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Balancing Risk Across Two Industries | From Scientist to VC to Founder | Building Trust Among Co-founders | Protecting IP & Unlocking Markets | Fundraising Insights from Brazil with Larissa de Farias Viana, CEO @ APEXzymes | Ep 5
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Can a single innovation unlock multiple billion-dollar markets?
Larissa is the CEO of APEXzymes, a Brazilian biotech startup that produces cost-effective enzymes for sustainable industrial applications. During our conversation, Larissa shares her journey from chemical engineering to venture capital and entrepreneurship.
Topics in this episode
0:00 Intro
1:06 From Chemical Engineer to VC to Founder
4:56 Why Leave Venture Capital to Build a Startup?
6:38 How Self-Doubt Can Drive Innovation
8:25 Advice Before Starting APEXzymes
9:34 What Are Enzymes and Why Do They Matter?
12:19 APEXzymes’ Value Proposition
13:40 What Investors Miss About APEXzymes
17:13 Key Markets: Biofuels, Cattle Feed & More
19:48 How Enzymes Boost Productivity and Cut Methane
22:11 Early Commercial Traction
23:58 Communicating Traction to Investors
27:50 Turning Enzyme Strains Into Patentable Assets
32:43 Balancing Focus vs. Market Size
38:12 Lessons from Fundraising and Non-Dilutive Grants
43:33 What GRIDX Saw in APEXzymes
46:05 Building Trust With Co-Founders
49:00 Aligning Weekly Tasks With Long-Term Vision
55:22 What’s Next for APEXzymes?
Follow APEXzymes on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/company/apexzymes/posts/?feedView=all
Connect with Larissa on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/larissadefv/
Email Larissa [email protected]
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