The Biotech Startups Podcast
Welcome to The Biotech Startups Podcast by Excedr. Join us as we speak with first-time founders, experienced scientists, long-time company operators, serial entrepreneurs, and biotech investors about the challenges and triumphs of running a biotech startup. Gain actionable insight into navigating the ever-changing life sciences industry in each episode as we explore the business of science, from pre-seed to IPO. With your host, Jon Chee.
🧬Kate Neville - Part 2 | Navigating Law School as a Scientist | From Patent Agent to Lawyer | Thriving at the Intersection of Science & Law | Continuous Learning in Diverse Scientific Fields
December 12, 2024 • 21 MIN
Part 2 of 4: Jon Chee hosts Kate Neville, Partner at Marshall Gerstein—a law firm with over 60 years of expertise in delivering sophisticated intellectual property advice and legal services to leading businesses, research institutions, universities, and entrepreneurs worldwide. Kate, an accomplished attorney with a doctoral background in microbiology and immunology, specializes in global patent prosecution and strategic management. With over a decade of experience, she works with biotech startups, big pharma, and non-profits. Kate has been recognized as a "World's Leading Patent Practitioner" by IAM magazine since 2013, an Illinois Super Lawyer since 2018, and is included in The Best Lawyers in America© for Patent Law.
🧬 Kate Neville - Part 1 | From Youngest of Six to Patent Law Pioneer | When Chemistry Sets Spark Scientific Careers | Leading Through Autonomy | Serendipitous Path from Lab Bench to IP Law
December 9, 2024 • 28 MIN
Part 1 of 4: Jon Chee hosts Kate Neville, Partner at Marshall Gerstein—a law firm with over 60 years of expertise in delivering sophisticated intellectual property advice and legal services to leading businesses, research institutions, universities, and entrepreneurs worldwide. Kate, an accomplished attorney with a doctoral background in microbiology and immunology, specializes in global patent prosecution and strategic management. With over a decade of experience, she works with biotech startups, big pharma, and non-profits. Kate has been recognized as a "World's Leading Patent Practitioner" by IAM magazine since 2013, an Illinois Super Lawyer since 2018, and is included in The Best Lawyers in America© for Patent Law.
🧬 Barry Ticho - Part 4 | Founding Verve Therapeutics Over Breakfast | Gene Editing for Cardiovascular Disease | Leadership Lessons From a First-Time Founder | Stoke’s Vision for RNA-Based Medicines
December 5, 2024 • 40 MIN
Part 4 of 4: Jon Chee hosts Barry Ticho, Founder of Verve Therapeutics and Chief Medical Officer at Stoke Therapeutics, a biotech company addressing the underlying cause of severe diseases by upregulating protein expression with RNA-based medicines. With an MD PhD from the University of Chicago and extensive experience across academia and industry, Barry brings over two decades of expertise in clinical development. His journey includes roles as Head of Development at Moderna, Head of External R&D Innovation at Pfizer, and VP of Clinical Development at Biogen, where he's been instrumental in advancing numerous therapeutic programs across multiple disease areas. Barry's unique perspective spanning academic medicine and biotechnology innovation makes his insights invaluable for aspiring leaders in the field.
🧬 Barry Ticho - Part 3 | Lessons From Rigorous Drug Development | Industry vs. Academic Research Standards | A Patient-Centered Approach to Clinical Trials | How RNA is Shaping Modern Medicine
December 2, 2024 • 37 MIN
Part 3 of 4: Jon Chee hosts Barry Ticho, Founder of Verve Therapeutics and Chief Medical Officer at Stoke Therapeutics, a biotech company addressing the underlying cause of severe diseases by upregulating protein expression with RNA-based medicines. With an MD PhD from the University of Chicago and extensive experience across academia and industry, Barry brings over two decades of expertise in clinical development. His journey includes roles as Head of Development at Moderna, Head of External R&D Innovation at Pfizer, and VP of Clinical Development at Biogen, where he's been instrumental in advancing numerous therapeutic programs across multiple disease areas. Barry's unique perspective spanning academic medicine and biotechnology innovation makes his insights invaluable for aspiring leaders in the field.
🧬Barry Ticho - Part 2 | Zebrafish Hearts & Pediatric Cardiology | Balancing Lab Work & Clinical Practice | Navigating Academic Medicine's Challenges | The Draw of Biopharma & Translational Medicine
November 28, 2024 • 28 MIN
Part 2 of 4: Jon Chee hosts Barry Ticho, Founder of Verve Therapeutics and Chief Medical Officer at Stoke Therapeutics, a biotech company addressing the underlying cause of severe diseases by upregulating protein expression with RNA-based medicines. With an MD-PhD from the University of Chicago and extensive experience across academia and industry, Barry brings over two decades of expertise in clinical development. His journey includes roles as Head of Development at Moderna, Head of External R&D Innovation at Pfizer, and VP of Clinical Development at Biogen, where he's been instrumental in advancing numerous therapeutic programs across multiple disease areas. Barry's unique perspective spanning academic medicine and biotechnology innovation makes his insights invaluable for aspiring leaders in the field.
🧬Barry Ticho - Stoke Therapeutics - Part 1 | From Family of Physicians to Vision-Driven Scientist | Barry’s MD-PhD Journey | Leadership Through Critical Thinking & Resilience | The Journey From Academia to Industry
November 25, 2024 • 37 MIN
Part 1 of 4: Jon Chee hosts Barry Ticho, Founder of Verve Therapeutics and Chief Medical Officer at Stoke Therapeutics, a biotech company addressing the underlying cause of severe diseases by upregulating protein expression with RNA-based medicines. With an MD-PhD from the University of Chicago and extensive experience across academia and industry, Barry brings over two decades of expertise in clinical development. His journey includes roles as Head of Development at Moderna, Head of External R&D Innovation at Pfizer, and VP of Clinical Development at Biogen, where he's been instrumental in advancing numerous therapeutic programs across multiple disease areas. Barry's unique perspective spanning academic medicine and biotechnology innovation makes his insights invaluable for aspiring leaders in the field.
🧬Chris Moxham - Transcripta Bio - Part 4 | Partnership Strategies with Big Pharma | Balancing Science & Business | Leveraging AI in Drug Discovery | The Vision for Transcripta Bio
November 21, 2024 • 27 MIN
Part 4 of 4: Jon Chee hosts Chris Moxham, Co-Founder, CEO, and CSO of Transcripta Bio—a pioneering biotech company accelerating drug discovery to improve lives worldwide. With a PhD in Molecular and Cellular Pharmacology from Stony Brook University and over 25 years in drug discovery, Chris brings a wealth of experience. During his two-decade tenure at Eli Lilly, he advanced over 10 molecules into clinical trials across multiple therapeutic areas, spanning both small and large molecule modalities. Chris’s deep expertise and dedication to scientific innovation and team development offer invaluable insights for aspiring biotech leaders.
🧬Chris Moxham - Transcripta Bio - Part 3 | Embracing the Startup Challenge | Mastering Science-to-Business Communication | Building a Scalable Discovery Engine | Leveraging AI & Genetics in Drug Development
November 18, 2024 • 26 MIN
Part 3 of 4: Jon Chee hosts Chris Moxham, Co-Founder, CEO, and CSO of Transcripta Bio—a pioneering biotech company accelerating drug discovery to improve lives worldwide. With a PhD in Molecular and Cellular Pharmacology from Stony Brook University and over 25 years in drug discovery, Chris brings a wealth of experience. During his two-decade tenure at Eli Lilly, he advanced over 10 molecules into clinical trials across multiple therapeutic areas, spanning both small and large molecule modalities. Chris’s deep expertise and dedication to scientific innovation and team development offer invaluable insights for aspiring biotech leaders.
🧬Chris Moxham - Transcripta Bio - Part 2 | From Eli Lilly Recruit to NYC Lab Builder | Leading High-Stakes Drug Discovery | Pioneering Quantitative Biology | "Making the Trains Run on Time"
November 14, 2024 • 30 MIN
Part 2 of 4: Jon Chee hosts Chris Moxham, the Co-Founder, CEO, and CSO of Transcripta Bio, a pioneering biotech company charting a faster path in drug discovery to create better lives for people around the world. Chris earned his PhD in Molecular and Cellular Pharmacology at Stony Brook University and is a seasoned veteran with over 25 years of drug discovery experience, having spent two decades at Eli Lilly where he was instrumental in advancing over 10 molecules into clinical trials across multiple therapeutic areas and both small and large molecule modalities. Chris has a wealth of knowledge, and his commitment to both scientific advancement and team growth makes his insights invaluable for aspiring leaders in biotech.
🧬Chris Moxham - Transcripta Bio - Part 1 | From Long Island to Biotech Pioneer | Cornell's Pivotal Role in Research Passion | Strategic Leap to Pharma Industry | Cultivating Effective Leadership in Science
November 11, 2024 • 32 MIN
Part 1 of 4: Jon Chee hosts Chris Moxham, the Co-Founder, CEO, and CSO of Transcripta Bio, a pioneering biotech company charting a faster path in drug discovery to create better lives for people around the world. Chris earned his PhD in Molecular and Cellular Pharmacology at Stony Brook University and is a seasoned veteran with over 25 years of drug discovery experience, having spent two decades at Eli Lilly where he was instrumental in advancing over 10 molecules into clinical trials across multiple therapeutic areas and both small and large molecule modalities. Chris has a wealth of knowledge, and his commitment to both scientific advancement and team growth makes his insights invaluable for aspiring leaders in biotech.
