Karin Absalonsen

Venture Creator | Deals, Exits & Fundraising | Professional Board

Denmark

About

I build biotech and life science companies where strong science can become real business. I work with companies that need more than advice; they need progress. I bring a combination of transaction experience, board perspective, strategic judgement and strong people skills. I am comfortable in negotiations, in the boardroom and in the day-to-day reality of companies that are building, raising capital, partnering or preparing for exit. My career started in law, and over more than two decades I built deep experience in M&A, venture financing, corporate law, licensing and transactions. My contribution has always gone beyond legal advice alone and I have played leading roles in multiple M&A and exit processes, venture financings, licensing negotiations and other complex transactions in biotech, life sciences and diagnostics. I know how much strategic fit, judgement, timing and persistence means for successful outcome. Today, as a venture creator at Hannibal Innovation I work to shape and grow companies built on scientific innovation with clear commercial potential. I also act as consultant, chairperson and strategic adviser to biotech companies outside the Hannibal Innovation Gorup. I am ambitious on behalf of the businesses I work with. I like difficult situations, I focus on solutions, and I care about getting things done properly. My work is grounded in problem solving, value creation and successful execution, whether the task is fundraising, strategic development, governance, partnering or a transaction.

Experience

  • Chairperson of the Board and strategic advisor at VUS Genetics
    Jul 2025 - Present · 1 yr

    Strategic Advisor and Chair of the Board, bringing a wealth of experience from my career as a lawyer and partner in Hannibal Innovation advising entrepreneurs and companies for over 20 years. Alongside my legal and strategic background and my perspective, commercial experience and entrepreneurial spirit, I also bring a strong personal motivation to advancing cancer research and drug development.

  • Founding Partner and Chair of Board at Hannibal Innovation
    Sep 2020 - Present · 5 yrs 10 mos

    A biotech accelerator that transitions important and innovative science and technology into investable startups

  • Directorship, member of the Board of Directors at Psykiatrifonden
    Dec 2020 - Present · 5 yrs 7 mos

    Danish Mental Health Fund is a humanitary, disease controlling organisation. The main objective is to break down prejudices and taboo about mental health, counsel and guide next of kins and put mental health on the agenda.

  • Co-founder, Chairperson of Board of Directors at Dania Therapeutics ApS
    Jul 2021 - Present · 5 yrs

    Danish Biotech developing medicinal products for cancer and other related activities

  • Directorship, Chairperson of the Board of Directors at Immunitrack ApS
    Sep 2021 - Oct 2023 · 2 yrs 2 mos

    Immunitrack, a Danish biotech that was acqiured by Eli Lilly in 2023, provides a complete product and service pipeline to optimize immunogenicity assessments during drug development, as well as a broad portfolio of reagents to monitor patient CD8 and CD4 T cell responses to lead drug candidates during early R&D and clinical trials.