Speaking at Baltic Life Sciences, Laura Korsakova, co-founder and CEO of Psylink, set out her vision for developing therapies inspired by nature to address urgent mental health challenges. Korsakova argued that conventional treatments leave too many patients behind, and that science-driven innovation rooted in natural compounds – including psilocybin – can provide safer, more effective alternatives.

“At Psylink, we’re developing science-based therapies inspired by nature to help those who haven’t benefited from conventional treatments,” Korsakova told delegates. “We’re proud to partner with investors who recognise the urgency and potential of this work. Our multidisciplinary team is united by a clear mission: to create safe, effective, and sustainable solutions for mental health, drawing on the rich diversity of bioactive compounds found in plants and fungi.”

Her presentation combined scientific detail with vivid metaphor. She compared microbes to a city where “each organism plays a role, like workers in different jobs,” and described early life as “laying down the hardware and software that shapes our long-term health.” The same systems-level thinking, she argued, can be applied to mental health: a field still dominated by blunt tools rather than precision therapies.

Psilocybin as a therapeutic frontier

Psilocybin, the naturally occurring compound in so-called “magic mushrooms,” has become one of the most widely studied psychedelic molecules in recent years. Research from universities in Europe and the US suggests it may help treat depression, PTSD and addiction by altering brain connectivity and stimulating neuroplasticity.

Yet challenges remain: natural psilocybin is derived from fungi that are difficult to standardise, while synthetic versions are costly and resource-intensive. Psylink is seeking to bridge this gap through synthetic biology. Using engineered yeast cells as “mini-factories,” the company aims to produce psilocybin and related compounds sustainably, with consistency suitable for pharmaceutical development.

“Our approach is not about recreational use – it’s about building rigorous biotechnology that makes promising molecules accessible for research and, ultimately, for patients,” Korsakova said. “Psilocybin is just the beginning. By studying its metabolites and analogues, we believe we can uncover entirely new therapeutic agents.”

She acknowledged the stigma still attached to psychedelics but noted that language matters: “When you strip away the cultural baggage and focus on the science, psilocybin is simply a bioactive compound like many others we already use in medicine. Morphine, penicillin, even aspirin have natural origins. Psilocybin deserves the same careful, science-first approach.”

Building a biotechnology platform

Founded in 2020, Psylink has built its R&D around two pillars: developing a biotechnology platform for natural compound production, and discovering novel molecules for mental health disorders. The company’s yeast-based biosynthesis technology offers an environmentally friendly alternative to extraction or chemical synthesis, while its drug discovery pipeline explores fungal metabolites for their molecular interactions with human brain systems.

The vision is ambitious: to create a pipeline of next-generation therapies that can be scaled sustainably. “We’re designing for flexibility,” Korsakova said. “If we can produce psilocybin today, we can adapt the same platform to generate other promising compounds tomorrow.”

Investor confidence

Psylink’s work has attracted the attention of regional investors keen to back science-driven innovation. Coinvest Capital managing director Viktorija Trimbel said: “Psylink stands out by combining rigorous biotechnology with the therapeutic potential of natural compounds – an approach that is not only innovative but also grounded in strong scientific validation. What impressed us is their ability to bridge traditional wisdom and modern neuroscience. This is exactly the kind of transformative innovation the mental healthcare market urgently needs.”

Erin Gainer, who leads an angel syndicate supporting the company, added: “Psylink’s work with next-generation psychedelic derivatives has the potential to redefine what’s possible for patients facing mental health challenges. I’m honoured to support the team at this early stage and to help bring these much-needed therapies closer to those who need them most.”

Sandra Golbreich, partner at BSV Ventures, noted: “Psylink is a rare example of DeepTech innovation from our region, addressing a global challenge with scientific clarity and purpose. We’re proud to support a team developing real BioTech with the potential to transform how we treat mental health.”

Addressing an urgent need

With an estimated 30–40% of individuals with depression experiencing minimal or no benefit from standard antidepressants, demand for new treatment options remains high. Korsakova framed Psylink’s mission in those terms: not as a niche psychedelic play, but as a response to widespread unmet need.

“Every patient who does not respond to conventional therapy represents both a personal tragedy and a systemic gap,” she said. “We believe biotechnology can help close that gap, by enabling access to natural compounds that work in different ways on the brain.”

Psylink’s next steps include advancing its biosynthesis platform, screening new molecular candidates, and pushing the most promising ones through preclinical testing. While clinical timelines remain long, Korsakova emphasised that the foundation must be laid today: “We’re building for the future of mental health, one compound at a time.”