🧬Michael Chen - Nuclera - Part 2 | From Grad Student to Biotech CEO | Unique Challenges Combining Science & Business | Developing Breakthrough Products | Building Partnerships with Big Pharma | Creating a Biotech GTM Strategy
November 7, 2024 • 65 MIN
Jon Chee hosts Michael Chen, the Co-Founder and CEO of Nuclera, a biotech company that focuses on bringing rapid protein access to other labs. Michael is a seasoned scientist and entrepreneur who brings a rich background and valuable insights to our podcast. Before co-founding Nuclera, Michael did extensive research as an undergrad student at both Georgia tech and Emory and eventually got his PhD in Chemistry from the University of Cambridge. He has also published nine scientific papers and worked with several leading scientists in their field.
🧬Michael Chen - Nuclera - Part 1 | Influence of a Data-Driven Family | Do the Dishes in a Lab | NIH-Oxford Cambridge Scholarship Program | What Got Us Here Won’t Get Us There
November 4, 2024 • 53 MIN
Part 1 of 2: Jon Chee hosts our latest guest, Michael Chen, the Co-Founder and CEO of Nuclera, a biotech company that focuses on bringing rapid protein access to other labs. Michael is a seasoned scientist and entrepreneur who brings his rich background and insights to our podcast. Before becoming the Co-Founder of Nuclera, Michael did extensive research as an undergrad student at both Georgia tech and Emory and eventually got his Ph,D in Chemistry from the University of Cambridge. Having worked under some of the leading scientists in their field Michael also has 9 scientific publications to his name. His past experiences both at the lab bench and as a CEO make these episodes ones you don’t want to miss.
🧬 Neela Patel - Bonum Therapeutics - Part 4 | Transitioning to Seattle Genetics & Business Development | Insights from Roche’s Acquisition | Building a Transformative Oncology Pipeline with Bonum Therapeutics
October 31, 2024 • 33 MIN
Part 4 of 4: Jon Chee hosts our latest guest, Neela Patel, Chief Business Officer at Bonum Therapeutics who are developing protein therapeutics to be used to treat a wide range of diseases. Neela is a seasoned scientist and business development executive with over 30 years of leadership experience in drug discovery and development. Before her time at Bonum Therapeutics Neela worked as the CBO at Good Therapeutics, a biotech company that develops cutting edge protein-based drugs. Her impressive career also includes pivotal roles at Seattle Genetics, AbbVie, Abbott, and Genentech. Her extensive experience as both a scientist and business person give her unique insights you won’t want to miss.
🧬 Neela Patel - Bonum Therapeutics - Part 3 | Developing Pipeline Strategy at Poniard Pharmaceuticals | Business & Corporate Development in Oncology | Transitioning from Abbott to AbbVie to Seagen
October 28, 2024 • 40 MIN
Part 3 of 4: Jon Chee hosts our latest guest, Neela Patel, Chief Business Officer at Bonum Therapeutics who are developing protein therapeutics to be used to treat a wide range of diseases. Neela is a seasoned scientist and business development executive with over 30 years of leadership experience in drug discovery and development. Before her time at Bonum Therapeutics Neela worked as the CBO at Good Therapeutics, a biotech company that develops cutting edge protein-based drugs. Her impressive career also includes pivotal roles at Seattle Genetics, AbbVie, Abbott, and Genentech. Her extensive experience as both a scientist and business person give her unique insights you won’t want to miss.
🧬Neela Patel - Bonum Therapeutics - Part 2 | Leading an Academic Microbiology Lab | The Value of Personal Relationships in the Workplace | Leading a Team & Learning on the Job | The Volatility of an Acquisition
October 24, 2024 • 39 MIN
Part 2 of 4: Jon Chee hosts our latest guest, Neela Patel, Chief Business Officer at Bonum Therapeutics who are developing protein therapeutics to be used to treat a wide range of diseases. Neela is a seasoned scientist and business development executive with over 30 years of leadership experience in drug discovery and development. Before her time at Bonum Therapeutics Neela worked as the CBO at Good Therapeutics, a biotech company that develops cutting edge protein-based drugs. Her impressive career also includes pivotal roles at Seattle Genetics, AbbVie, Abbott, and Genentech. Her extensive experience as both a scientist and business person give her unique insights you won’t want to miss.
🧬 Neela Patel - Bonum Therapeutics - Part 1 | Growing Up in an Intellectual Household | How One Biology Class Inspired Her | Working With Influential Scientists at DNAX | Pursuing the Intersection of Science & Business
October 21, 2024 • 41 MIN
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🧬eMalick Njie, Ph.D - Ecotone - Part 4 | Building Ecotone AI to Cure Rare Diseases | Diffusion Transformers in Genomics | Synthetic Genomes for AI Training | Long-Term Vision for Genetic Breakthroughs
October 17, 2024 • 31 MIN
Jon Chee hosts our latest guest, eMalick Njie, CEO of Ecotone AI, a healthcare company that is using AI to find cures for inherited diseases. eMalick is an experienced scientist and entrepreneur who has focused on blending his expertise in neuroscience with his knowledge of AI. In addition to founding two AI companies, Ecotone and Genetic Intelligence, eMalick received his PhD in Neurobiology and Neuroscience from the University of Florida. His extensive and diverse experience from being a postdoctoral fellow at Columbia university to being the CEO of the AI thinktank NeuroStorm makes our conversation with him one you won’t want to miss.
🧬 eMalick Njie, Ph.D - Ecotone - Part 3 | Founding an AI-Powered Biotech | Overcoming Challenges & Personal Sacrifices | Importance of Team Alignment | Combining AI, Genetics, & Population Studies
October 14, 2024 • 53 MIN
Part 3 of 4: Jon Chee hosts our latest guest, eMalick Njie, CEO of Ecotone AI, a healthcare company that is using AI to find cures for inherited diseases. eMalick is an experienced scientist and entrepreneur who has focused on blending his expertise in neuroscience with his knowledge of AI. In addition to founding two AI companies, Ecotone and Genetic Intelligence, eMalick received his PhD in Neurobiology and Neuroscience from the University of Florida. His extensive and diverse experience from being a postdoctoral fellow at Columbia university to being the CEO of the AI thinktank NeuroStorm makes our conversation with him one you won’t want to miss.
🧬eMalick Njie, Ph.D - Ecotone - Part 2 | What is Memory? | Playing “Stump the Professor” | Lab Coat Labs vs Sandals Labs | Wanting to Help People at Scale
October 10, 2024 • 55 MIN
Part 2 of 4: Jon Chee hosts our latest guest, eMalick Njie, CEO of Ecotone AI, a healthcare company that is using AI to find cures for inherited diseases. eMalick is an experienced scientist and entrepreneur who has focused on blending his expertise in neuroscience with his knowledge of AI. In addition to founding two AI companies, Ecotone and Genetic Intelligence, eMalick received his PhD in Neurobiology and Neuroscience from the University of Florida. His extensive and diverse experience from being a postdoctoral fellow at Columbia university to being the CEO of the AI thinktank NeuroStorm makes our conversation with him one you won’t want to miss.
🧬eMalick Njie, Ph.D - Ecotone - Part 1 | Growing Up in the Gambia | The Unending Book of Neuroscience | Being a Professional Scientist | How to Lose Your MIT Recommendation Letter: 101
October 7, 2024 • 38 MIN
Part 1 of 4: Jon Chee hosts our latest guest, eMalick Njie, CEO of Ecotone AI, a company that is looking to use AI to find cures for rare inherited diseases. eMalick is an experienced scientist and entrepreneur who has focused on blending his expertise in neuroscience with his knowledge of AI. In addition to founding two AI companies, Ecotone and Genetic Intelligence, eMalick received his PhD in Neurobiology and Neuroscience from the University of Florida. His extensive and diverse experience from being a postdoctoral fellow at Columbia university to being the CEO of the AI thinktank NeuroStorm makes our conversation with him one you won’t want to miss.
🧬Barbara Alcaraz Silva - J.P. Morgan - Part 4 | Barbara’s Pivot into Banking | The Power of Mentorship & Resilience | Seizing Unexpected Opportunities | The Challenges of Building a Career in Science & Finance
October 3, 2024 • 39 MIN
Jon Chee hosts our latest guest, Barbara Alcaraz Silva, the Executive Director of Early Stage Life Sciences and Healthcare, Startup Banking at J.P. Morgan. Barbara brings a wealth of experience as a former researcher, entrepreneur, and industry veteran. She has worked extensively with startups and early-stage ventures. Her scientific background is in Telomeres and DNA Repair research. Prior to her role at J.P. Morgan, Barbara advised biotech and medtech companies at Manos Accelerator, served as a Senior Investment Fellow at Life Science Angels, and co-founded BioChron, an AI-driven biological aging tracking company. Her unique combination of scientific knowledge, business acumen, and investment/finance expertise makes her an invaluable resource for founders in the biotech space.
