A myriad of AI, science, and technology experts explore the real challenges and enormous opportunities facing entrepreneurs who are building the future of health. Raising Health, a podcast by a16z Bio + Health and hosted by Kris Tatiossian and Olivia Webb, dives deep into the heart of biotechnology and healthcare innovation. Join veteran company builders, operators, and investors Vijay Pande, Julie Yoo, Vineeta Agarwala, and Jorge Conde, along with distinguished guests like Mark Cuban, Greg ...
…
continue reading
Player FM - Internet Radio Done Right
Checked 1d ago
Added two years ago
Content provided by Jon Chee. All podcast content including episodes, graphics, and podcast descriptions are uploaded and provided directly by Jon Chee or their podcast platform partner. If you believe someone is using your copyrighted work without your permission, you can follow the process outlined here https://ppacc.player.fm/legal.
Similar to The Biotech Startups Podcast
Flash Forward is a show about possible (and not so possible) future scenarios. What would the warranty on a sex robot look like? How would diplomacy work if we couldn’t lie? Could there ever be a fecal transplant black market? (Complicated, it wouldn’t, and yes, respectively, in case you’re curious.) Hosted and produced by award winning science journalist Rose Eveleth, each episode combines audio drama and journalism to go deep on potential tomorrows, and uncovers what those futures might re ...
…
continue reading
This Week in Microbiology is a podcast about unseen life on Earth hosted by Vincent Racaniello and friends. Following in the path of his successful shows 'This Week in Virology' (TWiV) and 'This Week in Parasitism' (TWiP), Racaniello and guests produce an informal yet informative conversation about microbes which is accessible to everyone, no matter what their science background.
…
continue reading
DNA science. Artificial intelligence. Smartphones and 3D printers. Science and technology have transformed the world we live in. But how did we get here? It wasn’t by accident. Well, sometimes it was. It was also the result of hard work, teamwork, and competition. And incredibly surprising moments. Hosted by bestselling author Steven Johnson (“How We Got To Now”), American Innovations uses immersive scenes to tell the stories of the scientists, engineers, and ordinary people behind the great ...
…
continue reading
Business tips for startups by proven entrepreneurs
…
continue reading
All In The Mind is ABC RN's weekly podcast looking into the mental universe, the mind, brain and behaviour — everything from addiction to artificial intelligence.
…
continue reading
Unexplainable takes listeners right up to the edge of what we know…and then keeps on going. The Unexplainable team — Noam Hassenfeld, Julia Longoria, Byrd Pinkerton, and Meradith Hoddinott — tackles scientific mysteries, unanswered questions, and everything we learn diving into the unknown. New episodes Mondays and Wednesdays. From Vox and the Vox Media Podcast Network.
…
continue reading
Entrepreneurship empowers everyone
…
continue reading
Alessandro Bogliari, CEO and Co-Founder of The Influencer Marketing Factory, a global influencer marketing agency, talks with great guests about influencer marketing, social media, the creator economy, social commerce and much more.
…
continue reading
Custom Manufacturing Industry podcast is an entrepreneurship and motivational podcast on all platforms, hosted by Aaron Clippinger. Being CEO of multiple companies including the signage industry and the software industry, Aaron has over 20 years of consulting and business management. His software has grown internationally and with over a billion dollars annually going through the software. Using his Accounting degree, Aaron will be talking about his organizational ways to get things done. Hi ...
…
continue reading
Player FM - Podcast App
Go offline with the Player FM app!
Go offline with the Player FM app!
))
Daily Deals
Podcasts Worth a Listen
SPONSORED
T
TED Tech
1 How AI is saving billions of years of human research time | Max Jaderberg 19:15
19:15 
Play Later 
Play Later 
Lists 
Like 
Liked19:15
Play Later
Play Later
Lists
Like
LikedCan AI compress the years long research time of a PhD into seconds? Research scientist Max Jaderberg explores how “AI analogs” simulate real-world lab work with staggering speed and scale, unlocking new insights on protein folding and drug discovery. Drawing on his experience working on Isomorphic Labs' and Google DeepMind's AlphaFold 3 — an AI model for predicting the structure of molecules — Jaderberg explains how this new technology frees up researchers' time and resources to better understand the real, messy world and tackle the next frontiers of science, medicine and more. For a chance to give your own TED Talk, fill out the Idea Search Application: ted.com/ideasearch . Interested in learning more about upcoming TED events? Follow these links: TEDNext: ted.com/futureyou TEDAI Vienna: ted.com/ai-vienna Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.…
🧬Kate Neville - Part 3 | Fundamentals of IP Strategy for Biotechs | Safeguarding Discoveries & Technology | Aligning Science with Patents | Navigating Global Patent Considerations
Manage episode 455807572 series 3461709
Content provided by Jon Chee. All podcast content including episodes, graphics, and podcast descriptions are uploaded and provided directly by Jon Chee or their podcast platform partner. If you believe someone is using your copyrighted work without your permission, you can follow the process outlined here https://ppacc.player.fm/legal.
🧬The Biotech Startups Podcast, brought to you by Excedr—empowering life science startups with founder-friendly equipment leasing to fast-track R&D and drive commercialization success.
🔬Know someone in need of lab equipment? Join Excedr’s referral program: Give your friends $1,000 and earn $1,000 for every qualified referral! 💸
🔗Get your unique referral link here: refer.excedr.com/ZTHETY.
Part 3 of 4: In this episode, Jon Chee hosts Kate Neville, PhD, 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 is an accomplished attorney with a doctoral background in microbiology and immunology who specializes in global patent prosecution and strategic management. She has over a decade of experience, and works with a wide range of clients, from biotech startups to big pharma to 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.
In this episode, you’ll hear about:
- Building a strong foundation for your IP and the importance of well-crafted provisional applications.
- Aligning scientific advancements with proactive patent strategies to maximize long-term value.
- The critical timing for startups to address IP concerns, from tech transfer to scaling operations.
- The nuances of international patenting and strategic decisions on global protections.
- Practical tips for founders on prioritizing IP investments to strengthen their company and attract investors.
If you enjoy The Biotech Startups Podcast, please consider subscribing, leaving a review, or sharing it with your friends. Thanks for listening!
Subscribe to the podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-biotech-startups-podcast/id1679591994
Find Our Guest, Kate Neville, at these links:
Find Our Host, Jon Chee, at these links:
Excedr Socials & Website
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/excedr/
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@excedr
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/excedr_inc
Twitter: https://twitter.com/ExcedrInc
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/excedr
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@excedr
Podcast Website: https://www.thebiotechstartupspodcast.com/
Enriched Notes:
Topics Mentioned:
Marshall Gerstein: https://www.marshallip.com/
Intellectual Property 101: https://www.excedr.com/resources/intellectual-property-guide
How to Protect Your IP in the Life Sciences: https://www.excedr.com/resources/how-to-protect-your-intellectual-property
IP Strategy for Biotechs: https://www.excedr.com/resources/intellectual-property-strategy-for-biotechs
Understanding IP Rights for Biotechs: https://www.excedr.com/resources/intellectual-property-rights-for-biotechs
Patent Licensing 101: https://www.excedr.com/resources/how-patent-licensing-works
Resources for Biotech Startups: https://www.excedr.com/resources/
Timestamps:
00:00 Intro
02:09 How to approach intellectual property (IP) as a biotech startup
02:09 How to approach intellectual property (IP) as a biotech startup
05:06 When to start thinking about your IP portfolio and strategy
08:52 How much time does it take to protect your IP, and what are the phases?
11:26 Some best practices for global IP protections
14:07 Importance of patents to investors, and the timing behind raising capital
15:54 How does IP strategy differ from company to company?
17:37 Patent offices’ outlook on broad platform protections
22:18 Thought process behind picking which IP to hold or sell
25:01 Fundamental aspects of a solid IP strategy
29:08 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.
160 episodes
ShareManage episode 455807572 series 3461709
Content provided by Jon Chee. All podcast content including episodes, graphics, and podcast descriptions are uploaded and provided directly by Jon Chee or their podcast platform partner. If you believe someone is using your copyrighted work without your permission, you can follow the process outlined here https://ppacc.player.fm/legal.
🧬The Biotech Startups Podcast, brought to you by Excedr—empowering life science startups with founder-friendly equipment leasing to fast-track R&D and drive commercialization success.
🔬Know someone in need of lab equipment? Join Excedr’s referral program: Give your friends $1,000 and earn $1,000 for every qualified referral! 💸
🔗Get your unique referral link here: refer.excedr.com/ZTHETY.
Part 3 of 4: In this episode, Jon Chee hosts Kate Neville, PhD, 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 is an accomplished attorney with a doctoral background in microbiology and immunology who specializes in global patent prosecution and strategic management. She has over a decade of experience, and works with a wide range of clients, from biotech startups to big pharma to 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.
In this episode, you’ll hear about:
- Building a strong foundation for your IP and the importance of well-crafted provisional applications.
- Aligning scientific advancements with proactive patent strategies to maximize long-term value.
- The critical timing for startups to address IP concerns, from tech transfer to scaling operations.
- The nuances of international patenting and strategic decisions on global protections.
- Practical tips for founders on prioritizing IP investments to strengthen their company and attract investors.
If you enjoy The Biotech Startups Podcast, please consider subscribing, leaving a review, or sharing it with your friends. Thanks for listening!
Subscribe to the podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-biotech-startups-podcast/id1679591994
Find Our Guest, Kate Neville, at these links:
Find Our Host, Jon Chee, at these links:
Excedr Socials & Website
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/excedr/
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@excedr
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/excedr_inc
Twitter: https://twitter.com/ExcedrInc
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/excedr
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@excedr
Podcast Website: https://www.thebiotechstartupspodcast.com/
Enriched Notes:
Topics Mentioned:
Marshall Gerstein: https://www.marshallip.com/
Intellectual Property 101: https://www.excedr.com/resources/intellectual-property-guide
How to Protect Your IP in the Life Sciences: https://www.excedr.com/resources/how-to-protect-your-intellectual-property
IP Strategy for Biotechs: https://www.excedr.com/resources/intellectual-property-strategy-for-biotechs
Understanding IP Rights for Biotechs: https://www.excedr.com/resources/intellectual-property-rights-for-biotechs
Patent Licensing 101: https://www.excedr.com/resources/how-patent-licensing-works
Resources for Biotech Startups: https://www.excedr.com/resources/
Timestamps:
00:00 Intro
02:09 How to approach intellectual property (IP) as a biotech startup
02:09 How to approach intellectual property (IP) as a biotech startup
05:06 When to start thinking about your IP portfolio and strategy
08:52 How much time does it take to protect your IP, and what are the phases?
11:26 Some best practices for global IP protections
14:07 Importance of patents to investors, and the timing behind raising capital
15:54 How does IP strategy differ from company to company?
17:37 Patent offices’ outlook on broad platform protections
22:18 Thought process behind picking which IP to hold or sell
25:01 Fundamental aspects of a solid IP strategy
29:08 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.
160 episodes
All episodes
×
1 🧬 Multi-Edit CAR T-Cells: The Crazy Science That Might Cure Brain Cancer | Aaron Edwards (Part 4/4) 1:03:56
1:03:56 Play Later Play Later Lists Like Liked1:03:56
Play Later Play Later Lists Like Liked🧬 The Biotech Startups Podcast is powered by Excedr —helping life science startups accelerate R&D and commercialization with founder-friendly equipment leasing. Skip the upfront costs, stay lean, and focus on breakthrough science. As a TBSP listener, you can get exclusive perks through Excedr’s partner network—special savings, promotions, and more. Explore these offers today: https://www.excedr.com/partners . “This isn't just one gene edit—this is multiple edits, working in concert. It’s a fundamentally different chassis.” In this episode of The Biotech Startups Podcast, Aaron Edwards, co-founder of KiraGen Bio, shares how a Harvard Business School class project ignited the launch of a pioneering biotech taking on solid tumors with a bold, unconventional CAR T-cell therapy. He unpacks the real-world challenges of building KiraGen—navigating fundraising, assembling a strong team, and leveraging mentorship, partnerships, and machine learning—while highlighting how focus, discipline, and authentic leadership can set a startup apart, even when it means breaking from industry norms. Key topics covered: The Origin of KiraGen: Born from an HBS pitch deck, KiraGen set out to tackle immune suppression in solid tumors. Contrarian CAR T-Cell Design: Bold multi-edit strategy to outsmart tumor microenvironments and hit glioblastoma. Focus and Discipline: Lean operations, every dollar counts, eyes on clinical milestones. Creative Fundraising and Partnerships: Unconventional funding, academic alliances, and patient-driven capital. Authenticity and Team Building: Realness, inclusivity, and mentorship at the core—paying it forward in biotech. If you enjoy The Biotech Startups Podcast, please consider subscribing, leaving a review, or sharing it with your friends. Thanks for listening. Subscribe to the Podcast: Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-biotech-startups-podcast/id1679591994 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2PSL162R2s0zOwU5913Zv4 Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@thebiotechstartupspodcast Website: https://www.thebiotechstartupspodcast.com/ Find our guest, Aaron Edwards, at these links: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/aedwards02/ Website: https://www.kiragenbio.com/ Find our host, Jon Chee, at these links: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jonchee Learn more about Excedr: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/excedr/ Website: https://www.excedr.com Intro & Outro Songs Created by OkKyojin, Owned by Excedr: Website: https://flow.page/kyojin Resources & Articles: Base Editing & CRISPR 2.0: https://beamtx.com/science/base-editing/ CAR T-Cell Therapy: https://investor.bluebirdbio.com/news-releases/news-release-details/bluebird-bio-announces-amended-bcma-car-t-collaboration Activator Program: https://nucleate.org/activator/ Biotech Studio Program: https://www.2048.vc/blog/bio-studio The Founder Mindset: https://www.hbs.edu/coursecatalog/1676.html TFS Programs: https://www.thermofisher.com/jp/ja/home/products-and-services/services/crdmo.html Companies, Universities, & People mentioned: Bluebird Bio: https://www.bluebirdbio.com/ Beam Therapeutics: https://www.beamtx.com/ 2048 Ventures: https://www.2048.vc/ Nucleate: https://nucleate.xyz/ Thermo Fisher Scientific: https://www.thermofisher.com/ George Church: https://www.linkedin.com/in/george-church-2b86301/ David R. Liu: https://www.linkedin.com/in/david-r-liu-465394185/ Reza Satchu: https://www.linkedin.com/in/reza-satchu/ Terry-Ann Burrell: https://www.linkedin.com/in/terry-ann-burrell-10477424/ Jen Nwankwo: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jenasherphd/ Timestamps: 00:00 Intro 01:39 The Origin Story of KiraGen 07:15 From Bluebird to Beam: Learning Cell Therapy 15:51 Finding Product-Market Fit in Glioblastoma 20:59 The Importance of Focus and Discipline 24:20 Early Company Building and Lab Setup 28:16 Building the Team and Hiring Strategy 38:27 Creative Fundraising and Partnership Strategies 45:06 Two-Year Vision: IND Filing and Clinical Data 51:22 Shoutouts to Mentors and Supporters 55:50 Advice to 21-Year-Old Self: Authenticity as a Superpower 01:00:09 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.…
1 🧬 Non-Traditional Leadership & Knowledge Sharing: The New Edge in Biotech | Aaron Edwards (Part 3/4) 39:56
39:56 Play Later Play Later Lists Like Liked39:56
Play Later Play Later Lists Like Liked🧬 The Biotech Startups Podcast is powered by Excedr —helping life science startups accelerate R&D and commercialization with founder-friendly equipment leasing. Skip the upfront costs, stay lean, and focus on breakthrough science. As a TBSP listener, you can get exclusive perks through Excedr’s partner network—special savings, promotions, and more. Explore these offers today: https://www.excedr.com/partners . “This isn't just one gene edit—this is multiple edits, working in concert. It’s a fundamentally different chassis.” In part three of The Biotech Startups Podcast, host Jon Chee and Aaron Edwards dive into the realities of biotech entrepreneurship, spotlighting the power of non-traditional career paths, self-awareness, and creative knowledge sharing. They unpack how embracing new tools, fostering open debate, and democratizing information through platforms like Notion, ELNs, and social media can drive both personal growth and startup success. The conversation highlights the importance of capital efficiency, authentic community engagement, and building a culture where diverse perspectives fuel innovation in today’s fast-evolving life sciences landscape. Key topics covered: Non-Traditional Paths to Leadership: Diverse backgrounds spark fresh biotech innovation. Institutionalizing Knowledge: Notion, ELNs, and Loom keep team wisdom accessible. Capital Efficiency & Execution: Build lean, use what works, skip reinvention. Democratization of Information: Open platforms put insights within everyone’s reach. Authenticity & Community: Self-awareness and real talk drive growth and connection. If you enjoy The Biotech Startups Podcast, please consider subscribing, leaving a review, or sharing it with your friends. Thanks for listening. Subscribe to the Podcast: Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-biotech-startups-podcast/id1679591994 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2PSL162R2s0zOwU5913Zv4 Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@thebiotechstartupspodcast Website: https://www.thebiotechstartupspodcast.com/ Find our guest, Aaron Edwards, at these links: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/aedwards02/ Website: https://www.kiragenbio.com/ Find our host, Jon Chee, at these links: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jonchee Learn more about Excedr: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/excedr/ Website: https://www.excedr.com Intro & Outro Songs Created by OkKyojin, Owned by Excedr: Website: https://flow.page/kyojin Resources & Articles: Notion: https://www.notion.com/ ELN: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electronic_lab_notebook Loom: https://www.loom.com/ Pillar VC Startup Guide: https://www.pillar.vc/playlist/topics/getting-started/ PLOS One: https://journals.plos.org/plosone/s/journal-information Companies, Universities, & People mentioned: Kiragen Bio: https://www.kiragenbio.com/ Benchling: https://www.benchling.com/ Nucleate: https://nucleate.org/ Ryan Murray: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryan-murray-phd-7b488142/ Sajith Wickramasekara: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sajithw/ Timestamps: 00:00 Intro 01:19 Non-Traditional Paths to Leadership: Aaron’s Journey 02:31 The Value of Diverse Experiences in Biotech 03:48 Creativity and First Principles Thinking 05:53 Leadership, Self-Awareness, and Therapy 08:09 Building a Safe Space for Debate and Growth 12:37 Institutionalizing Knowledge: Tools and Practices 14:05 Notion, ELNs, and Modern Documentation 16:04 Democratization of Information and Community 23:15 Capital Efficiency and Execution in Startups 26:27 Authenticity, Community, and Digital Engagement 38:07 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.…
1 🧬 Why Most Biotech Startups Fail (And How to Survive Market Crashes) | Aaron Edwards (Part 2/4) 46:06
46:06 Play Later Play Later Lists Like Liked46:06
