Dolf van Loon started his career as a scientist. He holds a Doctorate degree in Biochemistry from the University of Amsterdam, then worked at the Biocenter of the University of Basel. Then he worked for F. Hoffmann-La Roche in Basel, first as group leader in the Central Pharma Research Department and later as Head of the Biotechnology Department of the Vitamins and Fine Chemicals Division. His department developed of novel biotechnological products (phytases) and a superior microbiological production process for riboflavin production, implemented in large scale for commercial production to replace the existing chemical production process.

While employed by F. Hoffmann-La Roche, he obtained in 1999 an honorary Professorship at the Biocenter of the University of Basel and obtained business training at the INSEAD. In 2001 he started a consulting and management company IMACO GmbH and collaborated with Kienbaum Management Consultants. From 2004 to 2017 he was a member of Life Sciences Expert and Startup teams of the Swiss Commission for Technology and Innovation (CTI).

Since 2010 he is CEO of the Startup Center grow Wädenswil, actively promoting the development of Startup companies. Regular panel member of several European funding organisations.