🧬 Becky Beattie: Scaling LaunchBio & Democratizing Biotech Entrepreneurship (Part 2/2)

The Biotech Startups Podcast

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"If I'm not building something, then I'm probably not going to be doing it for long. That's the fun part."

In part two of our conversation with Becky Beattie, CEO of LaunchBio, we explore her journey scaling a national nonprofit dedicated to supporting early-stage life science founders. Becky shares how she transitioned from BioLabs to LaunchBio, initially joining what she jokingly calls "a lunch club," and eventually stepping into leadership during the pandemic. She details LaunchBio's evolution from local programming to a national organization connecting biotech entrepreneurs with critical resources and capital.

Becky's background in both science and real estate uniquely positioned her to understand the challenges of biotech startups, particularly around shared lab spaces and ecosystem development. Her leadership at LaunchBio has focused on creating targeted connections between founders and investors while expanding into new markets and launching initiatives for underrepresented entrepreneurs.

Key topics covered:

• Building LaunchBio: From "lunch club" to national nonprofit supporting early-stage life science founders
• Navigating leadership challenges: Taking the CEO role during a pandemic and pivoting to virtual programming
• Creating Investor Connect: Developing curated matchmaking between startups and appropriate VCs
• Expanding biotech ecosystems: Building thriving life science hubs in emerging markets like Dallas
• Launching HiveBio: A new accelerator program for underrepresented founders in the life sciences

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Find our guest, Becky Beattie, at these links:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rebecca-beattie-68927a9/

Website: https://launchbio.org/

Find our host, Jon Chee, at these links:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jonchee

Learn more about Excedr

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/excedr/

Website: https://www.excedr.com

Resources & Mentions:

Resources & articles mentioned:

Investor Connect https://launchbio.org/programs/investor-connect/

NextGen VC Podcast https://launchbio.org/nextgen-vc-podcast/

Invest in Cures Forum https://launchbio.org/programs/invest-in-cures/

EDA Build to Scale Grant https://www.eda.gov/funding/programs/build-to-scale

UCSD Gene Therapy Initiative https://genetherapy.ucsd.edu/

Companies & people mentioned:

LaunchBio: https://launchbio.org/

HiveBio: https://www.hivebio.io/

BioLabs: https://www.biolabs.io/

Pegasus Park https://pegasuspark.com/

Phase Three: https://phasethreere.com/

Biocom: https://www.biocom.org/

Wilson Sonsini: https://www.wsgr.com/

Connect: https://connect.org/
Susie Harborth https://www.linkedin.com/in/sharborth/

Johannes Fruehauf https://www.linkedin.com/in/johannesfruehauf/

Joan Rose https://www.linkedin.com/in/joansrose/

Kelly Huang https://www.linkedin.com/in/kellychuang/

Caroline Okun https://www.linkedin.com/in/brainsarepretty/

Meredith Martindale https://www.linkedin.com/in/meredithmartindale/

Melissa Schmidt https://www.linkedin.com/in/melissakschmidt/

Sasha Farina https://www.linkedin.com/in/sasha-farina/

Nirav Shah https://www.linkedin.com/in/shahnirav321/

Timestamps:

00:00 Intro

02:09 Returning to life sciences and meeting Susie Harborth

04:47 Joining BioLabs and the shared lab space movement

07:33 The origins of LaunchBio as a "lunch club"

12:47 Challenges of shared lab spaces and building biotech ecosystems

20:01 Joining LaunchBio and focusing on early-stage life science founders

25:11 Transitioning LaunchBio during COVID and scaling nationally

31:22 Taking on the CEO role at LaunchBio during the pandemic

37:51 Launching Investor Connect to strategically match startups with VCs

40:17 Building biotech ecosystems in Dallas and other emerging markets

45:17 Launching HiveBio, an accelerator for underrepresented founders

51:20 The Invest in Cures Forum and rare disease funding initiatives

55:54 Closing reflections and shoutouts

01:03:24 Outro

The Biotech Startups Podcast gives you a front-row seat to the business and science of building a biotech. Hosted by Jon Chee, CEO of Excedr, the show features honest conversations with founders, execs, and investors about their work, their companies, and how they got there. From scientific breakthroughs to startup lessons, each episode explores what it really takes to grow a life science company—from pre-seed to IPO.