Play Later Play Later Lists Like Liked🧬 The Biotech Startups Podcast is powered by Excedr —helping life science startups accelerate R&D and commercialization with founder-friendly equipment leasing. Skip the upfront costs, stay lean, and focus on breakthrough science. As a TBSP listener, you can get exclusive perks through Excedr’s partner network—special savings, promotions, and more. Explore these offers today: https://www.excedr.com/partners . "You might not have developed it. You might not know where that is. But you're finding what that North Star is." In this episode of The Biotech Startups Podcast, Aaron Edwards shares how a bold cold email launched him from Kentucky to a cutting-edge mRNA vaccine lab in Boston, setting the stage for a dynamic biotech career. He explores the culture shock of city life, how curiosity fueled his leadership, and the key lessons learned navigating academia, big pharma, and nimble startups—ultimately revealing how market cycles, organizational models, and operational discipline drive innovation and resilience in biotech. Key topics covered: The Power of Curiosity: Asking bold questions and staying curious drives growth and leadership. Academia vs. Industry: Adapting to the culture shock and pace of labs, pharma, and startups. Organizational Models: Big company structure vs. startup agility—what works, what doesn’t. Market Cycles & Resilience: Surviving booms and busts by staying lean and creative. Finding Your North Star: Embracing uncertainty to carve your own path in biotech. If you enjoy The Biotech Startups Podcast, please consider subscribing, leaving a review, or sharing it with your friends. Thanks for listening. Subscribe to the Podcast: Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-biotech-startups-podcast/id1679591994 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2PSL162R2s0zOwU5913Zv4 Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@thebiotechstartupspodcast Website: https://www.thebiotechstartupspodcast.com/ Find our guest, Aaron Edwards, at these links: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/aedwards02/ Website: https://www.kiragenbio.com/ Find our host, Jon Chee, at these links: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jonchee Learn more about Excedr: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/excedr/ Website: https://www.excedr.com Intro & Outro Songs Created by OkKyojin, Owned by Excedr: Website: https://flow.page/kyojin Resources & Articles: DARPA and mRNA Vaccine Research: https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=4495566 HBS Case Studies: https://hbsp.harvard.edu/cases/ Novartis Vaccines and GSK Acquisition: https://www.gsk.com/en-gb/media/press-releases/gsk-completes-major-three-part-transaction-with-novartis/ Moderna and mRNA Platform Companies: https://www.modernatx.com/power-of-mrna/modernas-mrna-platform Eli Lilly’s Subsidiary Model: https://www.lilly.com/subsidiaries Beyond the Square Podcast: https://open.spotify.com/episode/2qUtBY69I5JkcePLLE7ZhS?si=763530aa44b74be2&nd=1&dlsi=8f4794eea21940a9 Companies, Universities, & People mentioned: Bluebird Bio https://www.bluebirdbio.com/ Beam Therapeutics https://beamtx.com/ Verve Therapeutics: https://www.vervetx.com/ Novartis: https://www.novartis.com GSK: https://www.gsk.com Moderna: https://www.modernatx.com Eli Lilly: https://www.lilly.com Galit Alter: https://www.linkedin.com/in/galit-alter-398184252/ Todd Suscovich: https://www.linkedin.com/in/todd-suscovich-65ba213/ Neela Patel: https://www.linkedin.com/in/neela-patel-84b144/ Jacob Glanville: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jacobglanville/ Timestamps: 00:00 Intro 02:36 Culture Shock: Moving from Kentucky to Boston 05:40 Landing in an mRNA Vaccine Lab via Cold Email 07:36 The Power of Passion and Finding Your “North Star” 10:57 Lessons from Academia: Knowing What Doesn’t Fit 14:44 Curiosity and the Disconnect Between Science and Business 19:30 First Industry Role at Novartis Vaccines 23:52 Big Pharma vs. Startups: Pros, Cons, and Organizational Models 24:33 Subsidiaries, Integration, and the Eli Lilly Example 27:43 Bluebird Bio and Beam Therapeutics: Platform vs. Focus 29:32 Surviving Market Cycles and Building Resilience 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.…
1 🧬 Embracing Identity & Curiosity: Being Different Fuels Innovation | Aaron Edwards (Part 1/4) 49:19
49:19 Play Later Play Later Lists Like Liked49:19
Play Later Play Later Lists Like Liked🧬 The Biotech Startups Podcast is powered by Excedr —helping life science startups accelerate R&D and commercialization with founder-friendly equipment leasing. Skip the upfront costs, stay lean, and focus on breakthrough science. As a TBSP listener, you can get exclusive perks through Excedr’s partner network—special savings, promotions, and more. Explore these offers today: https://www.excedr.com/partners . "There was something else there that I needed to keep searching for... and that's a theme in my life." In this episode of The Biotech Startups Podcast, we explore the formative journey of Aaron Edwards, Co-founder and CEO of KiraGen Bio, as he shares how curiosity, conviction, and challenging convention led him from a small town in Kentucky to the forefront of biotech innovation in Boston. Aaron reflects on his upbringing with pharmacist parents, the impact of early mentors, and the pivotal experiences that shaped his leadership style and scientific vision. Listeners will hear how Aaron’s path was shaped by balancing competitive athletics with academic pursuits, navigating personal identity in a close-knit community, and seizing opportunities that broadened his perspective beyond traditional career paths. From his first wet lab experience with butterfly genetics to transformative internships in cancer research, Aaron’s story is one of resilience, self-discovery, and a relentless drive to make a difference in oncology. Key topics covered: Early Curiosity & Upbringing: Sparked a passion for science in rural Kentucky with pharmacist parents and inspiring teachers. Visibility & Identity: Navigated being a gay student in a small town, seeking authentic environments. Academic & Athletic Balance: Learned discipline and leadership by balancing competitive swimming with rigorous academics. Formative Research Experiences: Gained direction from hands-on internships in cancer research and translational science. Leadership & Company Building: Drew lessons from biotech roles and business school to shape a people-first, adaptable leadership style. If you enjoy The Biotech Startups Podcast, please consider subscribing, leaving a review, or sharing it with your friends. Thanks for listening. Subscribe to the Podcast: Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-biotech-startups-podcast/id1679591994 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2PSL162R2s0zOwU5913Zv4 Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@thebiotechstartupspodcast Website: https://www.thebiotechstartupspodcast.com/ Find our guest, Aaron Edwards, at these links: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/aedwards02/ Website: https://www.kiragenbio.com/ Find our host, Jon Chee, at these links: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jonchee Learn more about Excedr: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/excedr/ Website: https://www.excedr.com Intro & Outro Songs Created by OkKyojin, Owned by Excedr: Website: https://flow.page/kyojin Resources & Articles: The Velvet Rage https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Velvet_Rage Psychological Safety https://amycedmondson.com/psychological-safety/ Phi Kappa Tau Fraternity https://www.phikappatau.org/ Governor’s Scholars Program https://gsp.ky.gov/Pages/index.aspx Emerging Technologies Attracting VC Investment in Life Sciences https://www.excedr.com/blog/emerging-technologies-attracting-vc-investment-in-life-sciences Companies, Universities, & People mentioned: Bluebird Bio https://www.bluebirdbio.com/ Beam Therapeutics https://beamtx.com/ Moffitt Cancer Center https://www.moffitt.org/ Matthew Klooster https://www.linkedin.com/in/matthew-klooster-87498510/ Amy Edmondson https://www.linkedin.com/in/amycedmondson/ Timestamps: 00:00 Intro 03:50 Aaron's Background and Early Curiosity in Science 07:15 Growing Up with Pharmacist Parents and Asking Questions 11:55 Kentucky Science and Math Academy Experience 15:11 Visibility, Identity, and College Choices 19:01 Balancing Athletics and Academics 21:21 Summer Research Internships at Moffitt Cancer Center 25:15 First Wet Lab Experience and Western Blots 28:36 Connecting Research to Patient Impact 33:20 Early Biotech Experience at Bluebird Bio 43:43 Harvard Business School and Case Method Learning 48:04 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.…
1 🧬 Growth Without Venture Capital: The Bootstrapped Bioscience Playbook | Ivan Liachko (Part 4/4) 36:35
36:35 Play Later Play Later Lists Like Liked36:35
Play Later Play Later Lists Like Liked🧬 The Biotech Startups Podcast is powered by Excedr —helping life science startups accelerate R&D and commercialization with founder-friendly equipment leasing. Skip the upfront costs, stay lean, and focus on breakthrough science. As a TBSP listener, you can get exclusive perks through Excedr’s partner network—special savings, promotions, and more. Explore these offers today: https://www.excedr.com/partners . Episode Description: "It's not a brute force approach. It's a cleverness-based approach. It's a new kind of information that lets us do new things." Host Jon Chee sits down with Ivan Liachko, founder and CEO of Phase Genomics, to unpack how clever, constraint-driven science turned a scrappy, bootstrapped lab into a genomics powerhouse. Ivan explains how their breakthrough technology—capturing the physical proximity of DNA—opened new frontiers in genome assembly, microbiome discovery, and cancer diagnostics, all propelled by a lean, scientist-led team and organic growth. The episode dives into Phase’s evolution into a data-driven research leader, its focus on non-dilutive funding over venture capital, and its vision for clinical impact and therapeutic spinouts—all fueled by a passion for unlocking powerful new biological information. Key topics covered: Constraint-Driven Innovation: Creative solutions born from limited resources. Breakthrough Genomic Applications: Proximity ligation transforms genome assembly, microbiome, and cancer research. Bootstrapping & Organic Growth: Science-driven sales and grants fuel growth—minimal outside investment. Strategic Vision & Spinouts: Building a research powerhouse and launching new ventures from unique data. Advice for Scientists & Founders: Prioritize complementary teams, embrace uncertainty, and stay passionate. If you enjoy The Biotech Startups Podcast, please consider subscribing, leaving a review, or sharing it with your friends. Thanks for listening. Subscribe to the Podcast: Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-biotech-startups-podcast/id1679591994 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2PSL162R2s0zOwU5913Zv4 Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@thebiotechstartupspodcast Website: https://www.thebiotechstartupspodcast.com/ Find our guest, Ivan Liachko, at these links: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ivan-liachko-%F0%9F%87%BA%F0%9F%87%A6-a333055a/ Website: https://www.linkedin.com/company/phase-genomics-inc/ Find our host, Jon Chee, at these links: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jonchee Learn more about Excedr: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/excedr/ Website: https://www.excedr.com Intro & Outro Songs Created by OkKyojin, Owned by Excedr: Website: https://flow.page/kyojin Resources & Articles: ARK Invest Podcast: https://www.ark-invest.com/podcast/phase-genomics Hi-C Technology: https://phasegenomics.com/category/hi-c/ CytoTerra Platform: https://phasegenomics.com/products/cytoterra/ Next-Generation Cytogenomics Platform: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20211018005750/en/Phase-Genomics-Announces-Next-Generation-Cytogenomics-Platform-to-Advance-Precision-Diagnosis-and-Treatment-in-Reproductive-Genetics-and-Oncology The Genetics Podcast: https://sanogenetics.com/resources/genetics-podcast Clinical Chemistry Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/more-than-a-decade-of-rapid-genomic-sequencing/id499883130?i=1000651557537 Companies, Universities, & People mentioned: Phase Genomics: https://phasegenomics.com University of Washington: https://www.washington.edu/ Gates Foundation: https://www.gatesfoundation.org/ Grantham Foundation: https://www.granthamfoundation.org/ Stephen Eacker: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stephen-eacker-a657177b/ Jonathan Eisen: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jonathaneisen/ Timestamps: 00:00 Intro 02:08 Phase Genomics’ Three Core Applications 08:27 Meeting Co-founder and Early Team Formation 11:28 Bootstrapping with eBay Lab Gear 12:55 Scrappy, MVP-Driven Product Development 17:02 Core Customers and Clinical Use Cases 22:34 Evolving into a Research Institute with Spinouts 25:29 Non-dilutive Funding and Fundraising Approach 29:59 Clinical Vision and Anti-infective Focus 31:33 Shout-outs and Advice for Young Scientists 32:59 Staying Passionate Through Uncertainty 33:54 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.…
1 🧬 How 3D Genome Mapping is Changing Everything We Know About DNA | Ivan Liachko (Part 3/4) 35:30
35:30 Play Later Play Later Lists Like Liked35:30
Play Later Play Later Lists Like Liked🧬 The Biotech Startups Podcast is powered by Excedr —helping life science startups accelerate R&D and commercialization with founder-friendly equipment leasing. Skip the upfront costs, stay lean, and focus on breakthrough science. As a TBSP listener, you can get exclusive perks through Excedr’s partner network—special savings, promotions, and more. Explore these offers today: https://www.excedr.com/partners . "If you get a new kind of information, suddenly you can do something with it that you couldn't do before at all." In this episode of The Biotech Startups Podcast, Ivan Liachko shares how scientific curiosity and unexpected collaborations took him from DNA replication research in yeast at Cornell to a breakthrough in 3D genome mapping and the founding of Phase Genomics. Embracing Hi-C technology at the University of Washington, Ivan and his team unlocked a new kind of biological information, enabling scientists to assemble genomes and map complex microbial communities and their viruses—transforming what was once impossible into a new standard for genomics. His journey highlights how creativity, collaboration, and seizing serendipitous moments can drive the most impactful scientific innovations. Key topics covered: Scientific Serendipity: Collaborations and chance encounters that propelled Ivan’s career Comparative Biology: Probing DNA replication by comparing diverse yeast “machines” The Move to Genomics: Shifting from classic genetics to high-throughput genomics at UW 3D Genome Mapping: Hi-C technology unlocking the secrets of genome structure Microbiome and Phage Discovery: Sequencing breakthroughs revealing hidden microbial worlds If you enjoy The Biotech Startups Podcast, please consider subscribing, leaving a review, or sharing it with your friends. Thanks for listening. Subscribe to the Podcast: Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-biotech-startups-podcast/id1679591994 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2PSL162R2s0zOwU5913Zv4 Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@thebiotechstartupspodcast Website: https://www.thebiotechstartupspodcast.com/ Find our guest, Ivan Liachko, at these links: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ivan-liachko-%F0%9F%87%BA%F0%9F%87%A6-a333055a/ Website: https://www.linkedin.com/company/phase-genomics-inc/ Find our host, Jon Chee, at these links: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jonchee Learn more about Excedr: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/excedr/ Website: https://www.excedr.com Intro & Outro Songs Created by OkKyojin, Owned by Excedr: Website: https://flow.page/kyojin Resources & Articles: MCM Proteins and DNA Replication: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0955067406000251 Hi-C Technology: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hi-C_(genomic_analysis_technique) Kitty Biome Project: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/catbiome/kittybiome-kitty-microbiomes-for-cat-health-and-bi Genome Startup Day: https://genomestartupday.com/ ARK Invest Podcast: https://www.ark-invest.com/podcast/phase-genomics Companies, Universities, & People mentioned: Phase Genomics: https://phasegenomics.com University of Washington: https://www.washington.edu/ Animal Biome: https://www.animalbiome.com/pages/our-company?srsltid=AfmBOope9rX1mixuGLFD44P81n_UJsHdYSHTlHJ7qUYmd3FRAscR2DxQ Maitreya Dunham: https://www.linkedin.com/in/maitreya-dunham-b23a9148/ Josh Burton: https://www.linkedin.com/in/josh-burton-6292a25/ Jay Shendure: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jay-shendure-32b2a96/ Timestamps: 00:00 Intro 02:12 Ivan’s early research at Cornell on DNA replication and yeast biology 05:52 Move to University of Washington and postdoc opportunity 09:49 Life and culture in the Pacific Northwest 13:04 Experimental evolution and comparative biology in yeast 17:16 Discovering Hi-C technology and 3D genome mapping 24:40 Using Hi-C for genome assembly and the jigsaw puzzle analogy 30:23 Applications of Hi-C in microbiome research and phage discovery 33:04 Mapping phages and plasmids to their microbial hosts 34:23 Founding of Phase Genomics and commercialization of technology 34:29 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.…
1 🧬 Startup Survival Skills: Resilience, Frugality & Real Talk in Biotech | Ivan Liachko (Part 2/4) 31:29
31:29 Play Later Play Later Lists Like Liked31:29
Play Later Play Later Lists Like Liked🧬 The Biotech Startups Podcast is powered by Excedr —helping life science startups accelerate R&D and commercialization with founder-friendly equipment leasing. Skip the upfront costs, stay lean, and focus on breakthrough science. As a TBSP listener, you can get exclusive perks through Excedr’s partner network—special savings, promotions, and more. Explore these offers today: https://www.excedr.com/partners . “Every time you think you’re right and somebody puts you in your place and you learn from it, eventually you’re like, that guy gave me the greatest gift… You learn to love it.” In this episode of The Biotech Startups Podcast, Ivan Liachko, CEO and co-founder of Phase Genomics, delivers an unfiltered look at the realities of building a biotech company, revealing how the mental toll of leadership, managing egos, and embracing frugality shaped his journey from academia to entrepreneurship. Through candid stories of scrappy problem-solving and bootstrapping Phase Genomics, Ivan and host Jon Chee highlight the surprising overlap between science and business, the importance of knowing which game you’re playing, and why resilience, adaptability, and learning from failure are crucial for startup success. Key topics covered: The Emotional Toll of Leadership: Handling conflict, building resilience, and staying mentally tough. From Academia to Entrepreneurship: Turning scientific know-how into business savvy. Frugality & Resourcefulness: Scrappy solutions over spending sprees. Knowing Your Game: Avoiding hype and matching strategy to your company’s reality. Embracing Discomfort and Failure: Growing by learning from mistakes and challenging expert advice. If you enjoy The Biotech Startups Podcast, please consider subscribing, leaving a review, or sharing it with your friends. Thanks for listening. Subscribe to the Podcast: Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-biotech-startups-podcast/id1679591994 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2PSL162R2s0zOwU5913Zv4 Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@thebiotechstartupspodcast Website: https://www.thebiotechstartupspodcast.com/ Find our guest, Ivan Liachko, at these links: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ivan-liachko-%F0%9F%87%BA%F0%9F%87%A6-a333055a/ Website: https://www.linkedin.com/company/phase-genomics-inc/ Find our host, Jon Chee, at these links: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jonchee Learn more about Excedr: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/excedr/ Website: https://www.excedr.com Intro & Outro Songs Created by OkKyojin, Owned by Excedr: Website: https://flow.page/kyojin Resources & Articles: Ultra-Long-Range Genomic Information: https://www.ark-invest.com/podcast/phase-genomics Genome Startup Day: https://innovatebio.org/blog/podcast-genome-startup-day-bacteria-breakthroughs Life Science and Biotech CEO Stories: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/life-science-and-biotech-ceo-stories/id1725353867 Accelerating Biochemical R&D (TEKsystems): https://www.teksystems.com/en/insights/success-stories/machine-learning-aws-phase-genomics The Future of Phage Therapy: https://www.scispot.com/blog/the-future-of-phage-therapy-can-bacteriophages-replace-antibiotics GeekWire Awards: https://www.geekwire.com/2023/how-this-ukrainian-born-ceo-created-a-biotech-startup-where-curious-scientists-thrive/ Companies, Universities, & People mentioned: Phase Genomics: https://phasegenomics.com Microsoft: https://www.microsoft.com/ Cornell University: https://www.cornell.edu/ Brandeis University: https://www.brandeis.edu/ Gates Foundation: https://www.gatesfoundation.org/ Shawn Sullivan: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shawn-sullivan-mit/ Maitreya Dunham: https://www.linkedin.com/in/maitreya-dunham-b23a9148/ Josh Burton: https://www.linkedin.com/in/josh-burton-6292a25/ Timestamps: 00:00 Intro 02:06 Mental Toll of Startup Leadership 07:03 Learning from Conflict and Managing People 13:00 Immigrant Experience and Grad School Survival 15:18 Starting Phase Genomics and Budgeting 18:52 Frugality: Instant Pot as Autoclave 22:49 Knowing Your Game: Startup Growth Strategies 25:57 Saying No to Expert Advice 28:02 Grad School Selection and Cornell Experience 30:04 Moving to Seattle and Postdoc Life 30:32 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.…
