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.
🧬 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 • 25 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 • 22 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 • 21 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 • 20 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 • 33 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 • 42 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 • 38 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 • 50 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 • 34 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 • 30 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 • 38 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 • 31 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 • 31 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 • 35 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 • 29 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 • 24 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 • 29 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 • 30 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 • 37 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 • 34 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 • 31 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 • 31 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.