🧬 Barbara Alcaraz Silva - J.P. Morgan - Part 3 | From Academia to Entrepreneurship, Investing, & Advising | Co-Founding a Startup | Challenges of Early-Stage Company Building | Improve Your Investor Pitch & Connect with the Right People
September 30, 2024 • 35 MIN
Part 3 of 4. My guest for this week’s episode is Barbara Alcaraz Silva, Executive Director of Early Stage Life Sciences and Healthcare, Startup Banking at J.P. Morgan. Barbara is a former researcher and entrepreneur, and an accomplished industry veteran. Her career has revolved around startups and early-stage ventures. As a graduate student, she focused on Telomeres and DNA Repair. Before joining J.P. Morgan, Barbara was an advisor for biotech and medtech companies at the Manos Accelerator, where she provided mentorship in business development, fundraising, and other key areas. She also served as a Senior Investment Fellow at Life Science Angels, where she invested in emerging biotechs and managed investor relationships. Additionally, Barbara co-founded BioChron, a company that leveraged AI and machine learning to track biological aging.
🧬 Barbara Alcaraz Silva - J.P. Morgan - Part 2 | Mentorship & Research at the Beckman Laser Institute | An Entrepreneurial PhD Experience | Exploring Stem Cell Biology in London | Navigating Networking & Postdoc Opportunities
September 26, 2024 • 28 MIN
Part 2 of 4. My guest for this week’s episode is Barbara Alcaraz Silva, Executive Director of Early Stage Life Sciences and Healthcare, Startup Banking at J.P. Morgan. She is also a former scientist-entrepreneur whose graduate studies focused on Telomeres and DNA Repair. Barbara has worked with many startups, including co-founding her own company, BioChron. While at the Manos Accelerator, she worked as an advisor for Biotech and Medtech companies, providing mentorship in business, fundraising, and capital, and offering guidance to startup companies. Additionally, Barbara worked as a Senior Investment Fellow at Life Science Angels, investing in up-and-coming biotechs and managing investor relationships.
🧬 Barbara Alcaraz Silva - J.P. Morgan - Part 1 | Living the American Dream & Emigrating From Mexico | Soaking Up Experiences & Embracing Opportunities | Researching at the Harvard of Mexico | Presenting In Spanish at a National Conference
September 23, 2024 • 39 MIN
Part 1 of 4. My guest for this week’s episode is Barbara Alcaraz Silva, Executive Director of Early Stage Life Sciences and Healthcare, Startup Banking at J.P. Morgan. She is also a former scientist-entrepreneur whose graduate studies focused on Telomeres and DNA Repair. Barbara has worked with many startups, including co-founding her own company, BioChron. While at the Manos Accelerator, she worked as an advisor for Biotech and Medtech companies, providing mentorship in business, fundraising, and capital, and offering guidance to startup companies. Additionally, Barbara worked as a Senior Investment Fellow at Life Science Angels, investing in up-and-coming biotechs and managing investor relationships.
🧬 Derek Hennecke - Kincell Bio - Part 4 | Building & Scaling Xcelience | Buy-Side vs. Sell-Side of M&A | The Importance of Continuous Learning | Transition into Investing & Board Member Work
September 19, 2024 • 33 MIN
Part 4 of 4. My guest for this week’s episode is Derek Hennecke, a veteran biotech entrepreneur and board member with over 30 years of experience in the CDMO industry, whose mission is to support the biotech revolution and create value for patients, customers, and investors. In addition to his Board work, Derek previously held leadership positions at DSM and was the Founder and CEO of Xcelience, a Florida-based CDMO specializing in preformulation, micronization, analytical services, formulation development, cGMP manufacturing, and more. Derek eventually sold Xcelience to Capsugel (now Lonza) in 2016. His extensive pharma and cell therapy expertise makes for an insightful conversation that founders can learn from.
🧬 Derek Hennecke - Kincell Bio - Part 3 | Starting an Operations Role in Egypt | The Importance of Teamwork | Moving into Biologics & Overseeing GMP Operations | Buying a Business & Founding Xcelience
September 16, 2024 • 40 MIN
Part 3 of 4. My guest for this week’s episode is Derek Hennecke, a veteran biotech entrepreneur and board member with over 30 years of experience in the CDMO industry, whose mission is to support the biotech revolution and create value for patients, customers, and investors. In addition to his Board work, Derek previously held leadership positions at DSM and was the Founder and CEO of Xcelience, which he eventually sold to Capsugel Lonza in 2016. Xcelience was a Florida-based CDMO specializing in preformulation, micronization, analytical services, formulation development, cGMP manufacturing, and more. His extensive pharma and cell therapy expertise makes for an insightful conversation that founders can learn from.
🧬 Derek Hennecke - Kincell Bio - Part 2 | Taking Risks and Jumping for the Right Opportunity | The Willingness To Do, Opens Doors | Your Job is More than the Products It is Producing | Building Trust in Other Countries
September 12, 2024 • 33 MIN
Part 2 of 4. My guest for this week’s episode is Derek Hennecke, a veteran biotech entrepreneur and board member with over 30 years of experience in the CDMO industry, whose mission is to support the biotech revolution and create value for patients, customers, and investors. In addition to his Board work, Derek previously held leadership positions at DSM and was the Founder and CEO of Xcelience, which he eventually sold to Capsugel Lonza in 2016. Xcelience was a Florida-based CDMO that specialized in preformulation, micronization, analytical services, formulation development, cGMP manufacturing, and more. His extensive expertise in pharma and cell therapy makes for an insightful conversation that founders can learn from.
🧬 Derek Hennecke - Kincell Bio - Part 1 | Sales Means Having Two Ears and One Mouth | The Support of a Partner Can Make or Break a Career | Skip the MBA
September 9, 2024 • 32 MIN
Part 1 of 4. My guest for this week’s episode is Derek Hennecke, a veteran biotech entrepreneur and board member with over 30 years of experience in the CDMO industry, whose mission is to support the biotech revolution and create value for patients, customers, and investors. In addition to his Board work, Derek previously held leadership positions at DSM and was the Founder and CEO of Xcelience, which he eventually sold to Capsugel Lonza in 2016. Xcelience was a Florida-based CDMO that specialized in preformulation, micronization, analytical services, formulation development, cGMP manufacturing, and more. His extensive expertise in pharma and cell therapy makes for an insightful conversation that founders can learn from.
🧬 Doug Drysdale - Cybin - Part 4 | The Challenges of Running a Public Company | Transforming Psychiatric Treatments Through Psychedelic Compounds | Developing Breakthrough Therapies in Depression & Anxiety
September 5, 2024 • 29 MIN
Part 4 of 4. My guest for this week’s episode is Doug Drysdale, CEO at Cybin. Cybin is a clinical-stage biopharma company on a mission to create safe and effective psychedelic-based therapeutics. Doug is an experienced investor, Corporate Director and CEO, who has chaired the Board of a NASDAQ-listed company and, as a CEO for the past 12 years, has built and turned around 3 pharma companies. During his 30+ years of experience in the healthcare sector, he has formed cohesive management teams, recruited board members, completed 16 corporate acquisitions across three continents and has raised and invested around $4 billion of both public and private capital.
🧬 Doug Drysdale - Cybin - Part 3 | Jumping from BD to M&A | Leveraging Debt for Strategic Acquisitions | The Importance of Cultural Fit in Successful Deals | Making an Impact at Norwich, Alvogen, & Pernix Therapeutics
September 2, 2024 • 28 MIN
Part 3 of 4. My guest for this week’s episode is Doug Drysdale, CEO at Cybin. Cybin is a clinical-stage biopharma company on a mission to create safe and effective psychedelic-based therapeutics. Doug is an experienced investor, Corporate Director and CEO, who has chaired the Board of a NASDAQ-listed company and, as a CEO for the past 12 years, has built and turned around 3 pharma companies. During his 30+ years of experience in the healthcare sector, he has formed cohesive management teams, recruited board members, completed 16 corporate acquisitions across three continents and has raised and invested around $4 billion of both public and private capital.
🧬 Doug Drysdale - Cybin - Part 2 | Deals Only Get Done in Person | Learning Financing Through a Company’s Hardship | Bureaucracy in the Workplace | How to Educate Yourself to Determine Good Licensing Deals
August 29, 2024 • 32 MIN
Part 2 of 4. My guest for this week’s episode is Doug Drysdale, CEO at Cybin. Cybin is a clinical-stage biopharma company on a mission to create safe and effective psychedelic-based therapeutics. Their goal is to address the large unmet need for new and innovative treatment options for people who suffer from mental health conditions. Doug is an experienced investor, Corporate Director, and CEO, who has chaired the Board of a NASDAQ-listed company and, as a CEO for the past 12 years, has built and turned around 3 pharma companies. During Doug’s 30+ years of experience in the healthcare sector, he has formed cohesive management teams, recruited board members, completed 16 corporate acquisitions across three continents, and raised and invested around $4 billion of public and private capital.
🧬 Doug Drysdale - Cybin - Part 1 | One Teacher Can Change Your Whole Perspective | The Forefront of the Human Genome Project | How Loss Taught Him Not to Take Life For Granted | Learning How to Be Personable in Sales
August 26, 2024 • 31 MIN
Part 1 of 4. My guest for this week’s episode is Doug Drysdale, CEO at Cybin. Cybin is a clinical-stage biopharma company on a mission to create safe and effective psychedelic-based therapeutics. Their goal is to address the large unmet need for new and innovative treatment options for people who suffer from mental health conditions. Doug is an experienced investor, Corporate Director and CEO, who has chaired the Board of a NASDAQ-listed company and, as a CEO for the past 12 years, has built and turned around 3 pharma companies. During Doug’s 30+ years of experience in the healthcare sector, he has formed cohesive management teams, recruited board members, completed 16 corporate acquisitions across three continents and has raised and invested around $4 billion of both public and private capital.