1 🧬 Passion Is Chaos: Grit, Curiosity, & the Biotech Breakthrough Mindset | Ivan Liachko (Part 1/4) 35:43
35:43 Play Later Play Later Lists Like Liked35:43
Play Later Play Later Lists Like Liked🧬 The Biotech Startups Podcast is powered by Excedr —helping life science startups accelerate R&D and commercialization with founder-friendly equipment leasing. Skip the upfront costs, stay lean, and focus on breakthrough science. As a TBSP listener, you can get exclusive perks through Excedr’s partner network—special savings, promotions, and more. Explore these offers today: https://www.excedr.com/partners . "Passion is chaos. You're doing unreasonable things sometimes for reasons you can't explain to anyone why. That's just what I want.” In this episode of The Biotech Startups Podcast, host Jon Chee sits down with Ivan Liachko, CEO and co-founder of Phase Genomics, to reveal how a childhood passion for genetics, relentless family support, and Ivan’s trademark persistence—“better to be annoying than forgotten”—helped him break into science as an immigrant and rise to biotech leadership. Ivan shares candid lessons on embracing unpredictability, turning setbacks into opportunities, and the parallels between research and entrepreneurship, emphasizing the power of authentic curiosity, running toward problems, and leading with bold optimism. Key topics covered: Ivan’s childhood in Kyiv and early passion for genetics Moving and adapting to a new country and system Breaking into science with grit and curiosity His transition from the lab to launching Phase Genomics Navigating setbacks and uncertainty in a leadership role If you enjoy The Biotech Startups Podcast, please consider subscribing, leaving a review, or sharing it with your friends. Thanks for listening. Subscribe to the Podcast: Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-biotech-startups-podcast/id1679591994 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2PSL162R2s0zOwU5913Zv4 Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@thebiotechstartupspodcast Website: https://www.thebiotechstartupspodcast.com/ Find our guest, Ivan Liachko, at these links: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ivan-liachko-%F0%9F%87%BA%F0%9F%87%A6-a333055a/ Website: https://phasegenomics.com/ Find our host, Jon Chee, at these links: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jonchee Learn more about Excedr: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/excedr/ Website: https://www.excedr.com Intro & Outro Songs Created by OkKyojin, Owned by Excedr: Website: https://flow.page/kyojin Resources & Articles: Play Nice But Win: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/57005158-play-nice-but-win Ultra-Long-Range Genomic Information: https://www.ark-invest.com/podcast/phase-genomics Bioinformatics & Genomics: https://www.excedr.com/blog/what-is-bioinformatics-and-computational-biology A New Tool in the Genomics Kit: https://share.snipd.com/episode/9ee3bc63-9d1a-43f2-b749-2c7a339a2b63 What is CRISPR: https://www.excedr.com/resources/what-is-crispr-cas9-definition-and-overview The CRISPR Revolution and the New Era of Genome Editing: https://www.biochemjournal.com/archives/2024/vol8issue1S/PartG/S-8-1-92-790.pdf Cytogenomics with Phase Genomics: https://dnapodcast.com/episodes/2022/1/28/169-cytogenomics-with-phase-genomics Connect My Variant: https://connectmyvariant.org/ The Phage Atlas Project: https://phage.directory/atlas Companies, Universities, & People mentioned: Phase Genomics: https://phasegenomics.com Quest Diagnostics: http://www.questdiagnostics.com University of Pennsylvania: https://www.upenn.edu/ Brandeis University: https://www.brandeis.edu/ Michael Dell: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mdell/ David Younger: https://www.linkedin.com/in/david-a-younger/ Timestamps: 00:00 Intro 03:40 Early Interest in Science and Upbringing in Kyiv 05:27 First Lab Experiences and Persistence in Science 07:37 The Power of Passion in Scientific Careers 09:47 Family Support and Academic Encouragement 10:37 The Value of Persistence and Grit 13:10 Navigating College Applications as an Immigrant 15:59 Choosing Brandeis University and Embracing New Opportunities 17:36 Maximizing Luck and Serendipity in Career Choices 19:13 Breaking Out of Academic Silos and Embracing Opportunity 34:47 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.…
1 🧬 AI, Mentors & the Future of Biotech: Teambuilding, Investing, & Innovation | Johnny Hu (Part 4/4) 39:27
39:27 Play Later Play Later Lists Like Liked39:27
Play Later Play Later Lists Like Liked🧬 The Biotech Startups Podcast is powered by Excedr —helping life science startups accelerate R&D and commercialization with founder-friendly equipment leasing. Skip the upfront costs, stay lean, and focus on breakthrough science. As a TBSP listener, you can get exclusive perks through Excedr’s partner network—special savings, promotions, and more. Explore these offers today: https://www.excedr.com/partners . “It's the partnership all the way down, and everyone needs to be around the table to enable the ecosystem.” In this episode of The Biotech Startups Podcast, Johnny Hu reflects on his path to becoming a Principle at Menlo Ventures, what it's been like returning to gene editing after years away, and how he's thinking about unlocking true platform potential in life sciences. He also shares his outlook on early-stage biotech, the importance of mentorship, intellectual range and curiosity, and what's ahead as he continues building at the intersection of biology, computation, and company creation Key topics covered: Firm building: Building a venture firm from the ground up AI & Bio: Looking at the intersection of AI and Biology Gene Editing: The clinical success of gene editing Mentorship: The importance of mentors and advisors Career Advice: Tips and common pitfalls to avoid when starting a career in venture investing If you enjoy The Biotech Startups Podcast, please consider subscribing, leaving a review, or sharing it with your friends. Thanks for listening. Subscribe to the Podcast: Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-biotech-startups-podcast/id1679591994 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2PSL162R2s0zOwU5913Zv4 Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@thebiotechstartupspodcast Website: https://www.thebiotechstartupspodcast.com/ Find our guest, Johnny Hu, at these links: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/johnnyhhu/ Website: https://www.linkedin.com/company/menlo-ventures/ Find our host, Jon Chee, at these links: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jonchee Learn more about Excedr: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/excedr/ Website: https://www.excedr.com Intro & Outro Songs Created by OkKyojin, Owned by Excedr: Website: https://flow.page/kyojin Resources & Articles: Institute for Protein Design: https://www.bakerlab.org/ Merck’s PCSK9 Program: https://www.merck.com/news/merck-initiates-phase-3-clinical-program-for-oral-pcsk9-inhibitor-candidate-mk-0616/ RF Diffusion Paper: https://www.bakerlab.org/2023/07/11/diffusion-model-for-protein-design/ Companies, Universities, & People mentioned: Menlo Ventures: https://www.menlovc.com/ Genentech: https://www.gene.com/ Vilya: http://vilyatx.com/ Synthego: https://www.synthego.com/ Recursion Pharmaceuticals: https://www.recursion.com/ Beam Therapeutics: https://beamtx.com/ Protein Data Bank: https://www.rcsb.org/ Timestamps: 00:00 Intro 01:14 Building Boston Office at Omega Funds 03:34 Move to West Coast and Joining Menlo Ventures 13:34 Current State of Life Sciences Venture Landscape 15:00 Focus on AI and Life Sciences Intersection 18:26 Most Fun and Least Fun Aspects of Venture Investing 20:04 Advice for Aspiring Venture Investors 23:19 Future Plans and Return to Gene Editing 25:01 Clinical Success and Market Challenges in Gene Editing 30:01 Advice to 21-Year-Old Self: Intellectual Curiosity 35:58 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.…
1 🧬 Biotech Investing Unlocked: Mindset Shift, Risk, and Founder-First Lessons | Johnny Hu (Part 3/4) 37:06
37:06 Play Later Play Later Lists Like Liked37:06
Play Later Play Later Lists Like Liked🧬 The Biotech Startups Podcast is powered by Excedr —helping life science startups accelerate R&D and commercialization with founder-friendly equipment leasing. Skip the upfront costs, stay lean, and focus on breakthrough science. As a TBSP listener, you can get exclusive perks through Excedr’s partner network—special savings, promotions, and more. Explore these offers today: https://www.excedr.com/partners . "Sometimes you don't know what you don't know. And frankly, this is a journey that's long, and you'll learn a lot of things along the way. A lot of things, it's the first time you'll be doing that thing. Your job as an entrepreneur is to ultimately listen, then decide, and own that decision.” In this episode, Johnny Hu, Principle at Menlo Ventures, takes us inside his journey from scientist to venture capitalist, revealing how adapting to new mindsets, operational discipline, and calculated risk-taking are crucial in biotech. He breaks down the differences between the lab and the investment world, shares lessons from mentors at Omega Funds, and explains how founder-first investing and clear communication drive his approach at Menlo Ventures. Johnny also explores the challenges of fundraising, the realities of board dynamics, and how AI is reshaping biotech, all while emphasizing the value of curiosity and adaptability in a field defined by complexity and constant change. Key topics covered: Navigating the transition from scientist to venture capitalist: Adapting to new mindsets The importance of operational discipline, capital efficiency, and decision-making in biotech startups: Stretching every dollar Lessons learned from mentors and experiences at Omega Funds: Start with the end in mind The value of founder-first investing and building intentional, transparent relationships with entrepreneurs: Build trust and clarity The impact of AI and technological innovation on biotech, and the unique challenges of risk assessment in life sciences: Managing risk in complex systems If you enjoy The Biotech Startups Podcast, please consider subscribing, leaving a review, or sharing it with your friends. Thanks for listening. Subscribe to the Podcast: Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-biotech-startups-podcast/id1679591994 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2PSL162R2s0zOwU5913Zv4 Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@thebiotechstartupspodcast Website: https://www.thebiotechstartupspodcast.com/ Find our guest, Johnny Hu, at these links: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/johnnyhhu/ Website: https://menlovc.com/ Find our host, Jon Chee, at these links: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jonchee Learn more about Excedr: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/excedr/ Website: https://www.excedr.com Intro & Outro Songs Created by OkKyojin, Owned by Excedr: Website: https://flow.page/kyojin Resources & Articles: The Odd Lots Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/ph/podcast/odd-lots/id1056200096 Protein Data Bank: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Protein_Data_Bank AlphaFold: https://alphafold.ebi.ac.uk/ Human Genome Project: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Human_Genome_Project Janelia Research Campus: https://www.janelia.org/ CRISPR and Genome Engineering: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CRISPR_gene_editing Behavioral Economics: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Behavioral_economics Companies, Universities, & People mentioned: Menlo Ventures: https://www.menlovc.com/ Genentech: https://www.gene.com/ Gilead Sciences: https://www.gilead.com/ Bio-Rad: https://www.bio-rad.com/ Omega Funds: https://omegafunds.com/ Richard Lim: https://www.linkedin.com/in/richard-j-lim/ Timestamps: 00:00 Intro 01:16 Credit vs VC Mindset: Finding Opportunity in Complexity 07:07 Operational Discipline and Capital Efficiency in Biotech Startups 16:26 Board Dynamics and Decision-Making in Startups 19:23 Challenges of Risk and Complexity in Life Sciences 22:45 AI's Role in Biotech and Investment 25:42 Johnny Hu's Career Path and Mentorship at Omega Funds 28:12 Working Backwards: Strategy and Product-Market Fit 31:25 Risk Management and Personal Tolerance in Venture Investing 35:23 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.…
1 🧬 The Shelf Life of Innovation: CRISPR, Biotech Culture & Winning Teams | Johnny Hu (Part 2/4) 38:05
38:05 Play Later Play Later Lists Like Liked38:05
Play Later Play Later Lists Like Liked🧬 The Biotech Startups Podcast is powered by Excedr —helping life science startups accelerate R&D and commercialization with founder-friendly equipment leasing. Skip the upfront costs, stay lean, and focus on breakthrough science. As a TBSP listener, you can get exclusive perks through Excedr’s partner network—special savings, promotions, and more. Explore these offers today: https://www.excedr.com/partners . "Every technology has a shelf life. It’s just true, right? And, so, is that shelf life years? Is it months? Is it weeks? Is it days? You know, has it actually already been surpassed? That’s just progress, right? That’s great” In this episode, Johnny Hu, Principal at Menlo Ventures, unpacks his journey through neuroscience research at Genentech and Cambridge, the electrifying early days of CRISPR, and the fast-moving Boston biotech scene, revealing how academic culture, tool-building, and intentional company culture fuel breakthrough innovation. He offers a candid look at bridging academia and industry, the realities of risk and execution in biotech startups, and the collaborative and competitive dynamics of venture investing—showing what it really takes to thrive where science, startups, and investment meet. Key topics covered: The Value of Academic Culture : Cambridge’s traditions and cross-disciplinary thinking fueled Johnny’s passion for building tools and deep scientific exploration. The Rise of CRISPR: Inside the early, high-energy days of gene editing’s rapid ascent. Boston Biotech Ecosystem: How a dense, connected community unlocked opportunities in startups and venture capital. Company Culture & Team Dynamics: Why setting culture early shapes how teams execute and succeed. Investing in Biotech: The real work of weighing risk, building strong boards, and making tough calls in venture. If you enjoy The Biotech Startups Podcast, please consider subscribing, leaving a review, or sharing it with your friends. Thanks for listening. Subscribe to the Podcast: Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-biotech-startups-podcast/id1679591994 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2PSL162R2s0zOwU5913Zv4 Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@thebiotechstartupspodcast Website: https://www.thebiotechstartupspodcast.com/ Find our guest, Johnny Hu, at these links: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/johnnyhhu/ Website: https://www.linkedin.com/company/menlo-ventures/ Find our host, Jon Chee, at these links: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jonchee Learn more about Excedr: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/excedr/ Website: https://www.excedr.com Intro & Outro Songs Created by OkKyojin, Owned by Excedr: Website: https://flow.page/kyojin Resources & Articles: DNA Origami: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DNA_origami George Church Lab: https://churchlab.hms.harvard.edu/ David Liu Lab: https://www.liugroup.us/ Editas Medicine: https://www.editasmedicine.com/ Companies, Universities, & People mentioned: Menlo Ventures: https://www.menlovc.com/ Genentech: https://www.gene.com/ Vida Ventures: https://vidaventures.com/ RA Capital: https://www.racap.com/ Beam Therapeutics: https://beamtx.com/ University of Cambridge: https://www.cam.ac.uk/ Harvard University: https://www.harvard.edu/ Harvard Medical School: https://hms.harvard.edu/ MIT: https://www.mit.edu/ George Church: https://www.linkedin.com/in/george-church-2b86301/ David R. Liu: https://www.linkedin.com/in/david-r-liu-465394185/ Peter Kolchinsky: https://www.linkedin.com/in/peterkolchinsky Rajeev Shah: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rajeevmshah/ Timestamps: 00:00 Intro 01:23 UK Academic Ecosystem and Cambridge Experience 04:10 Focus on Tool Building in Neuroscience 08:00 DNA Origami and Early CRISPR Exposure 10:57 Technology Shelf Life and Progress 16:05 Boston Biotech Ecosystem and Company Incubation 20:00 Importance of Company Culture in Startups 24:00 Team Dynamics and Organizational Structure 29:15 Venture Capital Culture and Collaboration 32:22 Investment Decision-Making and Risk 35:50 Board Role and Execution in Biotech Startups 36:14 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.…
1 🧬 NASA, Harvard & Biotech: A Journey to Investing at Menlo Ventures | Johnny Hu (Part 1/4) 43:54
43:54 Play Later Play Later Lists Like Liked43:54
Play Later Play Later Lists Like Liked🧬 The Biotech Startups Podcast is powered by Excedr —helping life science startups accelerate R&D and commercialization with founder-friendly equipment leasing. Skip the upfront costs, stay lean, and focus on breakthrough science. As a TBSP listener, you can get exclusive perks through Excedr’s partner network—special savings, promotions, and more. Explore these offers today: https://www.excedr.com/partners . “Every startup starts the journey at zero, and you’re just building from scratch. Day by day, you do a little bit better, and eventually, you look back and realize how far you’ve come.” In this episode of The Biotech Startups Podcast, we dive into the formative journey of Johnny Hu, Principal at Menlo Ventures, tracing his path from a childhood spent on a UK university campus to the heart of biotech investing. Johnny shares how early exposure to academia, a move to Alabama near NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center, and a deep curiosity for science and business shaped his worldview. He reflects on pivotal moments—from hands-on research in structural biology at Harvard and a summer at Genentech, to witnessing the evolution of biotech tools and infrastructure. Throughout, Johnny offers candid insights on the power of mentorship, the non-linear nature of discovery, and the incremental progress that fuels both scientific breakthroughs and startup success. Key topics covered: Academic Roots: Early immersion in campus life sparked a passion for science and discovery. Transatlantic Perspective: Moving from the UK to Alabama, NASA’s influence broadened his horizons. Interdisciplinary Curiosity: Juggled chemical biology, economics, and programming at Harvard. Research Evolution: Experienced the grind of structural biology and witnessed AI revolutionizing the field. Startup Realities: Saw firsthand how mentorship and modern infrastructure now supercharge biotech innovation. If you enjoy The Biotech Startups Podcast, please consider subscribing, leaving a review, or sharing it with your friends. Thanks for listening. Subscribe to the Podcast: Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-biotech-startups-podcast/id1679591994 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2PSL162R2s0zOwU5913Zv4 Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@thebiotechstartupspodcast Website: https://www.thebiotechstartupspodcast.com/ Find our guest, Johnny Hu, at these links: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/johnnyhhu/ Website: https://www.linkedin.com/company/menlo-ventures/ Find our host, Jon Chee, at these links: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jonchee Learn more about Excedr: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/excedr/ Website: https://www.excedr.com Intro & Outro Songs Created by OkKyojin, Owned by Excedr: Website: https://flow.page/kyojin Resources & Articles: The Odd Lots Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/ph/podcast/odd-lots/id1056200096 Protein Data Bank: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Protein_Data_Bank AlphaFold: https://alphafold.ebi.ac.uk/ Human Genome Project: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Human_Genome_Project Janelia Research Campus: https://www.janelia.org/ CRISPR and Genome Engineering: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CRISPR_gene_editing Behavioral Economics: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Behavioral_economics Companies, Universities, & People mentioned: Genentech: https://www.gene.com/ Gilead Sciences: https://www.gilead.com/ Bio-Rad: https://www.bio-rad.com/ David Jeruzalmi: https://www.linkedin.com/in/davidjeruzalmi/ Timestamps: 00:00 Intro 02:48 Early Life and Academic Roots 08:30 Move to Alabama and NASA Influence 11:11 Harvard Admission and Interdisciplinary Interests 18:38 Undergraduate Lab Experience in Structural Biology 31:07 Summer at Genentech 33:57 Comparing Academic and Industry Labs 36:17 Startup Realities and Biotech Infrastructure 39:08 Incremental Progress in Biotech Startups 42:08 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.…
