🧬 You Don’t See the Path, You Take the Next Step | Sujal Patel (Part 4/4)
March 12, 2026
In this episode of The Biotech Startups Podcast, Sujal Patel recounts his transition from enterprise data storage to co-founding Nautilus Biotechnology — sparked by a 2016 email from scientist Parag Mallick declaring "I think I've come up with something important." Sujal breaks down why proteomics is one of science's most urgent unsolved challenges, explaining that while 95% of FDA-approved drugs target proteins, current mass spectrometry methods produce incomplete and irreproducible data. He details how Nautilus tackles this by simultaneously analyzing billions of molecules using iterative antibody binding on a chip-based system, and reflects candidly on his journey to becoming a biotech CEO — from YouTube chemistry lectures at 2x speed to learning how to lead PhD scientists who think very differently than software engineers.
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"A startup journey is not one where you see the end goal; you don't even see the path in front of you, and you just have to have faith that the next step is there when you take it."
In this episode of The Biotech Startups Podcast, Sujal Patel recounts his transition from enterprise data storage to co-founding Nautilus Biotechnology — sparked by a 2016 email from scientist Parag Mallick declaring "I think I've come up with something important." Sujal breaks down why proteomics is one of science's most urgent unsolved challenges, explaining that while 95% of FDA-approved drugs target proteins, current mass spectrometry methods produce incomplete and irreproducible data. He details how Nautilus tackles this by simultaneously analyzing billions of molecules using iterative antibody binding on a chip-based system, and reflects candidly on his journey to becoming a biotech CEO — from YouTube chemistry lectures at 2x speed to learning how to lead PhD scientists who think very differently than software engineers.
Key topics covered:
- The Proteomics Problem: Why 95% of FDA-approved drugs target proteins yet current methods produce incomplete, irreproducible data — and why solving this unlocks better biomarkers, drug targets, and AI-driven medicine
- Nautilus's Platform: How iterative antibody binding across billions of spatially separated molecules creates a new paradigm for protein identification and analysis
- Building Four Technical Pillars: The nine-year, half-billion-dollar journey to develop the chip, antibody library, assay system, and machine learning algorithms that power the platform
- Learning to Lead in Biotech: Watching YouTube chemistry lectures, maintaining a daily "dumb questions" list with co-founder Parag Mallick, and adapting leadership style to manage PhD scientists in a startup environment
- Path to Commercialization: Targeting academic institutions, pharma, and diagnostics companies, with an early access program focused on Tau proteoforms in neurology and preparations for hypergrowth as the full proteome product nears launch
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Find our guest, Sujal Patel at these links:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/patelsujal/
Website: https://www.nautilus.bio/
Find our host, Jon Chee, at these links:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jonchee
Learn more about Excedr:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/excedr/
Website: https://www.excedr.com
Intro & Outro Songs Created by OkKyojin, Owned by Excedr:
Website: https://flow.page/kyojin
Resources & Articles:
Overview of Proteomics and Its Role in Medicine:
​Nautilus Biotechnology Unveils Voyager Platform https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2026/02/24/3243473/0/en/Nautilus-Biotechnology-Unveils-Voyager-Platform-Enabling-Single-Molecule-Iterative-Mapping-at-US-HUPO-2026.html
Companies, Universities, & People mentioned:
​Illumina https://www.illumina.com
​Parag Mallick https://www.linkedin.com/in/parag
Matt McIlwain https://www.linkedin.com/in/matt-mcilwain/
Greg McAdoo https://www.linkedin.com/in/greg-mcadoo-bb912/
William (Bill) Ruckelshaus https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Ruckelshaus
​
​Timestamps:
00:00 Intro
01:51 Why Proteomics Is the Next Frontier After Genomics
​06:35 Raising Capital to Build Nautilus’s Four Technical Pillars
​11:07 What Startup Lessons Translated From Isilon to Biotech
​15:29 Who Nautilus Sells To and Where the Platform Fits Best
​18:30 Convincing Researchers to Try a New Proteomics Platform
​20:31 Building Nautilus’s Culture Around Talent, Grit, and Adaptability
24:13 Preparing for Commercialization and Future Hypergrowth
​27:34 Why Nautilus Is Even Harder to Build Than Isilon
​28:35 The Complexity of Nautilus’s Supply Chain and Product Build
​35:49 Outro
The Biotech Startups Podcast gives you a front-row seat to the business and science of building a biotech. Hosted by Jon Chee, CEO of Excedr, the show features honest conversations with founders, execs, and investors about their work, their companies, and how they got there. From scientific breakthroughs to startup lessons, each episode explores what it really takes to grow a life science company—from pre-seed to IPO.