🧬 Noam Solomon - Immunai - Part 4 | How Searching for Investors is Like Finding a Life Partner | Luck In Fundraising | The Optimal Features of the Immune System | The Advice to Take More Risks
August 22, 2024 • 27 MIN
Part 4 of 4. My guest for this week’s episode is Noam Solomon, CEO and co-founder at Immunai, a pioneering biotech company that is comprehensively mapping and reprogramming the immune system with single-cell biology and AI to power new therapeutic discoveries, accelerate drug development, and improve patient outcomes.
🧬 Noam Solomon - Immunai - Part 3 | Deciphering the Book That is the Human Immune System | Building Immunai’s Team | The Importance of Single Cell Multi-Omics | Big Pharma & Dancing With Gorillas
August 19, 2024 • 35 MIN
Part 3 of 4. My guest for this week’s episode is Noam Solomon, CEO and co-founder at Immunai, a pioneering biotech company that is comprehensively mapping and reprogramming the immune system with single-cell biology and AI to power new therapeutic discoveries, accelerate drug development, and improve patient outcomes.
🧬 Noam Solomon - Immunai - Part 2 | The Value of Attending Prestigious Institutions | Immunai’s Genesis | AI, Machine Learning, & Their Applications in the Life Sciences | Mapping the Human Immune System
August 15, 2024 • 27 MIN
Part 2 of 4. My guest for this week’s episode is Noam Solomon, CEO and co-founder at Immunai, a pioneering biotech company that is comprehensively mapping and reprogramming the immune system with single-cell biology and AI to power new therapeutic discoveries, accelerate drug development, and improve patient outcomes.
🧬 Noam Solomon - Immunai - Part 1 | Attending Undergrad at 14 Year Old | How Mathematics Can Make You a Lone Wolf | The Difference Between Noam’s Two PhDs | The Resilience Required for Entrepreneurship
August 12, 2024 • 32 MIN
Part 1 of 4. My guest for this week’s episode is Noam Solomon, CEO and co-founder at Immunai, a pioneering biotech company that is comprehensively mapping and reprogramming the immune system with single-cell biology and AI to power new therapeutic discoveries, accelerate drug development, and improve patient outcomes.
🧬 Shekhar Mitra - InnoPreneur & P&G - Part 4 | Finding Foundational Intrapreneurship at P&G | Early Innovation in Drug Discovery & Development | Community & Diversity Leadership in Arts & STEM
August 8, 2024 • 43 MIN
Part 4 of 4. My guest for this week’s episode is Shekhar Mitra, former Senior Vice President of Global Innovation and Chief of Innovation at Procter & Gamble and current President and Founder of InnoPreneur, a strategic advisory firm that enables development of innovation capabilities, ideation, and organizational development for Fortune 500 corporations and new ventures. Prior to InnoPreneur, Shekhar spent 29 years at Procter & Gamble where he worked his way up from staff scientist to Senior Vice President of Global Innovation and Chief of Innovation, becoming a part of P&G's top leadership team and a member of the CEO's Global Leadership Council. Shekhar’s time at P&G paints a successful entrepreneurial road map for those looking to learn, grow, and innovate within large corporations.
🧬 Shekhar Mitra - InnoPreneur & P&G - Part 3 | The First Big Innovation Center in Asia | The Whole Work of Leadership | Noticeability Driven Through Technology | Developing Emotional Drivers
August 5, 2024 • 35 MIN
Part 3 of 4. My guest for this week’s episode is Shekhar Mitra, former Senior Vice President of Global Innovation and Chief of Innovation at Procter & Gamble and current President and Founder of InnoPreneur, a strategic advisory firm that enables development of innovation capabilities, ideation, and organizational development for Fortune 500 corporations and new ventures.
🧬 Shekhar Mitra - InnoPreneur & P&G - Part 2 | Columbia & Yale: Collaborating with Top Physicists | Moving from Academia to Procter & Gamble | Navigating Challenges, Celebrating Successes | Leading Clinical Trials & Working with the FDA
August 1, 2024 • 52 MIN
Part 2 of 4. My guest for this week’s episode is Shekhar Mitra, former Senior Vice President of Global Innovation and Chief of Innovation at Procter & Gamble and current President and Founder of InnoPreneur, a strategic advisory firm that enables development of innovation capabilities, ideation, and organizational development for Fortune 500 corporations and new ventures. Prior to InnoPreneur, Shekhar spent 29 years at Procter & Gamble where he worked his way up from staff scientist to Senior Vice President of Global Innovation and Chief of Innovation, becoming a part of P&G's top leadership team and a member of the CEO's Global Leadership Council. Shekhar’s time at P&G paints a successful entrepreneurial road map for those looking to learn, grow, and innovate within large corporations.
🧬 Shekhar Mitra - InnoPreneur & P&G - Part 1 | Growing Up in a Multigenerational Household | Undergraduate Experience at IIT | Groundbreaking Lab Research at Columbia | Diverse Experiences in New York City
July 29, 2024 • 44 MIN
Part 1 of 4. My guest for this week’s episode is Shekhar Mitra, former Senior Vice President of Global Innovation and Chief of Innovation at Procter & Gamble and current President and Founder of InnoPreneur, a strategic advisory firm that enables development of innovation capabilities, ideation, and organizational development for Fortune 500 corporations and new ventures.
🧬 Nathan Clark - Ganymede - Part 4 | Data Integration & Automation in the Life Sciences | Building a Technical Team & Go-To-Market Motion | Creating Efficient Data Infrastructures | Automating Complex Workflows
July 25, 2024 • 36 MIN
Part 4 of 4. My guest for this week’s episode is Nathan Clark, Founder and CEO of Ganymede. Ganymede is the modern cloud data platform for the life sciences and manufacturing. Their Lab-as-Code technology allows you to quickly integrate and harmonize lab instruments and app data, automate analysis, visualize all your data in dashboards built over a powerful data lake, and ultimately speed up your operations to accelerate science or production.
🧬 Nathan Clark - Ganymede - Part 3 | Parallels Between Benchling & Salesforce | Getting Customers to Fully Buy-In | Managing the “Writhing Snake of Data” | Ganymede Achieves Escape Velocity Growth
July 22, 2024 • 30 MIN
Part 3 of 4. My guest for this week’s episode is Nathan Clark, Founder and CEO of Ganymede. Ganymede is the modern cloud data platform for the life sciences and manufacturing. Their Lab-as-Code technology allows you to quickly integrate and harmonize lab instruments and app data, automate analysis, visualize all your data in dashboards built over a powerful data lake, and ultimately speed up your operations to accelerate science or production.
🧬 Nathan Clark - Ganymede - Part 2 | Moving from Goldman Sachs to Fintech | Exploring Product Management at Affirm | Leveraging Data & Building Tech Solutions| Impacting Scientific Progress at Benchling
July 18, 2024 • 28 MIN
Part 2 of 4. My guest for this week’s episode is Nathan Clark, Founder and CEO of Ganymede. Ganymede is the modern cloud data platform for the life sciences and manufacturing. Their Lab-as-Code technology allows you to quickly integrate and harmonize lab instruments and app data, automate analysis, visualize all your data in dashboards built over a powerful data lake, and ultimately speed up your operations to accelerate science or production.
🧬 Nathan Clark - Ganymede - Part 1 | Early Influence of Entrepreneurs | Developing Passions for Both Finance & Life Sciences | Fundamentals of Trading & Finances | Experiences & Opportunities at Goldman Sachs
July 15, 2024 • 37 MIN
Part 1 of 4. My guest for this week’s episode is Nathan Clark, Founder and CEO of Ganymede. Ganymede is the modern cloud data platform for the life sciences and manufacturing. Their Lab-as-Code technology allows you to quickly integrate and harmonize lab instruments and app data, automate analysis, visualize all your data in dashboards built over a powerful data lake, and ultimately speed up your operations to accelerate science or production.
🧬 David Li - Meliora Therapeutics - Part 4 | Mechanism Identification in Biotech | AI & ML in Drug Development | Creating a New Method for Drug Discovery | Fundraising for Meliora | Building a Foundational Startup Team
July 11, 2024 • 29 MIN
Part 4 of 4. My guest for this week’s episode is David Li, CEO and co-founder of Meliora Therapeutics. Meliora's goal is to develop life-saving cancer therapies using cutting-edge science and machine learning. The company derives a comprehensive picture of how drugs interact with cancer biology by combining biofunctional readouts from numerous modalities using advanced machine learning and other computational techniques.
🧬 David Li - Meliora Therapeutics - Part 3 | Developing a Blood-Based Lung Cancer Test | The Rifle-Shot Nature of Biotech | Software Vs. Biotech Product Market Fit | The Super Power all Startups Need
July 8, 2024 • 21 MIN
Part 3 of 4. My guest for this week’s episode is David Li, CEO and co-founder of Meliora Therapeutics. Meliora's goal is to develop life-saving cancer therapies using cutting-edge science and machine learning. The company derives a comprehensive picture of how drugs interact with cancer biology by combining biofunctional readouts from numerous modalities using advanced machine learning and other computational techniques.