1 🧬 Simulating Life & Accelerating Discovery: Deep Origin’s Biotech Vision | Michael Antonov (Part 4/4) 44:58
44:58 Play Later Play Later Lists Like Liked44:58
Play Later Play Later Lists Like Liked🧬 The Biotech Startups Podcast is powered by Excedr —helping life science startups accelerate R&D and commercialization with founder-friendly equipment leasing. Skip the upfront costs, stay lean, and focus on breakthrough science. As a TBSP listener, you can get exclusive perks through Excedr’s partner network—special savings, promotions, and more. Explore these offers today: https://www.excedr.com/partners . "If you really want to understand biology, you need to be able to represent it in the computer. If you can’t model it, you can’t really predict its behavior” In this episode of The Biotech Startups Podcast, Michael Antonov, Co-Founder of Oculus and Founder & CEO of Deep Origin, returns for the fourth installment of his series to share how his vision for holistic biological simulation evolved from Formic Labs into Deep Origin. Michael discusses the challenges of building a unified R&D platform for biotech, the current suite of Deep Origin’s products, and how the company is making advanced drug discovery tools accessible to organizations of every size. He also dives into the company’s philosophy, the lessons learned from previous ventures, and what’s next as Deep Origin continues to scale its impact on the life sciences sector. Key topics covered: The Evolution from Formic Labs to Deep Origin: Transforming a bold simulation vision into a focused biotech platform. Building a Unified R&D Platform: Tackling integration hurdles to streamline biological modeling. Deep Origin’s Product Suite: Delivering cutting-edge, accessible tools for drug discovery and research. Company Philosophy & Culture: Fostering innovation, impact, and research-driven teamwork. What’s Next for Deep Origin: Productizing novel tools, deepening partnerships, and expanding access. If you enjoy The Biotech Startups Podcast, please consider subscribing, leaving a review, or sharing it with your friends. Thanks for listening. Subscribe to the Podcast: Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-biotech-startups-podcast/id1679591994 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2PSL162R2s0zOwU5913Zv4 Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@thebiotechstartupspodcast Website: https://www.thebiotechstartupspodcast.com/ Find our guest, Michael Antonov, at these links: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michaelantonov/ Website: https://www.linkedin.com/company/deep-origin/ Find our host, Jon Chee, at these links: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jonchee Learn more about Excedr: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/excedr/ Website: https://www.excedr.com Intro & Outro Songs Created by OkKyojin, Owned by Excedr: Website: https://flow.page/kyojin Resources & Articles: AlphaFold: https://alphafold.ebi.ac.uk/ Balto AI Assistant: https://www.deeporigin.com/balto-ai-assistant-for-drug-discovery Companies, Universities, & People mentioned: Deep Origin: https://deeporigin.com/ Scaleform: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scaleform_GFx Benchling: https://www.benchling.com/ BioSim: https://biosim.pt/ eMolecules: https://emolecules.com/ Enamine: https://enamine.net/ Garegin Papoian: https://www.linkedin.com/in/garegin-papoian-9472a85/ Matt Shlosberg: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dshlos/ Ashot Papoyan: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ashot-papoyan-066b403/ Henk Campher: https://www.linkedin.com/in/henkcampher/ Jonathan Karr: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jonrkarr/ Benjamin Siranosian: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bsiranosian/ Natalie Ma: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nataliejingma/ Tiago Luchini: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tiagoluchini/ Brendan Iribe: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brendaniribe/ Timestamps: 00:00 Intro 01:14 Formic Labs and Deep Origin Origins 08:33 Early Team and Status Quo Disruption 17:56 Challenges in Biotech Tool Ecosystem 19:06 Deep Origin's Product Suite Overview 24:31 Target Customers and Accessibility 28:24 Company Philosophy and Fundraising 34:53 Future Plans and Productization 38:45 Shout Outs and Supporters 39:25 Advice to Younger Self 41:08 Closing Remarks and Thanks 41:40 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.…
1 🧬 Debugging Aging: How a VR Pioneer is Revolutionizing Longevity | Michael Antonov (Part 3/4) 28:11
28:11 Play Later Play Later Lists Like Liked28:11
Play Later Play Later Lists Like Liked🧬 The Biotech Startups Podcast is powered by Excedr —helping life science startups accelerate R&D and commercialization with founder-friendly equipment leasing. Skip the upfront costs, stay lean, and focus on breakthrough science. As a TBSP listener, you can get exclusive perks through Excedr’s partner network—special savings, promotions, and more. Explore these offers today: https://www.excedr.com/partners . "My mind is analytical – so I wondered ‘what is the most exciting, impactful thing I could do?’ I felt we’re all growing older, so where is the technology of aging? How well do we understand the biochemistry of us as humans?" In this episode, Michael Antonov, Co-Founder of Oculus and Founder & CEO of Deep Origin, shares his bold leap from pioneering virtual reality to tackling the complexities of human aging and biotech innovation. Driven by a lifelong curiosity about biology and the mysteries of longevity, Michael reveals how his software background inspired him to "debug" biology, build better research tools, and launch Formic Ventures to back high-risk, high-reward startups. He discusses his vision for integrating computational and biological approaches, the promise of cellular reprogramming, and his mission to create a new ecosystem that empowers researchers and accelerates breakthroughs in extending human healthspan. Key topics covered: From Oculus to Biotech: Michael Antonov’s leap from VR pioneer to longevity-focused founder Debugging Biology: Using software logic to unravel aging’s complexity Investment Philosophy: Formic Ventures’ bold bets on transformative biotech Cellular Reprogramming: Rejuvenating cells to fight aging at its core Building Deep Origin: Unifying platforms to supercharge drug discovery and research If you enjoy The Biotech Startups Podcast, please consider subscribing, leaving a review, or sharing it with your friends. Thanks for listening. Subscribe to the Podcast: Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-biotech-startups-podcast/id1679591994 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2PSL162R2s0zOwU5913Zv4 Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@thebiotechstartupspodcast Website: https://www.thebiotechstartupspodcast.com/ Find our guest, Michael Antonov, at these links: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michaelantonov/ Website: https://www.linkedin.com/company/deep-origin/ Find our host, Jon Chee, at these links: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jonchee Learn more about Excedr: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/excedr/ Website: https://www.excedr.com Intro & Outro Songs Created by OkKyojin, Owned by Excedr: Website: https://flow.page/kyojin Resources & Articles: Cellular Reprogramming: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0167779922000257 Longevity.Technology: https://www.longevity.technology/ PyTorch: https://pytorch.org/ Carmel Browser and React VR: https://developers.meta.com/horizon/blog/carmel-developer-preview-launches-today/?locale=pt_PT The Michael Antonov Foundation: https://antonovfoundation.org/ Companies, Universities, & People mentioned: Deep Origin: https://deeporigin.com/ Oculus (Meta Quest): https://www.meta.com/quest/ Scaleform: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scaleform_GFx Formic Ventures: https://formic.vc/ TileDB: https://tiledb.com/ HKUST: https://hkust.edu.hk/ Garegin Papoian: https://www.linkedin.com/in/garegin-papoian-9472a85/ Timestamps: 00:00 Intro 01:22 Joining Facebook and Acquisition Experience 05:01 Resource Abundance and Internal Politics 06:41 Working at Facebook and Priorities 09:41 Early Fascination with Biology of Aging 15:17 Studying Biology at Berkeley Extension 17:39 Starting Biotech Investing 21:57 Learning the Ins and Outs of Investing 25:19 Challenges in Biotech Investing 26:24 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.…
1 🧬 Building Oculus: Innovation, Grit & the $2 Billion VR Revolution | Michael Antonov (Part 2/4) 36:14
36:14 Play Later Play Later Lists Like Liked36:14
Play Later Play Later Lists Like Liked🧬 The Biotech Startups Podcast is powered by Excedr —helping life science startups accelerate R&D and commercialization with founder-friendly equipment leasing. Skip the upfront costs, stay lean, and focus on breakthrough science. As a TBSP listener, you can get exclusive perks through Excedr’s partner network—special savings, promotions, and more. Explore these offers today: https://www.excedr.com/partners . "We were a small team, just a handful of people, trying to solve problems that had stumped the industry for decades. Every day felt like we were building the future from scratch." In this episode, Co-Founder of Oculus and Founder & CEO of Deep Origin, Michael Antonov, shares the inside story of how he and a small, driven team transformed virtual reality from a niche dream into a billion-dollar industry. From his early days at Scaleform to the rapid growth of Oculus, Michael recounts overcoming daunting technical and business challenges, the thrill of their record-breaking Kickstarter campaign, and the relentless innovation that led to Oculus’s $2 billion acquisition by Facebook. Listeners get a rare look at the mindset and decision-making behind one of tech’s most remarkable startup journeys, packed with lessons for entrepreneurs everywhere. Key topics covered: The early days at Scaleform and the transition to founding Oculus: Game tools to VR visionaries Overcoming technical hurdles in VR hardware and software development: Solving tough VR challenges Launching and scaling through the Oculus Rift Kickstarter campaign: Crowdfunding breakthrough Navigating rapid company growth and organizational challenges: Fast growth, big changes The acquisition process with Facebook and the future of virtual reality: $2B deal, new horizons If you enjoy The Biotech Startups Podcast, please consider subscribing, leaving a review, or sharing it with your friends. Thanks for listening. Subscribe to the Podcast: Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-biotech-startups-podcast/id1679591994 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2PSL162R2s0zOwU5913Zv4 Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@thebiotechstartupspodcast Website: https://www.thebiotechstartupspodcast.com/ Find our guest, Michael Antonov, at these links: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michaelantonov/ Website: https://www.linkedin.com/company/deep-origin/ Find our host, Jon Chee, at these links: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jonchee Learn more about Excedr: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/excedr/ Website: https://www.excedr.com Intro & Outro Songs Created by OkKyojin, Owned by Excedr: Website: https://flow.page/kyojin Resources & Articles: The History of the Future by Blake Harris: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/34017056-the-history-of-the-future Console Wars by Blake Harris: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18505802-console-wars Acquired Podcast: https://www.acquired.fm/episodes/episode-35-oculus Voices of VR Podcast: https://voicesofvr.com/745-the-history-of-the-future-book-on-oculus-role-in-the-modern-resurgence-of-vr/ Oculus Rift Kickstarter Campaign: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1523379957/oculus-rift-step-into-the-game Companies, Universities, & People mentioned: Deep Origin: https://deeporigin.com/ Oculus (Meta Quest): https://www.meta.com/quest/ Scaleform: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scaleform_GFx Valve: https://www.valvesoftware.com/ Brendan Iribe: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brendaniribe/ John Carmack: https://x.com/id_aa_carmack?lang=en Palmer Luckey: https://www.linkedin.com/in/palmer-luckey-21a16959/ Nate Mitchell: https://www.linkedin.com/in/natemitchell/ Gabe Newell: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gabe-newell-0721752bb/ Timestamps: 00:00 Intro 02:08 Moving to Orange County & Joining Autodesk 04:23 The Oculus Origin Story: Meeting Palmer Luckey 11:46 Early Prototypes and the Power of Kickstarter 16:31 Fulfilling Orders and Building the Team 20:06 Funding Realities and Internal Seed Round 23:08 Technical Breakthroughs: Tracking and Blurriness 28:33 Collaboration and Competition with Valve 29:43 Deciding to Build vs. Buy VR Tech 32:10 Raising Capital & Facebook’s Interest 34:01 First Acquisition Offer from Facebook 35:15 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.…
T
The Biotech Startups Podcast
1 🧬 The Borrowed Computer That Built Oculus - An Unlikely Biotech Journey | Michael Antonov (Part 1/4) 42:16
42:16 Play Later Play Later Lists Like Liked42:16
Play Later Play Later Lists Like Liked🧬 The Biotech Startups Podcast is powered by Excedr —helping life science startups accelerate R&D and commercialization with founder-friendly equipment leasing. Skip the upfront costs, stay lean, and focus on breakthrough science. As a TBSP listener, you can get exclusive perks through Excedr’s partner network—special savings, promotions, and more. Explore these offers today: https://www.excedr.com/partners . “There was this moment when I was 13 where a family friend brought a computer and I really liked games. It was just so fascinating. And then I could learn and write simple statements and logic. So that was like a little precursor, anything electronics, anything computers excited me. And biology was something I would hear about, but not really pay a lot of attention to.” In this episode of The Biotech Startups Podcast, we dive into the remarkable journey of Michael Antonov, Co-Founder of Oculus and Founder & CEO of Deep Origin, as he shares how growing up in post-Soviet Russia, surrounded by scarcity and a family of biologists, shaped his resourcefulness and ambition. A chance encounter with a borrowed computer sparked his lifelong passion for programming, steering him away from biology and into the world of software innovation. Michael recounts building foundational technologies in gaming and VR, co-founding Scaleform and Oculus, and navigating the challenges of scaling startups, forging pivotal partnerships, and eventually being acquired by Autodesk. His story is a testament to curiosity, resilience, and the power of seizing unexpected opportunities on the path from immigrant to influential entrepreneur in biotech and beyond. Key topics covered: Growing up in post-Soviet Russia: Scarcity, grit, and a family of biologists Discovering computers and programming: A creative escape and new direction Building and pivoting Scaleform: Dorm-room startup to game industry staple Securing major clients and networking: Landing deals through conferences and connections Navigating acquisition by Autodesk: Startup freedom meets corporate reality If you enjoy The Biotech Startups Podcast, please consider subscribing, leaving a review, or sharing it with your friends. Thanks for listening. Subscribe to the Podcast: Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-biotech-startups-podcast/id1679591994 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2PSL162R2s0zOwU5913Zv4 Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@thebiotechstartupspodcast Website: https://www.thebiotechstartupspodcast.com/ Find our guest, Michael Antonov, at these links: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michaelantonov/ Website: https://www.linkedin.com/company/deep-origin/ Find our host, Jon Chee, at these links: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jonchee Learn more about Excedr: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/excedr/ Website: https://www.excedr.com Intro & Outro Songs Created by OkKyojin, Owned by Excedr: Website: https://flow.page/kyojin Resources & Articles: Civilization IV: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Civilization_IV Adobe Flash: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adobe_Flash Game Developers Conference: https://gdconf.com/ Crysis: https://www.crytek.com/games/crysis Maya: https://www.autodesk.com/asean/products/maya/overview Scaleform GFX: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scaleform_GFx Companies, Universities, & People mentioned: Deep Origin: https://deeporigin.com/ Oculus (Meta Quest): https://www.meta.com/quest/ BioWare: https://www.bioware.com/ Autodesk: https://www.autodesk.com/ Nintendo: https://www.nintendo.com/ Brendan Iribe: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brendaniribe/ Timestamps: 00:00 Intro 02:47 Growing Up in Post-Soviet Russia 04:33 Family’s Background in Biology 06:56 First Encounter with Computers and Programming 09:45 High School in Maryland and Early Programming Projects 11:49 Choosing Computer Science and College Experience 15:32 Meeting Cofounder and Starting Scaleform 20:54 Building and Pivoting the Scaleform Product 23:31 Landing First Customers and Early Growth 28:16 Securing Big Clients and Gaining Industry Momentum 32:23 Deciding to Sell and the Autodesk Acquisition 36:35 Navigating Corporate Culture Post-Acquisition 40:29 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.…
T
The Biotech Startups Podcast
1 🧬 The Secret to Biotech Success: Time, Tools & Teamwork | Bogdan Knezevic (Part 4/4) 43:48
43:48 Play Later Play Later Lists Like Liked43:48
Play Later Play Later Lists Like Liked🧬 The Biotech Startups Podcast is powered by Excedr —helping life science startups accelerate R&D and commercialization with founder-friendly equipment leasing. Skip the upfront costs, stay lean, and focus on breakthrough science. As a TBSP listener, you can get exclusive perks through Excedr’s partner network—special savings, promotions, and more. Explore these offers today: https://www.excedr.com/partners . "It's not about avoiding failure. It's about avoiding every scenario where you look back and say, ‘I could have done this differently and we wouldn't be here.’" In this episode, host Jon Chee talks with Bogdan Knezevic, co-founder and CEO of Kaleidoscope, about how smart R&D infrastructure decisions can make or break biotech startups. Bogdan shares his journey from scientist to founder and explains how Kaleidoscope empowers teams to harness their data, streamline collaboration, and extend their runway. The conversation spotlights real-world examples of how operational efficiency and the right tools create compounding advantages, why time is the true currency in biotech, and how accelerating drug development can have a profound impact for patients. Bogdan also reflects on the importance of learning by doing and paying it forward in the entrepreneurial journey. Key topics covered: Building the “nerve center” for biotech R&D: Centralizing and streamlining operations. Why early infrastructure decisions are critical for biotech startups: Early choices shape growth. The compounding value of operational efficiency and smart tooling: Small gains drive big advantages. How saving time and capital can mean the difference between success and failure: Time and cash are everything. Personal lessons on mentorship, paying it forward, and learning by doing: Give back and take action . If you enjoy The Biotech Startups Podcast, please consider subscribing, leaving a review, or sharing it with your friends. Thanks for listening. Subscribe to the Podcast: Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-biotech-startups-podcast/id1679591994 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2PSL162R2s0zOwU5913Zv4 Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@thebiotechstartupspodcast Website: https://www.thebiotechstartupspodcast.com/ Find our guest, Bogdan Knezevic, at these links: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bogdanknezevic/ Website: https://www.kaleidoscope.bio/ Find our host, Jon Chee, at these links: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jonchee Learn more about Excedr: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/excedr/ Website: https://www.excedr.com Intro & Outro Songs Created by OkKyojin, Owned by Excedr: Website: https://flow.page/kyojin Resources & Articles: Cash Runway 101 https://www.excedr.com/blog/what-is-cash-runway Tips for Managing Cash Runway After Seed or Series A Financing https://www.excedr.com/blog/managing-cash-runway-after-seed-or-series-a-financing Companies, Universities, & People mentioned: HubSpot: https://www.hubspot.com/ Salesforce: https://www.salesforce.com/ Notion: https://www.notion.com/ AWS: https://aws.amazon.com/ Kaleidoscope Bio: https://www.kaleidoscope.bio/ Creative Destruction Lab: https://creativedestructionlab.com/ Entrepreneur First: https://www.joinef.com/ Timestamps: 00:00 Intro 02:02 Kaleidoscope’s mission and focus 05:15 Real-world platform use and data management 10:24 Early infrastructure decisions and tool adoption 15:25 Incremental improvements and operational efficiency 18:51 Time and capital as critical resources in biotech 22:21 Extending runway with equipment leasing and software 26:26 Kaleidoscope’s future and enterprise readiness 32:21 Impact on patient outcomes and urgency 38:15 Paying it forward and mentorship 39:38 Advice to aspiring founders 41:25 Closing remarks and 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.…
