. Thijs Varkevisser
“In agriculture, fine spray droplets smaller than 100 micrometers blow away in the wind. This drift is detrimental to both the environment and human health. That is why optimizing spray efficiency is not just an agricultural engineering problem, but a matter of public health.
As a scientist-entrepreneur at Wfront I am working on building the perfect nozzle that strictly produces 300-micrometer drops. By actively guiding how the fluid breaks apart, we can enhance the uniform droplet formation. At Wfront, I will test this concept and work on the first prototype of this nozzle.
The best thing about this project is that it allows me to work on pressing challenges facing farmers today, all over Europe. That makes it both fun and valuable. At Wfront I can put all these ideas I have into practice, fully focus on this challenge, and – if successful – start a business out of it.”
Your story here?
Are you next? Do you believe science has become too centralized? Are you ready to contribute to our mission, and work on your dream project? Get in touch!