🧬 David Li - Meliora Therapeutics - Part 2 | From Finance to Biotech Entrepreneurship | Building Solid Teams & Navigating Market Dynamics | Lessons in Early-Stage Startups
July 3, 2024 • 25 MIN
Part 2 of 4. My guest for this week’s episode is David Li, CEO and co-founder of Meliora Therapeutics. Meliora's goal is to develop life-saving cancer therapies using cutting-edge science and machine learning. The company derives a comprehensive picture of how drugs interact with cancer biology by combining biofunctional readouts from numerous modalities using advanced machine learning and other computational techniques.
🧬 David Li - Meliora Therapeutics - Part 1 | Childhood in China and Kentucky | Early Opportunities in Research & Biology | Benefits of Dual Degrees | Experiences & Opportunities while Investment Banking at Goldman Sachs
July 1, 2024 • 30 MIN
Part 1 of 4. My guest for this week’s episode is David Li, CEO and co-founder of Meliora Therapeutics. Meliora's goal is to develop life-saving cancer therapies using cutting-edge science and machine learning. The company derives a comprehensive picture of how drugs interact with cancer biology by combining biofunctional readouts from numerous modalities using advanced machine learning and other computational techniques.
🧬 Mark Kotter - bit.bio - Part 4 | Democratizing Access to Cells & the Evolution of bit.bio | A Financial Journey from Angel Investment to IPO | Building a Tech Bio Platform & Mark’s 10-Year Vision
June 27, 2024 • 38 MIN
Part 4 of 4. My guest for this week’s episode is Mark Kotter, neurosurgeon, stem cell biologist, and CEO and founder of bit.bio. He has also been a professor and researcher at Cambridge for more than 15 years. Bit.bio is an award-winning human synthetic biology company providing human cells for research, drug discovery, and cell therapy. The company applies a patented safe harbor gene targeting approach to inducibly express transcription factor combinations that reprogram human-induced pluripotent stem cells into highly defined and mature human cell types. Bit.bio spun out of the University of Cambridge in 2016 and has since raised approximately $200 million from Arch Ventures, Foresight Capital, Milky Way, Charles River Laboratories, National Resilience, Tencent, and Pulau Capital, among others.
🧬 Mark Kotter - bit.bio - Part 3 | Success in Academia vs. Industry | Vital Things All Founders Should Know | The Importance of Company Culture | bit.bio & the Operating System of Life
June 24, 2024 • 26 MIN
Part 3 of 4. My guest for this week’s episode is Mark Kotter, neurosurgeon, stem cell biologist, and CEO and founder of bit.bio. Bit.bio is an award-winning human synthetic biology company providing human cells for research, drug discovery, and cell therapy. Bit.bio applies a patented safe harbor gene targeting approach to inducibly express transcription factor combinations that reprogram human-induced pluripotent stem cells into highly defined and mature human cell types. Bit.bio spun out of the University of Cambridge in 2016 and has since raised approximately $200 million from Arch Ventures, Foresight Capital, Milky Way, Charles River Laboratories, National Resilience, Tencent, and Pulau Capital, among others.
🧬 Mark Kotter - bit.bio - Part 2 | Navigating Between the Clinical & Research Worlds | Lessons in Combining Different Fields | The Evolution of Cell Therapies | Transitioning from Academia to Entrepreneurship
June 20, 2024 • 23 MIN
Part 2 of 4. My guest today is Mark Kotter, neurosurgeon, stem cell biologist, and CEO and Founder of bit.bio. Bit.bio is an award-winning human synthetic biology company providing human cells for research, drug discovery and cell therapy. Bit.bio applies a patented safe harbor gene-targeting approach to inducibly express transcription factor combinations that reprogram human induced pluripotent stem cells into highly defined and mature human cell types.
🧬 Mark Kotter - bit.bio - Part 1 | Childhood Experiences in Different Countries | Overcoming Dyslexia & Developing Math Skills | Pivoting His Career to Science and Medicine | Facilitating Curiosity Via Research & Lab Experiences
June 17, 2024 • 32 MIN
Part 1 of 4. My guest for this week’s episode is Mark Kotter, neurosurgeon, stem cell biologist, and CEO and founder of bit.bio. Bit.bio is an award-winning human synthetic biology company providing human cells for research, drug discovery, and cell therapy. Bit.bio applies a patented safe harbor gene targeting approach to inducibly express transcription factor combinations that reprogram human-induced pluripotent stem cells into highly defined and mature human cell types. Bit.bio spun out of the University of Cambridge in 2016 and has since raised approximately $200 million from Arch Ventures, Foresight Capital, Milky Way, Charles River Laboratories, National Resilience, Tencent, and Pulau Capital, among others.
🧬 Quin Wills - Ochre Bio - Part 4 | Quin’s Journey Through Y Combinator | The Role of Empathy in Team Dynamics | Adapting in a Shifting Biotech Industry | Ochre Bio’s Fundraising Journey & Future Plans
June 13, 2024 • 23 MIN
Part 4 of 4. My guest for this week’s episode is Quin Wills, CSO and Co-Founder of Ochre Bio, a pioneering biotechnology company developing RNA therapies for chronic liver diseases. Using a combination of genomic deep phenotyping, precision RNA medicine, and testing in live human donor livers, Ochre is developing therapies for liver health challenges ranging from increasing donor liver supply to reducing cirrhosis complications.
🧬 Quin Wills - Ochre Bio - Part 3 | University of Oxford’s Single Cell Consortium | The Pitfalls of Californian Entrepreneurships | Dinner Table Origins of Ochre Bio | The Laws that Guide Ochre Bio
June 10, 2024 • 22 MIN
Part 3 of 4. My guest for this week’s episode is Quin Wills, CSO and Co-Founder of Ochre Bio, a pioneering biotechnology company developing RNA therapies for chronic liver diseases. Using a combination of genomic deep phenotyping, precision RNA medicine, and testing in live human donor livers, Ochre is developing therapies for liver health challenges ranging from increasing donor liver supply to reducing cirrhosis complications.
🧬 Quin Wills - Ochre Bio - Part 2 | Pursuing Dual Masters at Oxford & Cambridge | Moving from Genomics to RNA Research | Balancing Academia & Entrepreneurship | The Challenges of Product-Market Fit in Biotech
June 6, 2024 • 21 MIN
Part 2 of 4. My guest for this week’s episode is Quin Wills, CSO and Co-Founder of Ochre Bio, a pioneering biotechnology company developing RNA therapies for chronic liver diseases. Using a combination of genomic deep phenotyping, precision RNA medicine, and testing in live human donor livers, Ochre is developing therapies for liver health challenges ranging from increasing donor liver supply to reducing cirrhosis complications.
🧬 Quin Wills - Ochre Bio - Part 1 | Childhood Moments in Johannesburg | A Passion for Science Grows with an Evolving Society | Academic Experience in Biology and Genetics | Exposure to Bioinformatics and Big Data
June 3, 2024 • 19 MIN
Part 1 of 4. My guest for this week’s episode is Quin Wills, CSO and Co-Founder of Ochre Bio, a pioneering biotechnology company developing RNA therapies for chronic liver diseases. Using a combination of genomic deep phenotyping, precision RNA medicine, and testing in live human donor livers, Ochre is developing therapies for liver health challenges ranging from increasing donor liver supply to reducing cirrhosis complications.
🧬 Grant Aarons - FabricNano - Part 3 | Meeting His Co-Founder at Entrepreneur First | Importance of Sales to the Scientific Community | Disrupting the Petrochemical Industry | The Dark Horse of Biology, Synthetic Biology
May 29, 2024 • 34 MIN
Part 3 of 3. My guest for this week’s episode is Grant Aarons, Co-Founder and CEO of FabricNano, a London-based biotech whose mission is to transform industrial chemical processes using cell-free biomanufacturing. FabricNano empowers users with the world's most advanced, flexible, and easily scalable biocatalyst platform, providing highly stable and performant biocatalysts to enable profitable production of sustainable and biobased chemicals. Their approach starts with novel immobilization engineering for enzyme stabilization, followed by budget-conscious protein engineering and process engineering to reach their clients' targets for commercialization of their new biochemical production process.
🧬 Grant Aarons - FabricNano - Part 2 | The Defensibility of Software Companies | Studying Econometrics at London Business School | Joining Entrepreneur First | Becoming a Biotech Startup CEO & Navigating the Startup Journey
May 22, 2024 • 43 MIN
Part 2 of 3. My guest for this week’s episode is Grant Aarons, Co-Founder and CEO of FabricNano, a London-based biotech whose mission is to transform industrial chemical processes using cell-free biomanufacturing. FabricNano empowers users with the world's most advanced, flexible, and easily scalable biocatalyst platform, providing highly stable and performant biocatalysts to enable profitable production of sustainable and biobased chemicals. Their approach starts with novel immobilization engineering for enzyme stabilization, followed by budget-conscious protein engineering and process engineering to reach their clients' targets for commercialization of their new biochemical production process.
🧬 Grant Aarons - FabricNano - Part 1 | How NYC Shaped a Love of Engineering | Benefitting from Great Diversity at Cooper Union | Experiences & Opportunities at the Federal Reserve Bank of New York | Impact of the Economy on Deep Tech
May 15, 2024 • 39 MIN
Part 1 of 3. My guest for this week’s episode is Grant Aarons, Co-Founder and CEO of FabricNano, a London-based biotech whose mission is to transform industrial chemical processes using cell-free biomanufacturing. FabricNano empowers users with the world's most advanced, flexible, and easily scalable biocatalyst platform. With clients ranging from startups to multinationals like Sumitomo Chemical Company, FabricNano provides highly stable and performant biocatalysts to enable profitable production of sustainable and biobased chemicals.