T
The Biotech Startups Podcast
1 🧬 Purpose-Driven Innovation: Building Teams to Solve Biotech Problems | Bogdan Knezevic (Part 3/4) 35:50
35:50 Play Later Play Later Lists Like Liked35:50
Play Later Play Later Lists Like Liked🧬 The Biotech Startups Podcast is powered by Excedr —helping life science startups accelerate R&D and commercialization with founder-friendly equipment leasing. Skip the upfront costs, stay lean, and focus on breakthrough science. As a TBSP listener, you can get exclusive perks through Excedr’s partner network—special savings, promotions, and more. Explore these offers today: https://www.excedr.com/partners . "Until you experience a thing, you don’t know a thing. That’s something that bothers me a lot with the investor world-unless you’ve done it, you don’t really know what the grind feels like." In this episode , Bogdan Knezevic, co-founder and CEO of Kaleidoscope, unpacks how hands-on experience-from the grind at Frequency Therapeutics to launching the Rhodes Incubator-shaped his passion for biotech startups and team building. He shares the pivotal role of serendipity and authentic networking at Creative Destruction Lab and Entrepreneur First, which ultimately set the stage for founding Kaleidoscope. Bogdan dives into the challenges of innovating biotech R&D infrastructure, the importance of collaboration, and why tackling meaningful problems drives his mission in a rapidly evolving industry. Key topics covered: Experiential Learning: Nothing beats firsthand experience in understanding biotech’s real challenges. Building Teams: Founding the Rhodes Incubator showed what truly makes teams thrive. Serendipity and Networking: Authentic outreach and chance meetings unlock major opportunities. From Academia to Entrepreneurship: The leap means tackling real-world problems that matter. Innovating Biotech Infrastructure: Kaleidoscope is digitizing R&D to speed up breakthroughs. If you enjoy The Biotech Startups Podcast, please consider subscribing, leaving a review, or sharing it with your friends. Thanks for listening. Subscribe to the Podcast: Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-biotech-startups-podcast/id1679591994 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2PSL162R2s0zOwU5913Zv4 Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@thebiotechstartupspodcast Website: https://www.thebiotechstartupspodcast.com/ Find our guest, Bogdan Knezevic, at these links: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bogdanknezevic/ Website: https://www.kaleidoscope.bio/ Find our host, Jon Chee, at these links: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jonchee Learn more about Excedr: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/excedr/ Website: https://www.excedr.com Intro & Outro Songs Created by OkKyojin, Owned by Excedr: Website: https://flow.page/kyojin Resources & Articles: Biotech Fundraising Milestones Resource: https://blog.kaleidoscope.bio/biotech-milestones-for-effective-fundraising/ Exhalation: Stories: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/41160292-exhalation Stories of Your Life and Other: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/223380.Stories_of_Your_Life_and_Others Companies, Universities, & People mentioned: Kaleidoscope Bio: https://www.kaleidoscope.bio/ Creative Destruction Lab: https://creativedestructionlab.com/ Entrepreneur First: https://www.joinef.com/ Ahmed Elnaiem: https://www.linkedin.com/in/aelnaiem/ David Yen: https://www.linkedin.com/in/david-y-e-n/ Matt Clifford: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mattcliffordef/?originalSubdomain=uk Timestamps: 00:00 Intro 02:00 Discovering a love for startups at Frequency Therapeutics 06:13 Launching the Rhodes Incubator and learning what makes teams work 08:01 Gaining startup know-how through student-run organizations 10:51 Building strong co-founder bonds and the value of team chemistry 13:38 Leading the AI stream at Creative Destruction Lab 17:31 Embracing serendipity and authentic networking 20:00 Helping launch Entrepreneur First’s Toronto program 22:35 Committing to start Kaleidoscope with longtime friends 25:41 Defining Kaleidoscope’s purpose and picking meaningful problems 29:34 Tackling biotech’s digital transformation and leaving paper behind 31:13 Shaping the future of biotech with next-gen product vision 34:55 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.…
T
The Biotech Startups Podcast
1 🧬 Letting Go to Level Up: Oxford, Identity, & Tenacity in Biotech | Bogdan Knezevic (Part 2/4) 34:16
34:16 Play Later Play Later Lists Like Liked34:16
Play Later Play Later Lists Like Liked🧬 The Biotech Startups Podcast is powered by Excedr —helping life science startups accelerate R&D and commercialization with founder-friendly equipment leasing. Skip the upfront costs, stay lean, and focus on breakthrough science. As a TBSP listener, you can get exclusive perks through Excedr’s partner network—special savings, promotions, and more. Explore these offers today: https://www.excedr.com/partners . "If you think you're above whatever-taking out the proverbial trash or doing the proverbial dishes or the laundry, whatever-that's when a company is cooked." In this episode , Bogdan Knezevic shares his journey from undergrad in Calgary to winning a Rhodes Scholarship and pursuing a PhD at Oxford, reflecting on the personal motivations, cultural shifts, and tough choices that shaped his path-including stepping away from elite swimming and ultimately realizing academia wasn’t for him. He opens up about the isolating yet magical environment of Oxford, the challenge of redefining his identity, and the gritty realities of working in early-stage biotech, emphasizing the importance of humility and hands-on work for startup founders. The conversation offers a candid look at how self-discovery, setbacks, and a willingness to “do the dishes” can shape a leader’s growth in biotech. Key topics covered: The Rhodes Scholarship decision : Chasing big dreams, family inspiration, and Oxford’s legendary pull Life at Oxford : A magical, isolating, and truly global grad experience Transitioning from elite athletics : Letting go of swimming to discover a new sense of self Academia vs. industry : Swapping academic uncertainty for the fast pace of biotech startups The value of humility and grit : Rolling up your sleeves and doing the unglamorous work that makes startups thrive If you enjoy The Biotech Startups Podcast, please consider subscribing, leaving a review, or sharing it with your friends. Thanks for listening. Subscribe to the Podcast: Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-biotech-startups-podcast/id1679591994 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2PSL162R2s0zOwU5913Zv4 Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@thebiotechstartupspodcast Website: https://www.thebiotechstartupspodcast.com/ Find our guest, Bogdan Knezevic, at these links: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bogdanknezevic/ Website: https://www.kaleidoscope.bio/ Find our host, Jon Chee, at these links: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jonchee Learn more about Excedr: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/excedr/ Website: https://www.excedr.com Intro & Outro Songs Created by OkKyojin, Owned by Excedr: Website: https://flow.page/kyojin Resources & Articles: Biotech Fundraising Milestones Resource: https://blog.kaleidoscope.bio/biotech-milestones-for-effective-fundraising/ Exhalation (book): https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/41160292-exhalation Stories of Your Life and Other (book): https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/223380.Stories_of_Your_Life_and_Others Andrew Ng’s Machine Learning Courses: https://www.coursera.org/collections/machine-learning Companies, Universities, & People mentioned: Kaleidoscope Bio: https://www.kaleidoscope.bio/ Frequency Therapeutics (Korro Bio): https://www.korrobio.com/ Andrew Ng: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrewyng/ Timestamps: 00:00 Intro 02:00 Early ambitions, family roots, and the Rhodes Scholarship spark 04:12 Chasing Oxford: Inspired by books and family legacy 07:01 Arriving at Oxford: Awe, isolation, and timelessness 10:42 Oxford life: Constant change, global mix, and “town vs. gown” 13:37 Adjusting to the UK: New ways to communicate and grow 16:24 Leaving swimming: Letting go and finding a new identity 19:43 Starting over at Oxford: Redefining success and self 23:07 Grad school grind: Uncertainty and academic culture shock 27:11 First taste of biotech: Startup life over academia 29:09 Startup reality: Humility, grit, and doing the dirty work 32:19 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.…
T
The Biotech Startups Podcast
1 🧬Immigrant Grit & Athletic Discipline: Building a Biotech Legacy | Bogdan Knezevic (Part 1/4) 44:29
44:29 Play Later Play Later Lists Like Liked44:29
Play Later Play Later Lists Like Liked🧬 The Biotech Startups Podcast is powered by Excedr —helping life science startups accelerate R&D and commercialization with founder-friendly equipment leasing. Skip the upfront costs, stay lean, and focus on breakthrough science. As a TBSP listener, you can get exclusive perks through Excedr’s partner network—special savings, promotions, and more. Explore these offers today: https://www.excedr.com/partners . "You have to do what you have to do to get to where you want to be, and work under the constraints you have. That means swallowing your ego and just realizing that's just the reality of it. You have to grind away if you're going to hit that success." In this episode of The Biotech Startups Podcast , Bogdan Knezevic, co-founder and CEO of Kaleidoscope, shares how his family’s escape from war-torn Serbia to Canada forged his relentless work ethic and sense of purpose. He recounts adapting to a new culture, the foundational support of family and mentors, and how his passion for science and math flourished in Canada’s diverse schools. As an elite swimmer and academic standout, Bogdan learned discipline and balance, skills that now drive his mission to make scientific research more collaborative and impactful. The conversation highlights his commitment to paying it forward by building supportive ecosystems in science and business for future generations Key topics covered: The Immigrant Experience: Family’s move from Serbia to Canada fueled drive and determination Building Resilience & Grit: Learned perseverance from parents’ sacrifices and adapting to change Early Academic Influences: Sparked love for science and math in a diverse setting Discipline Through Athletics: Juggled elite swimming and studies, forging lasting discipline The Power of Mentorship & Paying It Forward: Mentors shaped his path; now he empowers others If you enjoy The Biotech Startups Podcast, please consider subscribing, leaving a review, or sharing it with your friends. Thanks for listening. Subscribe to the Podcast: Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-biotech-startups-podcast/id1679591994 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2PSL162R2s0zOwU5913Zv4 Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@thebiotechstartupspodcast Website: https://www.thebiotechstartupspodcast.com/ Find our guest, Bogdan Knezevic, at these links: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bogdanknezevic/ Website: https://www.kaleidoscope.bio/ Find our host, Jon Chee, at these links: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jonchee Learn more about Excedr: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/excedr/ Website: https://www.excedr.com Intro & Outro Songs Created by OkKyojin, Owned by Excedr: Website: https://flow.page/kyojin Resources & Articles: Fundamentals of Human Neuropsychology by Bryan Kolb: https://students.aiu.edu/submissions/profiles/resources/onlineBook/d7t3G4_0716795868_Fundamentals.pdf The University of Calgary Neuroscience Program: https://www.ucalgary.ca/future-students/undergraduate/explore-programs/neuroscience Rhodes Scholarship: https://www.rhodeshouse.ox.ac.uk/scholarships/the-rhodes-scholarship/ Companies, Universities, & People mentioned: Kaleidoscope Bio: https://www.kaleidoscope.bio/ Ken Lukowiak: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ken-lukowiak-2b9a689/?originalSubdomain=ca Timestamps: 00:00 Intro 03:38 Bogdan's Upbringing in Serbia and Family's Immigration to Canada 05:40 Parents' Sacrifices and Building Resilience 10:30 Adapting to Canada: Culture Shock and Language Barriers 16:19 Early Schooling in Canada and Discovering Science/Math 21:24 Choosing Neuroscience and University Path 24:20 Balancing Elite Swimming with Academics 28:23 The Demanding Discipline of Competitive Swimming 34:23 Undergraduate Lab Experiences and Foundational Research Skills 38:31 The Power of Mentorship: Working with Ken Lukowiak 40:10 Paying It Forward in Science and Entrepreneurship 43:31 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.…
T
The Biotech Startups Podcast
1 🧬 Redefining Biotech: Building Enduring Value Beyond Acquisition | Rabia Khan (Part 4/4) 47:56
47:56 Play Later Play Later Lists Like Liked47:56
Play Later Play Later Lists Like Liked🧬 The Biotech Startups Podcast is powered by Excedr —helping life science startups accelerate R&D and commercialization with founder-friendly equipment leasing. Skip the upfront costs, stay lean, and focus on breakthrough science. As a TBSP listener, you can get exclusive perks through Excedr’s partner network—special savings, promotions, and more. Explore these offers today: https://www.excedr.com/partners . "If you are that person, if you feel like you can't find your box and you're off doing these random things that no one else seems to find interesting, it's okay. Embrace it. It's who you are and it's going to be your superpower someday." In this episode of The Biotech Startups Podcast , host Jon Chee sits down with Rabia Khan, founder and CEO of Serna Bio, to discuss her journey from Sensyne Health to building a data-driven biotech company pioneering RNA-targeted drug discovery. Rabia shares how she overcame scientific and operational hurdles, navigated contract research limitations, and boldly moved Serna Bio from the UK to San Francisco. She also reveals her intentional approach to company culture, frugality, and long-term impact—emphasizing her vision to create a biotech business built for enduring innovation, not just acquisition. Key topics covered: Breaking Industry Molds: Serna Bio puts RNA at the center, challenging protein-focused norms. Data-First Biotech: Massive RNA datasets drive unique insights. Lean Operations & Frugality: Every dollar fuels innovation. Company Building for Endurance: Built for long-term value, not quick exits. Authentic Leadership: Bold, authentic leadership for lasting impact. If you enjoy The Biotech Startups Podcast, please consider subscribing, leaving a review, or sharing it with your friends. Thanks for listening. Subscribe to the Podcast: Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-biotech-startups-podcast/id1679591994 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2PSL162R2s0zOwU5913Zv4 Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@thebiotechstartupspodcast Website: https://www.thebiotechstartupspodcast.com/ Find our guest, Rabia Khan, at these links: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rabiatkhan/ Website: https://www.serna.bio/ Find our host, Jon Chee, at these links: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jonchee Learn more about Excedr: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/excedr/ Website: https://www.excedr.com Intro & Outro Songs Created by OkKyojin, Owned by Excedr: Website: https://flow.page/kyojin Resources & Articles: Principles by Ray Dalio: https://www.principles.com/ Amazon’s Six-Page Memo & Culture of Frugality: https://www.larksuite.com/en_us/blog/amazon-6-pager The Druggable Genome: https://www.nature.com/articles/nrd892 Antifragile by Nassim Nicholas Taleb: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/13530973-antifragile Companies, Universities, & People mentioned: Serna Bio: https://www.serna.bio/ Sensyne Health: https://www.sensynehealth.com/ BenevolentAI: https://www.benevolent.com/ Y Combinator: https://www.ycombinator.com/ Bridgewater Associates: https://www.bridgewater.com/ Genentech: https://www.gene.com/ BioMarin: https://www.biomarin.com/ Regeneron: https://www.regeneron.com/ Jackie Hunter: https://www.linkedin.com/in/drjackiehunter/ Barry Ticho: https://www.linkedin.com/in/barryticho Ray Dalio: https://www.linkedin.com/in/raydalio/ Howard Marks: https://www.linkedin.com/in/howardmarksbook/ Nick Scott-Ram: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nick-scott-ram-637491b/?originalSubdomain=uk Timestamps: 00:00 Intro 02:01 Leaving Sensyne & Founding Serna Bio 03:52 The Vision: Drugging RNA with Small Molecules 09:46 Challenging the Status Quo of Protein-Centric Drug Discovery 12:30 Building the Serna Toolkit: Data, Models, and Assays 15:14 Operational Hurdles: Working with CROs & Building In-House Labs 22:03 Leadership Philosophy: Frugality, Creativity & Building Culture 28:35 Building Labs: UK vs. SF & Strategic Evolution 36:56 Vision for Serna: Building an Enduring Biotech Company 43:19 Advice to Founders: Embrace Discomfort & Authenticity 45:53 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.…
T
The Biotech Startups Podcast
1 🧬 Sales Skills & Resilience: Hidden Drivers of Biotech Success | Rabia Khan (Part 3/4) 37:40
37:40 Play Later Play Later Lists Like Liked37:40
Play Later Play Later Lists Like Liked🧬 The Biotech Startups Podcast is powered by Excedr —helping life science startups accelerate R&D and commercialization with founder-friendly equipment leasing. Skip the upfront costs, stay lean, and focus on breakthrough science. As a TBSP listener, you can get exclusive perks through Excedr’s partner network—special savings, promotions, and more. Explore these offers today: https://www.excedr.com/partners . "You have to be curious. You have to enjoy the problems as opposed to view them as problems. You can view them as puzzle pieces that you get to put together, which is a lot of fun." In this episode of The Biotech Startups Podcast, Rabia Khan shares the pivotal experiences that shaped her approach to biotech innovation, from her time at BenevolentAI and Sensyne Health to building and leading high-performance teams at the intersection of biology, machine learning, and clinical data. Rabia discusses the challenges of aligning scientists and engineers around a shared language, the importance of integrating platform and program development, and the cultural shifts needed to drive real innovation in drug discovery. She also reflects on the value of curiosity, risk-taking, and the lessons learned from managing major pharma partnerships and scaling teams under intense pressure. Key topics covered: Bridging Biology & Machine Learning: Breaking barriers to spark drug discovery innovation. Platform vs. Program Development: Integrate or stagnate—unite teams to win in biotech. Building & Leading Teams: Scaling fast and thriving in high-stakes pharma. The Power of Curiosity & Risk-Taking: Question, risk, and grow—breakthroughs follow. Sales & Resilience in Biotech: Master selling and stay tough to succeed in science. If you enjoy The Biotech Startups Podcast, please consider subscribing, leaving a review, or sharing it with your friends. Thanks for listening. Subscribe to the Podcast: Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-biotech-startups-podcast/id1679591994 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2PSL162R2s0zOwU5913Zv4 Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@thebiotechstartupspodcast Website: https://www.thebiotechstartupspodcast.com/ Find our guest, Rabia Khan, at these links: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rabiatkhan/ Website: https://www.serna.bio/ Find our host, Jon Chee, at these links: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jonchee Learn more about Excedr: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/excedr/ Website: https://www.excedr.com Intro & Outro Songs Created by OkKyojin, Owned by Excedr: Website: https://flow.page/kyojin Resources & Articles: ICD-10 Codes and the Classification of Disease: https://icd.who.int/browse10/2019/en HubSpot CEO on 20VC: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/20vc-hubspot-ceo-on-where-value-accrues-in-saas-ai/id958230465?i=1000699464274 The Economist’s Approach to Business Clarity and Value Creation: https://businesslibrary.uflib.ufl.edu/economicsbooks Companies, Universities, & People mentioned: BenevolentAI: https://www.benevolent.com/ Sensyne Health: https://www.sensynehealth.com/ Serna Bio: https://www.serna.bio/ Steven Hamblin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stevenrhamblin/?originalSubdomain=uk Kate Yen, Ph.D.: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kate-yen-448b22108/ Timestamps: 00:00 Intro 02:04 The Importance of Shared Language Across Disciplines 03:02 Platform vs. Program Development in Biotech 06:02 The Platform-Program Dichotomy and Capital Market Perspectives 07:29 Aligning Machine Learning Engineers and Biologists 09:30 Changing the Culture of Biology to Embrace Engineering Practices 11:07 The Role of Curiosity and Naivety in Innovation 12:18 Starting a Company: Risk-Taking and Support Systems 17:11 Transition from BenevolentAI to Sensyne Health 22:16 Challenges of Working with Clinical Data and ICD-10 Codes 25:17 Building and Scaling a Machine Learning Team at Sensyne Health 31:03 Leadership, Mentorship, and Hiring for Growth 33:14 The Underrated Power of Sales Skills in Biotech 36:57 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.…
