Maria Birlem and Christian Bruderrek founded Yuri in 2019 with a shared vision to unlock the potential of microgravity for life sciences. Before founding the company, both worked as engineers at Airbus, where they were responsible for numerous payloads on the International Space Station. During this time, they recognized the immense opportunity to bring space-based research closer to real-world biotech applications.
Maria combines deep expertise in human spaceflight engineering with a strong strategic mindset, driving the company’s long-term vision and growth. Christian brings extensive operational experience and technical leadership, translating complex space systems into reliable, scalable solutions.
Together, they unite decades of experience in space engineering and biology, building Yuri at the intersection of innovation, science, and entrepreneurship.