🧬 Bryan Dechairo - Sherlock Biosciences - Part 3 | Assurex’s Journey From Garage to GeneSight | Keeping a Team Together Through the M&A Process | Building a Diagnostics Company During Covid | What Sherlock & Netflix Have in Common
May 8, 2024 • 51 MIN
Part 3 of 3. My guest for this week’s episode is Bryan Dechairo, President, CEO, and Director at Sherlock Biosciences, an innovative biotech company that is enabling the democratization and decentralization of diagnostic testing to personalize healthcare and make an impact on global health.
🧬 Bryan Dechairo - Sherlock Biosciences - Part 2 | Transitioning From a Small Startup to Pfizer | Big Data's Role in Modern Genetics | Building & Leading Dynamic Teams | The Evolution of Personalized Medicine
May 1, 2024 • 35 MIN
Part 2 of 3. My guest for this week’s episode is Bryan Dechairo, President, CEO, and Director at Sherlock Biosciences, an innovative biotech company that is enabling the democratization and decentralization of diagnostic testing to personalize healthcare and make an impact on global health.
🧬 Bryan Dechairo - Sherlock Biosciences - Part 1 | A Love of Science Blossoming from a 10-Acre Hobby Farm | Experiencing Great Diversity at UC Berkeley | Growth & Enjoyment of Startups | Unexpected Travels to Pursue a Dream Overseas
April 24, 2024 • 33 MIN
Part 1 of 3. My guest for this week’s episode is Bryan Dechairo, President, CEO, and Director at Sherlock Biosciences, an innovative biotech company that is enabling the democratization and decentralization of diagnostic testing to personalize healthcare and make an impact on global health. The Sherlock team and founders include engineering biology pioneers with world-leading expertise in CRISPR and synthetic biology, diagnostic industry veterans, and disease area authorities.
🧬 Terry Lo - Vizgen - Part 3 | Transitioning to Vizgen From Akoya | What is Spatial Genomics | The Importance of Genetic Mapping | How to Grow Your Company During Turbulent Times
April 17, 2024 • 30 MIN
Part 3 of 3. My guest for this week’s episode is Terry Lo, President and CEO of Vizgen. Vizgen is developing and commercializing the next generation of genomics tools to expand on the capabilities of spatially resolved transcriptomics. Terry is a pioneer in the emerging Spatial Biology market, with a proven track record of driving exceptional growth across global life science organizations, including Bristol-Myers Squibb, Roche, Hologic, and PerkinElmer. In addition to his two decades of experience scaling and building multinational biopharma and diagnostic groups, he is also an expert in developing business strategies for novel, innovative products.
🧬 Terry Lo - Vizgen - Part 2 | Terry’s Move from Big Pharma to Diagnostics | Introduction to Spatial Biology | Navigating Regulatory & Reimbursement Challenges in Diagnostics | Balancing Multiple Roles in M&A Negotiations
April 10, 2024 • 31 MIN
Part 2 of 3. My guest for this week’s episode is Terry Lo, President and CEO of Vizgen. Vizgen is developing and commercializing the next generation of genomics tools to expand on the capabilities of spatially resolved transcriptomic. Terry is a pioneer in the emerging Spatial Biology market, with a proven track record of driving exceptional growth across global life science organizations, including Bristol-Myers Squibb, Roche, Hologic, and PerkinElmer. In addition to his two decades of experience scaling and building multinational biopharma and diagnostic groups, he is also an expert in developing business strategies for novel, innovative products.
🧬 Terry Lo - Vizgen - Part 1 | Leveraging Passion for Science to Succeed in Finance | Sales Excellence as an Introvert Through Competition | Financial Modeling & Creating Proper Deal Structure | How Not To Be A Jack of All Trades
April 3, 2024 • 39 MIN
Part 1 of 3. My guest for this week’s episode is Terry Lo, President and CEO of Vizgen. Vizgen is developing and commercializing the next generation of genomics tools to expand on the capabilities of spatially resolved transcriptomics. Vizgen’s technology will aid the acceleration of biological research and discovery to advance human health
🧬 Mike Stadnisky - Thielsen Capital - Part 3 | Don’t Fake it ‘Til you Make It | Cleaning Your Corporate “Underwear” | Thielsen’s Investment Philosophy | The Critical Importance of Alignment
March 27, 2024 • 58 MIN
Part 3 of 3. My guest for this week’s episode is Mike Stadnisky, Managing Director of Thielsen Capital. Thielsen Capital is a seed-stage financing syndicate network bringing together life science investors, operators, and innovators to drive exceptional outcomes for founding teams, investors, and science.
🧬 Mike Stadnisky - Thielsen Capital - Part 2 | Transitioning from Academia to Business | Breaking Into Business Development | Finding Decision Makers & Champions | Navigating Partnerships & Strategy
March 20, 2024 • 35 MIN
Part 2 of 3. My guest for this week’s episode is Mike Stadnisky, Managing Director of Thielsen Capital. Thielsen Capital is a seed-stage financing syndicate network bringing together life science investors, operators, and innovators to drive exceptional outcomes for founding teams, investors, and science. Before Thielsen, Mike was the CEO of Phitonex, which Thermo Fisher acquired. He was also VP & GM of Informatics at BD Life Sciences and was the CEO of FlowJo before its acquisition by BD. He has also taught at MIT Sloan, authored 10 patents, and won the 2019 International Society for the Advancement of Cytometry Innovation Award.
🧬 Mike Stadnisky - Thielsen Capital - Part 1 | Familial Exposure to Business & Science at a Young Age | The Importance of “Care Before You Share” | Actively Managing Your Time | A PhD is a 10,000 Hour Degree
March 13, 2024 • 51 MIN
Part 1 of 3. My guest for this week’s episode is Mike Stadnisky, Managing Director of Thielsen Capital. Thielsen Capital is a seed-stage financing syndicate network bringing together life science investors, operators, and innovators to drive exceptional outcomes for founding teams, investors, and science. Before Thielsen, Mike was the CEO of Phitonex, which Thermo Fisher acquired. He was also VP & GM of Informatics at BD Life Sciences and was the CEO of FlowJo before its acquisition by BD. He has also taught at MIT Sloan, authored 10 patents, and won the 2019 International Society for the Advancement of Cytometry Innovation Award.
🧬 Martin Brenner - iBio - Part 3 | Transitioning from Big Pharma to Biotech Startups | Lessons in Flexibility, Resilience, & Adaptability | Challenging Long-Held Beliefs in Drug Discovery | The Evolution & Future of iBio
March 6, 2024 • 81 MIN
Part 3 of 3. My guest for this week’s episode is Martin Brenner, CEO and CSO of iBio. iBio uses its AI drug discovery platform to tackle complex and challenging drug targets to develop safer and more effective immunotherapies for difficult-to-treat cancers. Rather than leaving drug discovery to chance, iBio guides the process using artificial intelligence, making therapeutic development smarter, faster, and more precise.
🧬 Martin Brenner - iBio - Part 2 | Autonomy at Eli Lilly vs. Structure at Pfizer | Transitioning from AstraZeneca to Merck | Joys & Challenges When Relocating for Work | A Biotech Vision Leading to an Exit From Big Pharma
February 28, 2024 • 37 MIN
Part 2 of 3. My guest for this week’s episode is Martin Brenner, CEO and CSO of iBio. iBio uses its AI drug discovery platform to tackle complex and challenging drug targets to develop safer and more effective immunotherapies for difficult-to-treat cancers. Rather than leaving drug discovery to chance, iBio guides the process using artificial intelligence, making therapeutic development smarter, faster, and more precise.
🧬 Martin Brenner - iBio - Part 1 | How Childhood Influences Shape Career Paths | Unexpected Crossovers Between Engineering & Veterinary Clinics | Eli Lilly Nurturing His Professional Development | Communication Can Make or Break Leadership
February 21, 2024 • 34 MIN
Part 1 of 3. My guest for this week’s episode is Martin Brenner, CEO and CSO of iBio. iBio uses its AI drug discovery platform to tackle complex and challenging drug targets to develop safer and more effective immunotherapies for difficult-to-treat cancers. Rather than leaving drug discovery to chance, iBio guides the process using artificial intelligence, making therapeutic development smarter, faster, and more precise.
🧬 Jeff Kim - Slingshot Biosciences - Part 3 | Bucking the Status Quo | Raising Capital During Peak COVID | How To Find & Retain Great Talent | Building Partnerships with Distributors
February 14, 2024 • 29 MIN
Part 3 of 3. My guest for this week’s episode is Jeff Kim, co-founder and CEO of Slingshot Biosciences. Slingshot designs and manufactures synthetic cells for R&D, clinical diagnostics, and engineered cell therapies, aiming to overcome supply chain and cost barriers that restrict access to advanced diagnostics and therapeutics.
🧬 Jeff Kim - Slingshot Biosciences - Part 2 | Working Toward One Goal In Industry | How Great Loss Prompted Professional Growth | Transitioning From a Basement Lab to a Thriving Company | A 6-Month Startup Idea Exceeding 12 Years of Operation
February 7, 2024 • 32 MIN
Part 2 of 3. My guest for this week’s episode is Jeff Kim, co-founder and CEO of Slingshot Biosciences. Slingshot designs and manufactures synthetic cells for R&D, clinical diagnostics, and engineered cell therapies, aiming to overcome supply chain and cost barriers that restrict access to advanced diagnostics and therapeutics.