T
The Biotech Startups Podcast
1 🧬 Rabia Khan - Serna Bio: Bridging Science & Tech—PhDs, MBAs, & Biotech Innovation (Part 2/4) 44:43
44:43 Play Later Play Later Lists Like Liked44:43
Play Later Play Later Lists Like Liked🧬 The Biotech Startups Podcast is powered by Excedr —helping life science startups accelerate R&D and commercialization with founder-friendly equipment leasing. Skip the upfront costs, stay lean, and focus on breakthrough science. As a TBSP listener, you can get exclusive perks through Excedr’s partner network—special savings, promotions, and more. Explore these offers today: https://www.excedr.com/partners . “I wish someone had told me when I was starting my PhD to sit down and say, ‘what do I want out of this?’ and [then] write it down. Because, unlike the UK, where PhDs are three years and time bound, in Canada, they are neither time bound nor three years. And so you can meander." In this episode of The Biotech Startups Podcast, Rabia Khan, founder and CEO of Serna Bio , joins host Jon Chee to reflect on her unconventional journey through academia, business, and biotech innovation. Rabia shares how her curiosity, resilience, and embracing uncertainty shaped her journey through a PhD in genetics and an MBA. She discusses the emotional challenges of working with animal models, the benefits and limits of business school for scientists, and personal struggles, including her father’s illness. She recounts early setbacks, like rejected consulting jobs, and how a cold email landed her at Meta (now part of Chan Zuckerberg Biohub). Rabia emphasizes “manufacturing serendipity,” differences between founder and employee mindsets, and lessons from her work at BenevolentAI, highlighting the importance of cross-disciplinary communication and challenging industry norms. Key topics covered: PhD Realities: Tackling emotional and practical research challenges Dual-Degree Insights: Balancing PhD and MBA, knowing business limits Personal Adversity: Turning family illness into resilience Career Breakthroughs: Creating and seizing biotech startup chances Bridging Disciplines: Fusing biology and ML to expand drug targets If you enjoy The Biotech Startups Podcast, please consider subscribing, leaving a review, or sharing it with your friends. Thanks for listening. Subscribe to the Podcast: Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-biotech-startups-podcast/id1679591994 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2PSL162R2s0zOwU5913Zv4 Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@thebiotechstartupspodcast Website: https://www.thebiotechstartupspodcast.com/ Find our guest, Rabia Khan, at these links: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rabiatkhan/ Website: https://www.serna.bio/ Find our host, Jon Chee, at these links: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jonchee Learn more about Excedr: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/excedr/ Website: https://www.excedr.com Intro & Outro Songs Created by OkKyojin, Owned by Excedr: Website: https://flow.page/kyojin Resources & Articles: Case in Point (book): https://caseinterview.com/case-in-point SWOT Analysis: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SWOT_analysis CRISPR Technology: https://www.genome.gov/genetics-glossary/CRISPR iPSC (Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Induced_pluripotent_stem_cell GWAS (Genome-Wide Association Studies): https://www.nature.com/articles/s43586-021-00056-9 Ensembl: https://www.ensembl.org/index.html The concept of the “druggable genome”: https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/bioinformatics/articles/10.3389/fbinf.2022.958378/full Companies, Universities, & People mentioned: Francis Crick Institute: https://www.crick.ac.uk/ BenevolentAI: https://www.benevolent.com/ Meta (Acquired by Chan Zuckerberg Biohub): https://techcrunch.com/2017/01/23/chan-zuckerberg-initiative-meta/ GSK (GlaxoSmithKline): https://www.gsk.com/ Thermo Fisher Scientific: https://www.thermofisher.com/ Sensyne Health: https://www.sensyne.com/ Sam Molyneux: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sammolyneux Amy Molyneux: https://www.linkedin.com/in/amymolyneux/ Jackie Hunter: https://www.linkedin.com/in/drjackiehunter/ Timestamps: 00:00 Intro 00:49 Rabia’s PhD Experience and Challenges 06:07 Comparing PhD Systems in Canada vs. UK 08:21 MBA Insights and Frameworks 14:28 Personal Adversity and Career Impact 17:05 Coping with Family Illness and Career Decisions 21:26 First Job at Meta and Serendipity 30:00 Postdoc at Francis Crick Institute 35:10 Joining BenevolentAI and Early Experiences 39:24 Challenges in Drug Discovery and Druggable Genome 43:41 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.…
T
The Biotech Startups Podcast
1 🧬 Rabia Khan - Serna Bio: Unraveling the Genetics of AI-Driven Drug Discovery (Part 1/4) 47:44
47:44 Play Later Play Later Lists Like Liked47:44
Play Later Play Later Lists Like Liked🧬 The Biotech Startups Podcast is powered by Excedr —helping life science startups accelerate R&D and commercialization with founder-friendly equipment leasing. Skip the upfront costs, stay lean, and focus on breakthrough science. As a TBSP listener, you can get exclusive perks through Excedr’s partner network—special savings, promotions, and more. Explore these offers today: https://www.excedr.com/partners . "I was born and raised in a developing country. I was born and raised in Pakistan. And it's very interesting when you're born in a developing country. That's your world. Right? That's all you know." In this episode of The Biotech Startups Podcast, we delve into Rabia Khan's remarkable journey from her childhood in Pakistan to founding Serna Bio, an AI-enabled drug discovery company. Rabia shares how her early experiences in a developing country, her aunt's battle with schizophrenia, and the sequencing of the human genome in 2000 sparked her passion for genetics and healthcare. She recounts how her career options were either medicine or engineering, setting her on a path that would eventually lead to pioneering work at the intersection of AI and biotechnology. Rabia describes her transition to McGill University in Montreal, facing the shock of -40°C weather with only a leather jacket while navigating life as an international student with no support system. Despite these challenges, she pursued dual interests in biology and economics, finding her first research opportunity in a schizophrenia lab where she started by pipetting water and washing dishes. Key topics covered: Formative Influences: Shaped by Pakistan upbringing, aunt's schizophrenia, and genome sequencing Educational Journey: Balancing biology and economics at McGill First Research Experiences: From lab basics to discovering a disease-causing gene Decision-Making Frameworks: Applying economics principles to business decisions Family Influence: Mother's practicality and father's entrepreneurial drive guided her path If you enjoy The Biotech Startups Podcast, please consider subscribing, leaving a review, or sharing it with your friends. Thanks for listening. Subscribe to the Podcast: Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-biotech-startups-podcast/id1679591994 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2PSL162R2s0zOwU5913Zv4 Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@thebiotechstartupspodcast Website: https://www.thebiotechstartupspodcast.com/ Find our guest, Rabia Khan, at these links: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rabiatkhan/ Website: https://www.serna.bio/ Find our host, Jon Chee, at these links: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jonchee Learn more about Excedr: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/excedr/ Website: https://www.excedr.com Intro & Outro Songs Created by OkKyojin, Owned by Excedr: Website: https://flow.page/kyojin Resources & Articles: The Human Genome Project https://www.genome.gov/human-genome-project Schizophrenia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Schizophrenia Opportunity Cost https://www.investopedia.com/terms/o/opportunitycost.asp Marginal Utility https://www.investopedia.com/terms/m/marginalutility.asp The Prisoner's Dilemma https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prisoner%27s_dilemma Ray Dalio's Decision Making Frameworks https://www.principles.com/principles/7df5502f-46e5-47d5-8fd7-8fc70843b726/ Nassim Taleb's Antifragility https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Antifragile_(book) Black Swan by Nassim Taleb https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Black_Swan:_The_Impact_of_the_Highly_Improbable McGill University's Human Genetics Program https://www.mcgill.ca/humangenetics/our-programs/program-information Hydatidiform Moles Research https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK459155/ Companies, Universities, & People mentioned: Benevolent AI: https://www.benevolent.com/ Meta: https://techcrunch.com/2017/01/23/chan-zuckerberg-initiative-meta/ Bayer: https://www.bayer.com/ BMS (Bristol Myers Squibb): https://www.bms.com/ Roche: https://www.roche.com/ Alexion: https://www.alexion.com/ Gustavo Turecki https://douglas.research.mcgill.ca/gustavo-turecki/ Rima Slim https://scholar.google.ca/citations?user=UwK8NS8AAAAJ&hl=en Danielle Malo https://www.linkedin.com/in/danielle-malo-a204a174/ Ray Dalio https://www.linkedin.com/in/raydalio/ Nassim Taleb https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nassim_Nicholas_Taleb Timestamps: 00:00 Intro 03:18 Upbringing in Pakistan and Early Influences 07:27 Formative Experiences: Human Genome Sequencing and Aunt's Schizophrenia 13:49 Educational Experience: British System and Academic Rigor 17:21 Economics and Biology: Dual Interests and Decision Making Frameworks 23:31 Decision Making: Opportunity Cost and Probabilistic Thinking 28:51 International Education: Choosing McGill University 34:09 First Lab Experience: Working in a Schizophrenia Research Lab 40:43 Undergraduate Research: Discovering the Gene for Hydatidiform Moles 45:43 Father's Influence on PhD Decision 48:31 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.…
T
The Biotech Startups Podcast
1 🧬Alfredo Andere - LatchBio: Revolutionizing Biopharma Data & Mastering Enterprise Sales (Part 4/4) 48:45
48:45 Play Later Play Later Lists Like Liked48:45
Play Later Play Later Lists Like Liked🧬 The Biotech Startups Podcast is powered by Excedr —helping life science startups accelerate R&D and commercialization with founder-friendly equipment leasing. Skip the upfront costs, stay lean, and focus on breakthrough science. As a TBSP listener, you can get exclusive perks through Excedr’s partner network—special savings, promotions, and more. Explore these offers today: https://www.excedr.com/partners . "Focus and commitment to niche ideas have huge payoffs." In part four of our conversation with Alfredo Andere, co-founder of LatchBio, we explore how the company evolved from a simple workflow orchestrator into a comprehensive platform serving biopharma companies and solution providers. Alfredo shares his approach to enterprise sales, emphasizing the importance of speed, focus, and building strong relationships with customers. He also delves into his philosophy on fundraising and the pivotal role of iterative development in creating impactful biotech solutions. Alfredo reflects on the challenges and rewards of working in niche markets, explaining why deep commitment and loyalty to specific problems are essential for long-term success. Whether you’re a first-time founder or an experienced entrepreneur, this episode is packed with actionable insights on building, selling, and scaling in the biotech space. Key topics covered: Iterative product development: Expanding LatchBio’s platform from workflows to data storage and analysis Biopharma vs. solution providers: How LatchBio serves these distinct customer groups Enterprise sales best practices: Qualifying leads and acting as a consultant to customer problems Fundraising strategies: Why early-stage rounds focus on vision and team, while later rounds prioritize traction The power of focus: Avoiding the trap of optionality and scaling only when ready If you enjoy The Biotech Startups Podcast, please consider subscribing, leaving a review, or sharing it with your friends. Thanks for listening. Subscribe to the Podcast: Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-biotech-startups-podcast/id1679591994 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2PSL162R2s0zOwU5913Zv4 Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@thebiotechstartupspodcast Website: https://www.thebiotechstartupspodcast.com/ Find our guest, Alfredo Andere, at these links: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alfredoandere/ Website: https://www.linkedin.com/company/latchbio/ Find our host, Jon Chee, at these links: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jonchee Learn more about Excedr: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/excedr/ Website: https://www.excedr.com Intro & Outro Songs Created by OkKyojin, Owned by Excedr: Website: https://flow.page/kyojin Resources & Articles: Viktor Frankl's "Man’s Search for Meaning": https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/4069.Man_s_Search_for_Meaning Lux Capital’s Article: Why High-Throughput Bio Research Needs Better Tools: Immediately: https://www.luxcapital.com/content/why-high-throughput-bio-research-needs-better-tools-immediately AlphaFold 2: https://alphafold.ebi.ac.uk/ Bulk RNA-seq Analysis Tools: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_RNA-Seq_bioinformatics_tools Paul Graham’s "How to Raise Money": https://www.paulgraham.com/fr.html Companies, Universities, & People mentioned: Latch Bio: https://latch.bio Illumina: https://illumina.com Oxford Nanopore Technologies: https://nanoporetech.com 10x Genomics: https://10xgenomics.com Fluent BioSciences: https://www.fluentbio.com/ Scale 10x: https://startupmission.kerala.gov.in/pages/scale10x Complete Genomics: https://www.completegenomics.com Kenny Workman: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kennyworkman Kyle Giffin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kylegiffin Aidan Abdulali: https://www.linkedin.com/in/aidanabdulali Nathan Manske: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nathan-manske-0232a192/ Michael Paliotti: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michael-paliotti Timestamps: 00:00 Intro 01:56 LatchBio’s Evolution and Iterative Development 08:20 Biopharma vs. Solution Providers 14:01 Enterprise Sales Philosophy 23:38 Fundraising Strategies and Team Building 34:59 Future Vision for LatchBio 39:36 Closing Thoughts and Shoutouts 43:46 Advice to 21-Year-Old Self 46:21 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.…
T
The Biotech Startups Podcast
1 🧬Alfredo Andere - LatchBio: Building Biotech Data Tools to Revolutionize Life Sciences (Part 3/4) 31:29
31:29 Play Later Play Later Lists Like Liked31:29
Play Later Play Later Lists Like Liked🧬The Biotech Startups Podcast is powered by Excedr —helping life science startups accelerate R&D and commercialization with founder-friendly equipment leasing. Reduce upfront equipment costs. Accelerate R&D. Reach commercial milestones faster. 🎁TBSP listeners get exclusive offers through Excedr’s partner network—including special discounts, promos, and more: https://www.excedr.com/partners . "A lot of decisions when you're doing a startup come down to being naive enough to not know how hard it's going to be—and taking that leap of faith." In part three of our conversation with Alfredo Andere, co-founder of LatchBio, we dive into the early days of building a biotech startup from scratch. Alfredo shares how his team’s chemistry and blind faith led them to drop out of college and fully commit to solving biotech’s data infrastructure challenges. He details their rigorous market research process, which involved conducting hundreds of user interviews, and how this groundwork helped them raise an oversubscribed $5 million seed round led by Lux Capital. Alfredo also reflects on the stark contrast between cutting-edge data tools at tech giants like Google and the outdated methods still used in biotech, emphasizing the massive opportunity to revolutionize life sciences. Key topics covered: Building trust and chemistry as a founding team: The decision to drop out and go all-in on LatchBio Biotech’s data problem: Why outdated tools are holding back life sciences innovation Market research done right: 200+ pages of notes and six paying customers before launching a product Raising $5M in seed funding: How preparation and customer validation gave LatchBio a competitive edge Lessons on naivete in entrepreneurship: Why bold risks are essential for tackling big problems If you enjoy The Biotech Startups Podcast, please consider subscribing, leaving a review, or sharing it with your friends. Thanks for listening. Subscribe to the podcast: Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-biotech-startups-podcast/id1679591994 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2PSL162R2s0zOwU5913Zv4 Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@excedr Website: https://www.thebiotechstartupspodcast.com/ Find our guest, Alfredo Andere, at these links: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alfredoandere/ Website: https://www.linkedin.com/company/latchbio/ 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 and articles: Viktor Frankl's "Man’s Search for Meaning": https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/4069.Man_s_Search_for_Meaning Lux Capital Insights: https://www.luxcapital.com/riskgaming#content The Acquired Podcast featuring Jensen Huang: https://www.acquired.fm/episodes/jensen-huang Taiwan Incubator Program: https://startup.sme.gov.tw/en/ia Next Generation Sequencing (NGS): https://www.excedr.com/blog/next-generation-sequencing-101 Google and Facebook Data Infrastructure: https://medium.com/illumination/facebook-google-and-digital-public-infrastructure-ee854e1896eb Bulk RNA-seq Analysis Tools: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_RNA-Seq_bioinformatics_tools Machine Learning Applications in Biotech: https://cdn.fortunejournals.com/articles/ai-and-machine-learning-in-biotechnology-a-paradigm.pdf Companies, universities, & people mentioned: LatchBio: https://latch.bio/ Lux Capital: https://www.luxcapital.com Google: https://www.google.com Facebook (Meta): https://www.facebook.com Excedr: https://www.excedr.com Vivos Therapeutics: https://www.vivos.com Kenny Workman: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kennyworkman Kyle Giffin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kylegiffin Brandon Reeves: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brandonreeves1 Jensen Huang: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jenhsunhuang/ Timestamps: 00:00 Intro 01:56 Team Chemistry and Founding Relationships 04:30 Exploring Different Project Ideas 06:34 The Decision to Drop Out of College 09:00 The Role of Naivete in Entrepreneurship 11:38 Biotech vs. Computer Science: Understanding Complex Systems 13:14 Taiwan Incubator Experience 17:22 Market Research: 200+ Pages of User Interviews 21:05 Biotech's Data Infrastructure Problem 25:21 Raising an Oversubscribed $5M Seed Round 29:38 The Future of Biotech Data Analysis 30:30 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.…
T
The Biotech Startups Podcast
1 🧬Alfredo Andere - LatchBio: College Friends, Biotech Beginnings & Thoughtful Persistence (Part 2/4) 34:11
34:11 Play Later Play Later Lists Like Liked34:11