🧬 Jeff Kim - Slingshot Biosciences - Part 1 | Parental Freedom, Curiosity, & Self-Teaching | Music Accentuating a Passion for Science | The Benefits of Graduate Responsibilities as an Undergrad | Finding Fit & Balancing Research & the Arts
January 31, 2024 • 29 MIN
My guest for this week’s episode is Jeff Kim, co-founder and CEO of Slingshot Biosciences. Slingshot designs and manufactures synthetic cells for R&D, clinical diagnostics, and engineered cell therapies, aiming to overcome supply chain and cost barriers that restrict access to advanced diagnostics and therapeutics.
🧬 Stephanie Sirota - RTW Investments - Part 3 | The Emergence of Crossover Rounds | Building & Explaining Your Investment Thesis | Creating a .600 Batting Average Investment Fund | Transparency Between Investor & Founder | How to Get LPs to Say “Yes”
January 24, 2024 • 32 MIN
Part 3 of 3. My guest for this week’s episode is Stephanie Sirota, Partner, and Chief Business Officer at RTW Investments, a full lifecycle life sciences investment firm dedicated to solving the most challenging unmet patient needs. Stephanie is a seasoned expert and leader in business development, strategic partnerships, communications, and investor relations.
🧬 Stephanie Sirota - RTW Investments - Part 2 | Understanding Investment Banking’s Role in the Biosciences | Finding the Benefits of Your Uniqueness | Unexpected Pivots & Finding Passion in Your Work | Advice on Dealing with Bear Markets
January 17, 2024 • 33 MIN
Part 2 of 3. My guest for this week’s episode is Stephanie Sirota, Partner, and Chief Business Officer at RTW Investments, a full lifecycle life sciences investment firm dedicated to solving the most challenging unmet patient needs. Stephanie is a seasoned expert and leader in business development, strategic partnerships, communications, and investor relations.
🧬 Stephanie Sirota - RTW Investments - Part 1 | Early Influences on Leadership Style | Competitive Tennis Fosters Professional Drive | The Inverse Importance of Coaching | The Ending of a Dream to Open New Doors | Organically Choosing Your Track
January 10, 2024 • 24 MIN
Part 1 of 3. My guest for this week’s episode is Stephanie Sirota, Partner, and Chief Business Officer at RTW Investments, a full lifecycle life sciences investment firm dedicated to solving the most challenging unmet patient needs. Stephanie is a seasoned expert and leader in business development, strategic partnerships, communications, and investor relations.
🧬 Kittu Kolluri - Neotribe Ventures - Part 3 | Influence vs Control as a VC | Being a Leader in Venture vs a Leader in a Company | Starting Neotribe as a Passionate Rage Against the Status Quo | Sunk Cost vs Opportunity Cost | Optimizing Customer Acquisit
January 3, 2024 • 37 MIN
Part 3 of 3. My guest for this week’s episode is Kittu Kolluri, Founder and Managing Director of Neotribe Ventures, an early- and growth-stage venture capital firm investing in companies that solve hard technical problems and disrupt non-traditional industry sectors.
🧬 Kittu Kolluri - Neotribe Ventures - Part 2 | The Importance of Co-Authoring a Culture Statement | The Difference Between Leadership & Management | Raising Funds in Down-Market Conditions | The Value of Authenticity & Intellectual Curiosity
December 20, 2023 • 32 MIN
Part 2 of 3. My guest for this week’s episode is Kittu Kolluri, Founder and Managing Director of Neotribe Ventures, an early- and growth-stage venture capital firm investing in companies that solve hard technical problems and disrupt non-traditional industry sectors.
🧬 Kittu Kolluri - Neotribe Ventures - Part 1 | Entrepreneurship as a First-Generation Immigrant | Working & Growing at Silicon Graphics | Learning From Mistakes & Pride of Ownership | The Dangers of Company Microcultures
December 13, 2023 • 36 MIN
Part 1 of 3. My guest for this week’s episode is Kittu Kolluri, Founder and Managing Director of Neotribe Ventures, an early- and growth-stage venture capital firm investing in companies that solve hard technical problems and disrupt non-traditional industry sectors. Neotribe is led by a team of serial entrepreneurs with a track record of supporting and advising startups from seed round to IPO.
🧬 Fengru Lin - TurtleTree - Part 3 | The Value of Early HR for Company Building | Creating a People-First Work Culture | Refocusing to Reach Commercialization Sooner | Navigating Seed Series Fundraising
December 6, 2023 • 30 MIN
Part 3 of 3. My guest for this week’s episode is Fengru Lin, Founder and CEO of TurtleTree, a biotech company revolutionizing food for good. Having raised a 40 million dollar Series A, TurtleTree is creating cell-based milk, with a current focus on releasing LF+, the world’s first sustainably produced lactoferrin made with cutting-edge precision fermentation technology.
🧬 Fengru Lin - TurtleTree - Part 2 | Salesforce’s Customer-Centric Sales Motion | The Value of Knowing Your Audience in Every Conversation | Why Executive Buy-In Matters | How a Hobby Led to TurtleTree’s Founding Idea
November 29, 2023 • 25 MIN
Part 2 of 3. My guest for this week’s episode is Fengru Lin, Founder and CEO of TurtleTree, a biotech company revolutionizing food for good. Having raised a 40 million dollar Series A, TurtleTree is creating cell-based milk, with a current focus on releasing LF+, the world’s first sustainably produced lactoferrin made with cutting-edge precision fermentation technology.
🧬 Fengru Lin - TurtleTree - Part 1 | Growing Up in Hong Kong & Singapore | Serendipity & Its Effect on Career Paths | Connecting the Dots in Business | The Complex & Fragile World of Food Production | The Importance of QA/QC
November 22, 2023 • 23 MIN
Part 1 of 3. My guest for this week’s episode is Fengru Lin, Founder and CEO of TurtleTree, a biotech company revolutionizing food for good. Having raised a 40 million dollar Series A, TurtleTree is creating cell-based milk, with a current focus on releasing LF+, the world’s first sustainably produced lactoferrin made with cutting-edge precision fermentation technology. Prior to TurtleTree, Fengru worked at UL, Salesforce, and Google, gaining a tremendous amount of experience in sales and business development.
🧬 Sandy Paige - Seabright Ventures Fund - Part 4 | Creating Competitive Moats | Leveraging Financing Opportunities for Growth | The Purpose of a Board of Directors | Ambiguity as an Asset & Avoiding the Bias Toward Action
November 15, 2023 • 30 MIN
Part 4 of 4. My guest for this week’s episode is Sandy Paige, co-managing director of the Seabright Ventures Fund, a search fund investing in the US middle market, with a focus on life sciences and cleantech.
🧬 Sandy Paige - Seabright Ventures Fund - Part 3 | Managing International Distribution | Meaningful Work & Personal Buy-In as a Form of Equity | Getting Into Business Development & The Importance of Sales Experience | Starting & Running a Search Fund
November 8, 2023 • 24 MIN
Part 3 of 4. My guest for this week’s episode is Sandy Paige, co-managing director of the Seabright Ventures Fund, a search fund investing in the US middle market, with a focus on life sciences and cleantech. Sandy is an expert CEO, most recently leading and scaling Explora BioLabs before its acquisition by Charles River Laboratories for $295 Million.
🧬 Sandy Paige - Seabright Ventures Fund - Part 2 | Practicing Corporate Entrepreneurship | Life Lessons on How to Treat People | Seeking Margins & Avoiding Commodity | Scaling a Non-Profit | A CEO’s 3-5 Important Yearly Decisions
November 1, 2023 • 36 MIN
Part 2 of 4. My guest for this week’s episode is Sandy Paige, co-managing director of the Seabright Ventures Fund, a search fund investing in the US middle market, with a focus on life sciences and cleantech. Sandy is an expert CEO, most recently leading and scaling Explora BioLabs before its acquisition by Charles River Laboratories for $295 Million.
🧬 Sandy Paige - Seabright Ventures Fund - Part 1 | The Value of Hustle & Being a Team Player | Saying Yes to Opportunities | Corporate Entrepreneurship & Finding Your Path | Entrepreneurs & Risk Aversion
October 25, 2023 • 31 MIN
Part 1 of 4. My guest for this week’s episode is Sandy Paige, co-managing director of the Seabright Ventures Fund, a search fund investing in the US middle market, with a focus on life sciences and cleantech. Sandy is an expert CEO, most recently leading and scaling Explora BioLabs before its acquisition by Charles River Laboratories for $295 Million dollars.
🧬 Maneesh Jain - Mirvie - Part 3 | Finding & Addressing Unmet Needs | The Maternal Health Crisis | Creating an Empathy-Focused Company Culture | Fundraising & Hitting Milestones in a Recession
October 18, 2023 • 26 MIN
Part 3 of 3. My guest for this week’s episode is Maneesh Jain, CEO and Co-Founder of Mirvie, a life science company that predicts pregnancy complications before they happen by revealing the underlying biology of pregnancy health. Mirvie is dedicated to shaping the future of pregnancy health through simple, personalized blood tests. Before Mirvie, Maneesh was a founder, CEO, or executive of five successful start-ups, which include Parallele Bioscience, Auriphex Bioscience, Ion Torrent, Butterfly Network, and Cirina.