Play Later Play Later Lists Like Liked"You will be surprised what you can achieve with thoughtful persistence." In part two of our conversation with Alfredo Andere, co-founder of LatchBio, we dive into his transformative journey at UC Berkeley, where he developed a passion for machine learning and neuroscience. Alfredo shares how his persistence and curiosity helped him join the highly competitive Machine Learning at Berkeley club, which became a pivotal moment in shaping his entrepreneurial mindset. He reflects on the lessons learned from internships at Facebook, UCSF, and Google Brain, and how these experiences clarified his desire to pursue startup life over a traditional tech career. Alfredo also recounts the early days of working with his co-founders on ambitious projects, including their first failed startup attempt, and how those challenges led them to explore opportunities in biotech. This episode offers valuable insights into navigating uncertainty, embracing trial and error, and building meaningful collaborations. Key topics covered: The power of thoughtful persistence: How Alfredo's determination led to joining a top-tier student organization at UC Berkeley. Lessons from internships: Insights gained from working at Facebook, UCSF, and Google Brain—and why he ultimately chose startups. The importance of community: How Machine Learning at Berkeley shaped Alfredo's leadership skills and introduced him to like-minded peers. Early startup lessons: The challenges of building a product without understanding the market and the value of user research. Transitioning to biotech: How Alfredo’s passion for neuroscience evolved into tackling critical problems in life sciences with his co-founders. If you enjoy The Biotech Startups Podcast, please consider subscribing, leaving a review, or sharing it with your friends. Thanks for listening. Subscribe to the podcast: Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-biotech-startups-podcast/id1679591994 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2PSL162R2s0zOwU5913Zv4 Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@excedr Website: https://www.thebiotechstartupspodcast.com/ Find our guest, Alfredo Andere, at these links: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alfredoandere/ Website: https://www.linkedin.com/company/latchbio/ 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 and articles: Machine Learning at Berkeley (ML@B): https://ml.berkeley.edu/ Viktor Frankl's "Man’s Search for Meaning": https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/4069.Man_s_Search_for_Meaning Neuralink Research Paper: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6914248/ Berkeley NeuroDust Project: https://engineering.berkeley.edu/news/2016/11/neural-dust/ TensorFlow by Google Brain: https://www.tensorflow.org/ Bulk RNA-seq: https://www.scdiscoveries.com/support/what-is-bulk-rna-sequencing/ AlphaFold 2: https://alphafold.ebi.ac.uk/ Companies, universities, & people mentioned: Dyno Therapeutics: https://www.dynotx.com/ LatchBio: https://latch.bio/ Facebook (Meta): https://www.facebook.com Google Brain (now part of Google DeepMind): https://research.google/brain Neuralink: https://neuralink.com University of California, San Francisco (UCSF): https://www.ucsf.edu Kenny Workman: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kennyworkman Kyle Giffin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kylegiffin Timestamps: 00:00 Intro 01:28 College Friendships and Early Seeds of LatchBio 03:46 Joining Machine Learning at Berkeley: Challenges and Growth 07:01 Transformational Impact of Student Organizations 12:08 Running the Machine Learning Club at Berkeley: Leadership Lessons 18:14 Introduction to Neuroscience and Life Sciences 21:38 Internships at Facebook, UCSF, and Google Brain 26:36 Lessons from Early Startup Attempts 29:12 Dropping Out of Berkeley to Pursue Entrepreneurship Full-Time 32:05 Balancing Academic and Entrepreneurial Pursuits 33:11 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.…
T
The Biotech Startups Podcast
1 🧬 Alfredo Andere - LatchBio: Conquering Berkeley's EECS & Building a Global Vision (Part 1) 37:31
37:31 Play Later Play Later Lists Like Liked37:31
Play Later Play Later Lists Like Liked🧬 The Biotech Startups Podcast is powered by Excedr —helping life science startups accelerate R&D and commercialization with founder-friendly equipment leasing. Skip the upfront costs, stay lean, and focus on breakthrough science. As a TBSP listener, you can get exclusive perks through Excedr’s partner network—special savings, promotions, and more. Explore these offers today: https://www.excedr.com/partners . "I had to make a decision because I knew that if nothing changed, I was just gonna fail out of EECS. I remember EECS actually sent me a letter where they were like, 'Hey, if your GPA continues this low, you will be kicked out next semester.'" In part one of our conversation with Alfredo Andere, we delve into his journey from Mexico to the prestigious EECS program at UC Berkeley. Alfredo shares his early fascination with technology, the challenges of adapting to a new educational system, and the pivotal moments that shaped his academic and personal growth. Raised in various cities across Mexico, Alfredo's passion for technology was sparked by reading biographies of tech leaders like Steve Jobs and Elon Musk. His entrepreneurial spirit emerged early when he organized a forum that attracted high-profile speakers, including former Mexican presidents, to his all-boys Catholic high school. Despite initial struggles with calculus at Berkeley, Alfredo's determination and commitment to his studies ultimately led to his success in the competitive EECS program. Key topics covered: Upbringing in Mexico: Moving between cities and experiencing different cultures Early tech inspiration: Impact of reading biographies and following Apple keynotes High school innovation: Creating a forum with 4,000 attendees and notable speakers Transition to US education: Challenges of applying to and choosing Berkeley Academic resilience: Overcoming initial struggles in EECS through intense dedication If you enjoy The Biotech Startups Podcast, please consider subscribing, leaving a review, or sharing it with your friends. Thanks for listening. Subscribe to the podcast: Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-biotech-startups-podcast/id1679591994 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2PSL162R2s0zOwU5913Zv4 Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@excedr Website: https://www.thebiotechstartupspodcast.com/ Find our guest, Alfredo Andere, at these links: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alfredoandere/ Website: https://www.linkedin.com/company/latchbio/ 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 and articles: AWS (Amazon Web Services): https://aws.amazon.com/ AstraZeneca: https://www.astrazeneca.com/ GCP (Google Cloud Platform): https://cloud.google.com/ EVO https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6589126/ AlphaFold 2: https://alphafold.ebi.ac.uk/ Dyno Therapeutics: https://www.dynotx.com/ Bulk RNA-seq: https://www.scdiscoveries.com/support/what-is-bulk-rna-sequencing/ Companies, universities, & people mentioned: Apple: https://www.apple.com/ LatchBio: https://latch.bio/ UC Berkeley: https://www.berkeley.edu/ Uri Levine: https://il.linkedin.com/in/uri-levine Felipe Calderon: https://www.linkedin.com/in/felipe-calderon-9b104a23/?originalSubdomain=mx Vicente Fox: https://www.linkedin.com/in/vincente-fox-president/?originalSubdomain=mx Timestamps: 00:00 Intro 02:50 Alfredo's upbringing in Mexico and early influences 05:24 Reading biographies of tech leaders and early inspirations 08:09 Developing interest in technology and Apple 11:51 High school experience in Mexico 15:40 The importance of relationships in Mexican business culture 20:10 Creating a forum that attracted high-profile speakers 23:13 The power of persistence and networking 27:10 Application process to US universities and choosing Berkeley 31:22 First experiences at Berkeley and academic challenges 35:14 Struggling with calculus and the pivotal decision to commit 35:39 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.…
T
The Biotech Startups Podcast
1 🧬 Michael Paliotti - MilliporeSigma: Master Biotech Sales & Build High-Performance Teams (Part 4/4) 30:19
30:19 Play Later Play Later Lists Like Liked30:19
Play Later Play Later Lists Like Liked🧬 The Biotech Startups Podcast is powered by Excedr —helping life science startups accelerate R&D and commercialization with founder-friendly equipment leasing. Skip the upfront costs, stay lean, and focus on breakthrough science. As a TBSP listener, you can get exclusive perks through Excedr’s partner network—special savings, promotions, and more. Explore these offers today: https://www.excedr.com/partners . "I see myself as a player coach. I really try to do what I can to be in the trenches as much as I can. I'm out on the field." In the final part of our conversation with Michael Paliotti, we delve into his extensive experience in biotech sales and leadership. Michael shares insights on the nuances of working with different types of clients, from academia to large pharma and emerging biotech companies. He discusses his transition into management during the COVID-19 pandemic and his approach to leading and developing his team. Michael's leadership philosophy emphasizes building strong relationships, both with clients and team members. He stresses the importance of empathy, trust, and removing barriers for his team to succeed. His approach to management is rooted in his own experiences as a sales representative, allowing him to relate to his team's challenges and provide meaningful support. Key topics covered: Tailoring sales approaches for different client types: academia, large pharma, and emerging biotech Transitioning from individual contributor to team manager during the pandemic Leadership philosophy focused on relationship-building and empathy Developing and retaining talent in a competitive industry Long-term career aspirations and the importance of mentorship in biotech If you enjoy The Biotech Startups Podcast, please consider subscribing, leaving a review, or sharing it with your friends. Thanks for listening. Subscribe to the podcast: Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-biotech-startups-podcast/id1679591994 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2PSL162R2s0zOwU5913Zv4 Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@excedr Website: https://www.thebiotechstartupspodcast.com/ Find our guest, Michael Paliotti, at these links: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michael-paliotti/ Website: http://www.sigmaaldrich.com/ 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 and articles: University of Notre Dame Biology Program: https://biology.nd.edu/undergraduate/programs-of-study/biology-major/ Duquesne University Master's Program in Biology: https://www.duq.edu/academics/colleges-and-schools/science-and-engineering/academics/departments-and-programs/biological-sciences/index.php University of Pittsburgh HIV Research Lab: https://dom.pitt.edu/id/research/clinicalresearch/hivclinicalresearch/ Kodak's Research and Development Division: https://www.kodak.com/en/company/page/innovation/ Luminex Multiplexing Equipment: https://www.rndsystems.com/products/luminex-instrumentation Companies, universities, & people mentioned: MilliporeSigma: https://www.sigmaaldrich.com/US/en University of Pittsburgh: https://www.pitt.edu/ Xerox Business Services: https://www.xerox.com/en-us/business-solutions Johnson & Johnson (J&J): https://www.jnj.com/ Novartis: https://www.novartis.com/ Pfizer: https://www.pfizer.com/ University of California, San Diego (UCSD): https://ucsd.edu/ Genoptix: https://www.genoptix.com/ Cellomics: https://www.thermofisher.com/us/en/home/life-science/cell-analysis/cellular-imaging/high-content-screening.html Nucleate: https://nucleate.xyz/ Ronald Montelaro https://www.linkedin.com/in/ronald-montelaro-49558b23/ Jane Berry https://www.linkedin.com/in/jane-berry-40038012/ Kelly Yamagata https://www.linkedin.com/in/kelly-yamagata/ Arunima Kumar https://www.linkedin.com/in/arunmaara/ Tiffany Nguyen https://www.linkedin.com/in/nguyentiffany/ Samantha Odo https://www.linkedin.com/in/samantha-odo-9a39252/ Amela Tsai https://www.linkedin.com/in/amelatsai/ Je'Anna Barrett https://www.linkedin.com/in/connectwithjeanna/ Joe Stachewicz https://www.linkedin.com/in/destinationdigital/ Frédéric Sattler https://www.linkedin.com/in/fr%C3%A9d%C3%A9ric-sattler-58a9a345/ Bernardo Jaramillo https://www.linkedin.com/in/bernardo-jaramillo-06579698/ Darae Jun https://www.linkedin.com/in/darae-jun/ Sumreet Banka https://www.linkedin.com/in/sumreet-banka-73372317/ Candice Sanscartier https://www.linkedin.com/in/candice-sanscartier/ Suzie Shrestha https://www.linkedin.com/in/suzieshrestha/ Timestamps: 00:00 Intro 02:11 Differences in working with academia, large pharma, and small biotechs 06:52 Impact of white glove service on emerging companies 09:25 The interconnected nature of the biotech ecosystem 12:26 Transitioning from individual contributor to team manager 18:09 Leadership philosophy and approach to managing a team 23:23 Long-term mindset and developing institutional knowledge 25:17 Shoutouts to supporters along the way 27:10 Advice to 21-year-old self 28:27 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.…
T
The Biotech Startups Podcast
1 🧬 Michael Paliotti: Blending Science, Sales, and Side Hustles in Biotech (Part 3/4) 41:18
41:18 Play Later Play Later Lists Like Liked41:18
Play Later Play Later Lists Like Liked🧬 The Biotech Startups Podcast is powered by Excedr —helping life science startups accelerate R&D and commercialization with founder-friendly equipment leasing. Skip the upfront costs, stay lean, and focus on breakthrough science. As a TBSP listener, you can get exclusive perks through Excedr’s partner network—special savings, promotions, and more. Explore these offers today: https://www.excedr.com/partners . “Trust takes time—but it lasts longer than any sale.” In part three of our conversation with Michael Paliotti, we dive into his transition from field application scientist to full-time sales at MilliporeSigma. He opens up about his initial hesitation, how he overcame it, and why relationship-building—not quotas—became the foundation of his sales approach. Michael reflects on the experiences that shaped his mindset, from going the extra mile for colleagues to finding interests to genuinely connect over. For him, great sales isn’t about pushing products—it’s about solving problems, building trust, and being present. He also talks about how this philosophy led to unexpected opportunities, like launching a winery with close friends during the pandemic. What started as a casual wine-tasting class turned into a business rooted in the same values that guide his sales career. An experienced team leader, Michael emphasizes coaching through effort and empathy—encouraging his reps to focus on relationships as much as results. His story is a reminder that in biotech sales, success often comes from being helpful, human, and in it for the long haul. Key topics covered : Shifting from scientist to sales and making it work Turning casual conversations into lasting trust Helping customers by going the extra mile Meeting goals without losing the human touch Coaching teams to lead with effort and empathy If you enjoy The Biotech Startups Podcast, please consider subscribing, leaving a review, or sharing it with your friends. Thanks for listening. Subscribe to the podcast: Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-biotech-startups-podcast/id1679591994 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2PSL162R2s0zOwU5913Zv4 Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@excedr Website: https://www.thebiotechstartupspodcast.com/ Find our guest, Michael Paliotti, at these links: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michael-paliotti/ Website: http://www.sigmaaldrich.com/ 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 and articles: Luminex instrumentation: https://www.thermofisher.com/us/en/home/life-science/antibodies/immunoassays/procartaplex-assays-luminex/luminex-instruments.html Unreasonable Hospitality (by Will Guidara): https://www.amazon.com/Unreasonable-Hospitality-Remarkable-Giving-People/dp/0593418573 Excedr equipment leasing: https://www.excedr.com/leasing Capital Lease vs. Operating Lease: https://www.excedr.com/blog/capital-lease-vs-operating-lease Maximizing Equipment ROI: https://www.excedr.com/blog/maximizing-equipment-roi Marketing & Sales Strategies for Biotechs: https://www.excedr.com/blog/marketing-sales-strategies-for-biotechs Companies, universities, & people mentioned: MilliporeSigma: https://www.sigmaaldrich.com/US/en Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science: https://www.cdrewu.edu/ UC Davis Viticulture and Enology Program: https://www.ucdavis.edu/majors/viticulture-and-enology 501st Legion: https://www.501st.com/ Paso Robles AVA: https://pasowine.com/paso-robles/ava/ Pacific Wine Services: https://www.pacificwineservices.com/ Volatus Wines: https://www.volatuswine.com/ Midnight Cellars: https://www.midnightcellars.com/ Timestamps: 00:00 Intro 02:50 Getting into biotech sales and and getting interested in winemaking 04:35 Starting a winery during COVID and the story behind it 10:19 Networking in the wine industry and the power of showing up 14:14 Working at MilliporeSigma, embracing relationship-driven strategies 20:45 Building trust through informal conversations 27:47 Going the extra mile for customers and building trust through service 32:46 Transitioning from field scientist to full-time sales at MilliporeSigma 37:12 Coaching sales teams and focusing on long-term value over short-term wins 40:15 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.…
T
The Biotech Startups Podcast
1 🧬 Michael Paliotti: Navigating Biotech Careers & Building Lasting Relationships (Part 2/4) 42:51
42:51 Play Later Play Later Lists Like Liked42:51
Play Later Play Later Lists Like Liked"Success in this industry isn’t just about what you know—it’s about how you connect with people, bring value, and build lasting relationships." In part two of our conversation with Michael Paliotti, we delve into his journey from academic research to industry, and his eventual transition into sales within the biotech sector. Michael shares his experiences working at startups like Cellomics and larger organizations like Novartis, highlighting the pivotal moments that shaped his career path. He discusses the challenges and opportunities that came with each role, emphasizing the importance of relationships and personal branding in his success. Michael's background in both science and business, coupled with his MBA, uniquely positioned him to understand the needs of researchers and effectively communicate the value of products. His transition to a field application scientist role at Millipore, and later to a full-time sales position, showcases his ability to adapt and find his niche in the biotech industry. Michael's approach to sales, focusing on building genuine connections and becoming a trusted resource, led to his recognition as rep of the year and his reputation as an "institution" in the San Diego biotech ecosystem. Key topics covered: Transitioning from academia to roles at Cellomics and Novartis Balancing business education with a biotech career Moving from field application scientist to a full-time sales role Learning to communicate value beyond product features and build trust with customers Making bold moves, from cross-country relocation to industry shifts If you enjoy The Biotech Startups Podcast, please consider subscribing, leaving a review, or sharing it with your friends. Thanks for listening. Subscribe to the podcast: Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-biotech-startups-podcast/id1679591994 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2PSL162R2s0zOwU5913Zv4 Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@excedr Website: https://www.thebiotechstartupspodcast.com/ Find our guest, Michael Paliotti, at these links: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michael-paliotti/ Website: http://www.sigmaaldrich.com/ 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: DARPA (Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency): https://www.darpa.mil/ Novartis GPR 119 diabetes research: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC5859088/ Cal State San Marcos MBA program: https://www.aacsb.edu/accredited/c/california-state-university-san-marcos Luminex Assays: https://www.rndsystems.com/products/luminex-assays-and-high-performance-assays/discovery-assays Stanford Consortium for Regenerative Medicine: https://www.sanfordconsortium.org/ Genoptix Optophoresis Technology: https://www.bioworld.com/articles/373517-genoptix-series-b-raises-17m-to-push-laser-cell-technology?v=preview Companies & people mentioned: Cellomics: https://www.thermofisher.com/us/en/home/brands/thermo-scientific/cellomics.html Novartis: https://www.novartis.com/ Genoptix: https://genoptix.com/ EMD MilliporeSigma: https://www.emdmillipore.com/ Luminex: https://www.luminexcorp.com/ Thermo Fisher Scientific: https://www.thermofisher.com/ Pete Schultz: https://www.linkedin.com/in/peter-schultz-3254a35 Tina Nova: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tina-nova-phd-7054502 Sean Carnes: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sean-carnes-8b30b51 Cathy Schnabel: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cathy-schnabel-b657b16 Timestamps: 00:00 Intro 02:06 Michael's interest in industry and joining Cellomics 04:59 Working on DARPA grant and biosensors 07:10 Experience during 9/11 and FBI visit 10:26 Importance of product communication and marketing 14:23 Transition to Novartis and larger organization experience 18:52 Pursuing MBA while working at Novartis 22:16 Moving to field application scientist role at Millipore 25:39 Transition to full-time sales position 30:17 Building relationships and personal brand in sales 35:23 Success as a sales representative and becoming an "institution" 41:39 Reflections on career journey and finding the right niche 41:58 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.…
T
The Biotech Startups Podcast
1 🧬 Michael Paliotti: Navigating a Winding Path to Biotech Success (Part 1/4) 40:26
40:26 Play Later Play Later Lists Like Liked40:26