🧬 Maneesh Jain - Mirvie - Part 2 | Company Size & Innovation | Supply Chain Learnings from Other Industries | Scaling Go-to-Market Strategies | Culture’s Interaction with Mergers & Acquisitions
October 11, 2023 • 29 MIN
Part 2 of 3. My guest for this week’s episode is Maneesh Jain, CEO and Co-Founder of Mirvie, a life science company that predicts pregnancy complications before they happen by revealing the underlying biology of pregnancy health. Mirvie is dedicated to shaping the future of pregnancy health through simple, personalized blood tests.
🧬 Maneesh Jain - Mirvie - Part 1 | Fundamental Curiosity & The Value of Perseverance | Entrepreneurship for Societal Impact | “Magic Decades” & Finding Your Niche | The Importance of Scalability & Differentiation
October 4, 2023 • 31 MIN
Part 1 of 3. My guest for this week’s episode is Maneesh Jain, CEO and Co-Founder of Mirvie, a life science company that predicts pregnancy complications before they happen by revealing the underlying biology of pregnancy health. Mirvie is dedicated to shaping the future of pregnancy health through simple, personalized blood tests. Before Mirvie, Maneesh was a founder, CEO, or executive of five successful start-ups, which include Parallele Bioscience, Auriphex Bioscience, Ion Torrent, Butterfly Network, and Cirina.
🧬 Alok Tayi - Vibe Bio - Part 3 | Biotech2050 Podcast Origins | Facilitating Innovation Conversations in Biotech | Vibe Bio’s Mission & Funding Cures Instead of Finding Them | Non-Linear Growth & Thinking Long Term
September 20, 2023 • 27 MIN
Part 3 of 3. My guest for this week’s episode is Alok Tayi, Founder of Vibe Bio, a life science company that funds and guides high-potential drug programs through value inflection points. Vibe Bio’s core comprises a community of scientists, patients, and partners dedicated to helping biotechs find the promising treatments that patients deserve.
🧬 Alok Tayi - Vibe Bio - Part 2 | Transitioning Into Entrepreneurship | The Importance of Sales Experience for Founders | The Power of a .edu Email | Managing Personnel During Hyperscaling
September 6, 2023 • 27 MIN
Part 2 of 3. My guest for this week’s episode is Alok Tayi, Founder of Vibe Bio, a life science company focused on funding & guiding high-potential drug programs through value inflection points. Vibe Bio’s core comprises a community of scientists, patients, and partners dedicated to helping biotechs find the promising treatments that patients deserve.
🧬 Alok Tayi - Vibe Bio - Part 1 | Combining Software & Science | The Influence of Serendipity on Trajectory | The Critical Importance of Mentors | Working to Make an Impact & Solve Problems
August 23, 2023 • 31 MIN
Part 1 of 3. My guest for this week’s episode is Alok Tayi, Founder of Vibe Bio, a life science company focused on funding & guiding high-potential drug programs through value inflection points. Vibe Bio’s core is a community of scientists, patients, and partners that are dedicated to helping biotechs find the promising treatments that patients deserve.
🧬 James Evans - PhenoVista - Part 3 | Being a Scrappy Founder | Adapting to Change & Learning to Pivot | The Importance of Professional Business Development | Setting Client Expectations
August 9, 2023 • 19 MIN
Part 3 of 3. My guest for this week’s episode is James Evans, Founder and CEO of PhenoVista Biosciences, a contract research organization that works with biopharma clients of all sizes, from start-ups to established global companies.
🧬 James Evans - PhenoVista - Part 2 | Leaving Academia for Industry | How to Handle Miscommunication | Creating a Truly Diverse Company Culture | Being Bootstrapped & Forging a Business Model in the Real World
July 26, 2023 • 22 MIN
Part 2 of 3. My guest for this week’s episode is James Evans, Founder and CEO of PhenoVista Biosciences, a contract research organization that works with biopharma clients of all sizes, from start-ups to established global companies.
🧬 James Evans - PhenoVista - Part 1 | Skateboarding, Resilience, & Problem Solving | The Importance of Hands-On Lab Experiences | The Elegant Simplicity of Trial & Error | Running the Whitehead Institute’s Core Facility
July 12, 2023 • 28 MIN
Part 1 of 3. My guest for this week’s episode is James Evans, Founder and CEO of PhenoVista Biosciences, a contract research organization that works with biopharma clients of all sizes, from start-ups to established global companies.
🧬 Steve Visco - PolyPlus - Part 3 | Government Grants | The Importance of Storytelling for STEM Startups | Venture Capital vs Non-Dilutive Funding | How To Gain Strategic Corporate Interest Domestically & Abroad
June 28, 2023 • 38 MIN
Part 3 of 3. My guest for this week’s episode is Steve Visco. Steve is the Co-founder, CTO, and CEO of PolyPlus. Before PolyPlus, Steve worked at Lawrence Berkeley National Lab as a Principal Investigator, running several programs in the field of solid state ionics, developing an extensive patent portfolio, much of which has been licensed to industry.
🧬 Steve Visco - PolyPlus - Part 2 | Global Competition | Defending & Monetizing Your Intellectual Property | Dealing With Patent Trolls & Needing Multiple Patents Per Technology | The Importance of Global IP Strategy for Startups
June 14, 2023 • 35 MIN
Part 2 of 3. My guest for this week’s episode is Steve Visco. Steve is the Co-founder, CTO, and CEO of PolyPlus. Before PolyPlus, Steve worked at Lawrence Berkeley National Lab as a Principal Investigator, running several programs in the field of solid state ionics, developing an extensive patent portfolio, much of which has been licensed to industry.
🧬 Steve Visco - PolyPlus - Part 1 | Benefits of Strong Writing Skills for Entrepreneurs | Tech Transfer Process & Its Origins | Leveraging Your Expert Status in Negotiations to Gain Investment | Evaluating Personal Needs Alongside Professional Opportuniti
May 31, 2023 • 36 MIN
Part 1 of 3. My guest for this week’s episode is Steve Visco. Steve is the Co-founder, CTO, and CEO of PolyPlus. Before PolyPlus, Steve worked at Lawrence Berkeley National Lab as a Principal Investigator, running several programs in the field of solid state ionics, developing an extensive patent portfolio, much of which has been licensed to industry.
🧬 Jacob Glanville - Centivax - Part 4 | How to Choose the Right Venture Capital Partner | Fundraising as “Dating” | Finding Proper Alignment & The Win-Win | VC Network as a “Polishing Engine”
May 17, 2023 • 32 MIN
My guest for this week’s episode is Jacob Glanville. Jacob is the Founder, CEO, and President of Centivax and was formerly the Co-founder, CEO, and President of Distributed Bio. Join us as we sit down with Jake to discuss: how important it is to understand a venture capital firm’s investment thesis and values, tips to successfully pitch to them, the perks of viewing potential VC relationships as “dating,” and how that mindset can help you find the right partner.
🧬 Jacob Glanville - Centivax - Part 3 | Building a Biotech without Venture Capital | Picking Lab Space & Company Growth | Equipment Leasing & Runway/Cash Flow Maximization | Process Drift & “The Respiration Model”
May 3, 2023 • 35 MIN
Jacob is the Founder, CEO, & President of Centivax and was formerly the Co-founder, CEO, and President of Distributed Bio. Join us as we sit down with Jake, discussing his three-part plan for building Distributed Bio without traditional venture capital, how reality differed from the plan, and how the acquisition by Charles River Laboratories occurred. Learn more about his thoughts on natural team growth and how to handle process drift. Hear Jake’s view on how equipment leasing provided a solution for growing a business when cash was tight and needed for investing in internal operations. Discover Jake’s insight into what he calls “the respiration model” of leadership, balancing hierarchical and organic structures to promote organization and innovation. Hear more about his experience spinning out Centivax.
🧬 Jacob Glanville - Centivax - Part 2 | Creating Bioinformatic Tools | Innovation vs. Organization in Biotech Companies | Finding Excitement in Your Work | Tech Transfer & “Separation of Church and State”
April 18, 2023 • 32 MIN
In part 2 of the Biotech Startups Podcast episode, host Jon Chee dives deeper into his conversation with Jacob Glanville, Founder, CEO, & President of Centivax. Jake sheds light on his past experiences at Rinat Labs, a Pfizer company, and how he found a way to leverage his skills and experience to create new bioinformatic processes. Learn more about his initial idea for a universal vaccine and why he chose to pursue a PhD at Stanford.
🧬 Jacob Glanville - Centivax - Part 1 | Hospitality Industry’s Applied Lessons | The Benefits of Contingency Planning & Fair Negotiation | How to Seek Translational Skill Sets & Cross Training
March 31, 2023 • 25 MIN
In the first ever episode of The Biotech Startups Podcast, Host Jon Chee is joined by Jake Glanville of Centivax! They discuss his upbringing in Guatemala; the parallels between the hospitality service and medicine; how to become more approachable to customers; and the power of saying ‘no’ to people in the industry.
🧬 The Biotech Startups Podcast Trailer
December 7, 2022 • 1 MIN
Coming soon... The Biotech Startups Podcast by Excedr. We will be speaking with first-time founders, experienced scientists, long-time company operators, serial entrepreneurs, and biotech investors about the challenges and triumphs of running a biotech startup.