Play Later Play Later Lists Like Liked🧬 The Biotech Startups Podcast is powered by Excedr —helping life science startups accelerate R&D and commercialization with founder-friendly equipment leasing. Skip the upfront costs, stay lean, and focus on breakthrough science. As a TBSP listener, you get exclusive perks through Excedr’s partner network—special savings, promotions, and more. Explore these offers today: https://www.excedr.com/partners . "Growing up in a science-driven environment influenced my trajectory, from my father's chemistry background at Kodak to my own experiences in academia and research." In part one of our conversation with Michael Paliotti , Regional Sales Director at Millipore Sigma, we explore his journey from a science-driven upbringing to his early career in research and forensics. Michael shares how his father's work as an organic chemist at Kodak influenced his path into science, his academic experiences at the University of Notre Dame and Duquesne University, and his unexpected detour into optometry school before finding his true calling in research. Michael holds a degree in biology from the University of Notre Dame and a master's degree from Duquesne University. Before joining Millipore Sigma, he honed his skills in academic research at the University of Pittsburgh, forensic science with the Pennsylvania State Police, and biotech startups. Key topics covered: Growing up in a science-driven environment: The influence of Kodak and Rochester's tech industry Navigating academic uncertainty: From pre-med aspirations to finding passion in biology research Hands-on lab experience: Learning the "old-fashioned way" during graduate studies Unexpected career detours: A brief stint in optometry school and forensic science Building professional networks: The importance of mentorship and connections in career progression If you enjoy The Biotech Startups Podcast, please consider subscribing, leaving a review, or sharing it with your friends. Thanks for listening. Subscribe to the podcast: Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-biotech-startups-podcast/id1679591994 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2PSL162R2s0zOwU5913Zv4 Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@excedr Website: https://www.thebiotechstartupspodcast.com/ Find our guest, Michael Paliotti, at these links: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michael-paliotti/ Website: http://www.sigmaaldrich.com/ 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: University of Notre Dame Biology Program: https://biology.nd.edu/undergraduate/programs-of-study/biology-major/ Duquesne University Master's Program in Biology: https://www.duq.edu/academics/colleges-and-schools/science-and-engineering/academics/departments-and-programs/biological-sciences/index.php University of Pittsburgh HIV Research Lab: https://dom.pitt.edu/id/research/clinicalresearch/hivclinicalresearch/ Pennsylvania State Police Forensic Science Program: https://www.upb.pitt.edu/academics/forensic-science-bs Kodak's Research and Development Division: https://www.kodak.com/en/company/page/innovation/ Companies & people mentioned: Kodak: https://www.kodak.com/en/ University of Pittsburgh: https://www.pitt.edu/ Pennsylvania State Police: https://www.pa.gov/agencies/psp.html Xerox Business Services: https://www.xerox.com/en-us/business-solutions MilliporeSigma (formerly EMD Millipore): https://www.sigmaaldrich.com/ Luminex Multiplexing Equipment: https://www.rndsystems.com/products/luminex-instrumentation Ronald Montelaro: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ronald-montelaro-49558b23/ Timestamps: 00:00 Intro 03:23 Michael's background and upbringing in Rochester, NY 07:46 Early exposure to science and the Kodak influence 11:09 University years and initial career aspirations 14:46 Unexpected detour to optometry school 17:35 Post-graduation job at Xerox Business Services 22:00 Decision to pursue a master's degree at Duquesne University 26:35 Graduate school experiences and hands-on lab work 29:03 First job as a research associate at University of Pittsburgh 31:29 Brief stint as a forensic scientist with Pennsylvania State Police 37:35 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.…
T
The Biotech Startups Podcast
1 🧬 Stavros Papadopoulos: Transforming Data Management (Part 4/4) 33:27
33:27 Play Later Play Later Lists Like Liked33:27
Play Later Play Later Lists Like Liked🧬 The Biotech Startups Podcast is powered by Excedr —helping life science startups accelerate R&D and commercialization with founder-friendly equipment leasing. Skip the upfront costs, stay lean, and focus on breakthrough science. As a TBSP listener, you get exclusive perks through Excedr’s partner network—special savings, promotions, and more. Explore these offers today: https://www.excedr.com/partners . "In life sciences, time is more important for all stakeholders. Because if you're working in life sciences, you have an obligation. You have a moral obligation to be very efficient, if not optimal." In this final part of our conversation with Stavros , founder and CEO of TileDB, we explore the challenges and opportunities in transforming data management within the life sciences sector. Stavros discusses how smaller organizations often lag behind in adopting innovative solutions due to lack of awareness and reliance on existing tools, while larger companies like big pharma are more proactive in seeking advanced technologies. Stavros highlights the importance of behavioral change in technology adoption, emphasizing that companies should focus on their core competencies rather than building infrastructure. He draws parallels with AWS, which revolutionized server management by allowing companies to focus on their products rather than infrastructure. The conversation also touches on the moral obligation of life sciences companies to optimize efficiency, given the impact on human lives. Key topics covered: Challenges for Smaller Organizations: Overcoming barriers to adopting new technologies due to limited awareness and resources. Adoption Contrast: Big pharma vs. smaller organizations in embracing innovative solutions. Behavioral Change in Technology Adoption: The need for mindset shifts in leveraging external solutions. Efficiency in Life Sciences: The moral obligation to optimize time and resources in the sector. Parallels with AWS: How outsourcing infrastructure can accelerate innovation and focus on core competencies. If you enjoy The Biotech Startups Podcast, please consider subscribing, leaving a review, or sharing it with your friends. Thanks for listening. Subscribe to the podcast: Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-biotech-startups-podcast/id1679591994 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2PSL162R2s0zOwU5913Zv4 Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@excedr Website: https://www.thebiotechstartupspodcast.com/ Find our guest, Stavros Papadopoulos, at these links: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stavrospap/ Website: https://www.linkedin.com/company/tiledb-inc/ 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: Crossing the Chasm by Geoffrey Moore: http://soloway.pbworks.com/w/file/fetch/46715502/Crossing-The-Chasm.pdf Azure (Microsoft's cloud computing service): https://azure.microsoft.com/en-gb/ Companies & people mentioned: MIT: https://www.mit.edu/ TileDB: https://tiledb.com/ AWS (Amazon Web Services): https://aws.amazon.com/ Millipore Sigma: https://www.sigmaaldrich.com/ Y Combinator: https://www.ycombinator.com/ PlayStation: https://www.playstation.com/ Jake Glanville: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jacobglanville Jeff Bezos: https://x.com/jeffbezos?lang=en Timestamps: 00:00 Intro 01:10 Discussion on working with smaller companies and scalable products 02:16 Stavros explains how TileDB can replace solution architects 05:07 Discussion on freeing up resources for high ROI initiatives 06:22 Stavros highlights the difficulty of behavioral changes in adopting new technologies 10:16 Jon reflects on the importance of valuing time in life sciences 12:57 Introduction of TileDB's new product, Carrara 18:16 Discussion on meeting users where they are with Carrara 20:06 Stavros shares his vision for TileDB's future adoption 23:30 Jon expresses enthusiasm for TileDB's impact on health outcomes 26:15 Shoutouts to supporters and team members 29:32 Advice to his 21-year-old self 30:30 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.…
T
The Biotech Startups Podcast
1 🧬 Stavros Papadopoulos: Scaling TileDB & Revolutionizing Data Infrastructure (Part 3/4) 35:18
35:18 Play Later Play Later Lists Like Liked35:18
Play Later Play Later Lists Like Liked🧬 The Biotech Startups Podcast is powered by Excedr —helping life science startups accelerate R&D and commercialization with founder-friendly equipment leasing. Skip the upfront costs, stay lean, and focus on breakthrough science. As a TBSP listener, you get exclusive perks through Excedr’s partner network—special savings, promotions, and more. Explore these offers today: https://www.excedr.com/partners . "We're wasting money. You're wasting money as an organization, like, hundreds of millions of dollars that can save you that money easily. But you have to start reasoning a little bit differently." In this third part of our conversation with Stavros Papadopoulos , founder and CEO of TileDB, we delve into the company's ambitious vision to revolutionize data management in the life sciences sector. Stavros shares the journey of TileDB from its inception as a highly technical solution to its current position as a potential game-changer in how organizations handle diverse data types. He discusses the challenges of selling innovative solutions to large pharmaceutical companies and the stark contrast in adoption between big pharma and smaller organizations. Stavros, with his background as a technologist from MIT, details the early days of TileDB, emphasizing the intense focus on technological innovation and performance optimization. He describes the company's evolution from a small team of highly skilled engineers to securing significant funding and attracting major customers in the life sciences sector. Throughout the conversation, Stavros highlights the philosophical aspect of TileDB's mission, stressing its potential impact on accelerating scientific discovery and ultimately saving lives. Key topics covered: TileDB's Vision for a Multimodal Database: Replacing fragmented data management systems Challenges in Selling Innovative Solutions: Large pharmaceutical companies as a target market The Contrast Between Big Pharma & Smaller Organizations: Adopting new technologies The Philosophical Drive Behind TileDB's Mission: Accelerating scientific discovery Organizational Inertia & Decision-Making Complexities: Enterprise software adoption If you enjoy The Biotech Startups Podcast, please consider subscribing, leaving a review, or sharing it with your friends. Thanks for listening. Subscribe to the podcast: Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-biotech-startups-podcast/id1679591994 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2PSL162R2s0zOwU5913Zv4 Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@excedr Website: https://www.thebiotechstartupspodcast.com/ Find our guest, Stavros Papadopoulos, at these links: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stavrospap/ Website: https://www.linkedin.com/company/tiledb-inc/ 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: Crossing the Chasm by Geoffrey Moore: http://soloway.pbworks.com/w/file/fetch/46715502/Crossing-The-Chasm.pdf Intel's Parallel Computing Lab: https://faculty.cc.gatech.edu/~echow/ipcc/ Intel Science and Technology Center for Big Data at MIT CSAIL: http://hammer.csail.mit.edu/ Hong Kong University of Science and Technology: https://hkust.edu.hk/ AWS (Amazon Web Services): https://aws.amazon.com/ Azure (Microsoft's cloud computing service): https://azure.microsoft.com/en-gb/ Companies & people mentioned: Intel: https://www.intel.com/ MIT: https://www.mit.edu/ TileDB: https://tiledb.com/ Broad Institute: https://www.broadinstitute.org/ Silicon Valley Bank: https://www.svb.com/ Browne Consulting: https://browneconsulting.com/ Snowflake: https://www.snowflake.com/ Databricks: https://www.databricks.com/ Seth Shelnutt: https://www.linkedin.com/in/seth-shelnutt/ Dimitris Papadias: https://cse.hkust.edu.hk/admin/people/faculty/profile/dimitris Yufei Tao: https://www.linkedin.com/in/yufei-tao-328b0b251/?originalSubdomain=hk Timestamps: 00:00 Intro 01:18 Early days of TileDB and its mission 06:36 Building a high-performance team and securing early customers 09:22 Discussing the vision behind TileDB 12:11 The problem of data infrastructure complexity 16:26 TileDB as a multimodal database for discovery 19:27 The inefficiency of in-house database solutions in pharmaceuticals 23:09 Overcoming organizational inertia in adopting new technologies 28:20 The necessity of TileDB for drug discovery 29:48 Differences in working with smaller vs. larger organizations 33:21 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.…
T
The Biotech Startups Podcast
1 🧬Stavros Papadopoulos: How Serendipity Sparked TileDB's Startup Journey (Part 2/4) 41:40
41:40 Play Later Play Later Lists Like Liked41:40
Play Later Play Later Lists Like Liked🧬 The Biotech Startups Podcast is powered by Excedr —helping life science startups accelerate R&D and commercialization with founder-friendly equipment leasing. Skip the upfront costs, stay lean, and focus on breakthrough science. As a TBSP listener, you get exclusive perks through Excedr’s partner network—special savings, promotions, and more. Explore these offers today: https://www.excedr.com/partners . "Serendipity plays a big role, but you need to chase it, man. You need to [chase it] and you need to perform. You need to deliver [on] your end of the deal." In part two of our conversation with Stavros Papadopoulos , founder of TileDB, we delve into his journey from academia to entrepreneurship. Stavros shares his experiences at MIT and Intel, and the serendipitous events that led to the founding of his company. He details the transition from working on cutting-edge database systems to identifying a market need in the life sciences sector, particularly in handling complex genomic data. Stavros's background in computer science and his work at the intersection of Intel and MIT uniquely positioned him to tackle the challenges of building a new type of database system. His journey highlights the importance of proactivity, networking, and being prepared for unexpected opportunities. He also shares valuable insights on the realities of starting a database company, including the significant funding requirements and the necessity of continuous learning. Key topics covered: Transition from academia to entrepreneurship: Seizing opportunities at MIT and Intel Developing TileDB: C reating a novel database system for complex data types Fundraising journey: From angel investors to venture capital Challenges of starting a database company: High costs and talent requirements Importance of mentorship and building win-win relationships in tech entrepreneurship: Key strategies for success If you enjoy The Biotech Startups Podcast, please consider subscribing, leaving a review, or sharing it with your friends. Thanks for listening. Subscribe to the podcast: Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-biotech-startups-podcast/id1679591994 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2PSL162R2s0zOwU5913Zv4 Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@excedr Website: https://www.thebiotechstartupspodcast.com/ Find our guest, Stavros Papadopoulos, at these links: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stavrospap/ Website: https://www.linkedin.com/company/tiledb-inc/ 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 Mentions: Resources & Articles: Disciplined Entrepreneurship: 24 Steps to a Successful Startup by Bill Aulet: https://www.d-eship.com/ Zero to IPO by Frederic Kerrest: https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/book-day-zero-ipo-frederic-kerrest-summary-mircea-ioan-soit-kvspe/ TileDB database technology: https://cloud.tiledb.com/academy/what-is-tiledb/ Genomics DB (precursor to TileDB): https://www.tiledb.com/blog/population-genomics-data-with-tiledb MIT Technology Licensing Office: https://tlo.mit.edu/ Broad Institute's VCF (Variant Call Format): https://www.broadinstitute.org/publications/broad12186 Rady Children's Institute for Genomic Medicine (RCIGM): https://radygenomics.org/begin-ngs-newborn-sequencing/ UK Biobank: https://www.ukbiobank.ac.uk/ Companies & People: Intel: https://www.intel.com/ MIT: https://www.mit.edu/ TileDB: https://tiledb.com/ Broad Institute: https://www.broadinstitute.org/ Nexus Venture Partners: https://nexusvp.com/ Sam Madden: https://www.linkedin.com/in/samuel-madden-8ba0835/ Frederic Kerrest: https://www.linkedin.com/in/fkerrest/ Timestamps: 00:00 Intro 01:24 Transitioning from Hong Kong to MIT/Intel 11:30 The importance of proactivity and hustle in seizing opportunities 20:59 Working on database systems at MIT/Intel 29:08 The serendipitous encounter that led to starting TileDB 32:16 Developing TileDB: A database for non-tabular data and machine learning 35:30 Solving scalability issues for the Broad Institute 36:55 Raising initial funding and spinning out TileDB from MIT/Intel 37:26 Challenges of starting a database business 38:15 Structuring TileDB's launch as a win-win for all stakeholders 39:47 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.…
T
The Biotech Startups Podcast
1 🧬 Stavros Papadopoulos: A Journey in Computer Science & Data Management (Part 1/4) 53:43
53:43 Play Later Play Later Lists Like Liked53:43
Play Later Play Later Lists Like Likedaccelerate R&D and commercialization with founder-friendly equipment leasing. Skip the upfront costs, stay lean, and focus on breakthrough science. As a TBSP listener, you get exclusive perks through Excedr’s partner network—special savings, promotions, and more. Explore these offers today: https://www.excedr.com/partners . "If you are capable of acquiring knowledge, of applying the knowledge, and you like it, you can succeed. It doesn't matter what it is." In this episode of The Biotech Startups Podcast, we delve into Stavros Papadopoulos ' transformative journey from Greece to Hong Kong, exploring his experiences as a PhD student at the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology. Stavros shares how a chance encounter on a bus and his professor's last-minute recommendation led him to pursue his doctorate in Hong Kong, a decision that would shape his career and personal life. Stavros describes Hong Kong as the "best city in the world," highlighting the perfect balance between intense academic rigor and vibrant city life. He explains how the university's unique environment, with students working late into the night and a campus integrated into the natural landscape, fostered both hard work and adventure. Stavros also touches on his research focus, which evolved from spatiotemporal databases to data security and cryptography, and how he learned valuable skills that continue to shape his career to this day. Key topics covered: The Power of Mentorship: How guidance from family, professors, and peers influenced Stavros' academic journey Choosing Hong Kong: Balancing academic excellence with quality of life in selecting a PhD program HKUST Experience: Rigorous academics, supportive professors, and a vibrant student community Research Evolution: Transitioning from spatiotemporal databases to data security and cryptography Work-Life Balance: Maintaining high academic performance while enjoying Hong Kong's unique offerings If you enjoy The Biotech Startups Podcast, please consider subscribing, leaving a review, or sharing it with your friends. Thanks for listening. Subscribe to the podcast: Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-biotech-startups-podcast/id1679591994 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2PSL162R2s0zOwU5913Zv4 Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@excedr Website: https://www.thebiotechstartupspodcast.com/ Find our guest, Stavros Papadopoulos, at these links: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stavrospap/ Website: https://www.linkedin.com/company/tiledb-inc/ 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: Spatiotemporal Databases: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spatiotemporal_database Data Security and Cryptography in Database Management: https://datastackshow.com/podcast/what-is-a-universal-database-featuring-stavros-papadopoulos-of-tiledb-inc/ MIT CSAIL: https://www.csail.mit.edu/ TileDB Universal Database: https://docs.tiledb.com/cloud/concepts/universal-data-management Genomics Data Management: https://tiledb.com/blog/population-genomics-is-a-data-management-problem LiDAR Data Processing: https://tiledb.com/blog/analyzing-lidar-and-sar-data-with-capella-space-and-tiledb Big Data in Telecommunications: https://startups.epam.com/blog/big-data-analytics-for-telecommunications Venture Capital Funding for Tech Startups: https://www.investopedia.com/terms/v/venturecapital.asp Companies & people mentioned: Hong Kong University of Science and Technology: https://hkust.edu.hk/ TileDB: https://tiledb.com/ HKUST: https://iau-hesd.net/university/hong-kong-university-science-and-technology MIT: https://www.mit.edu/ Intel: https://www.intel.com/ Dimitris Papadias: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dimitris-papadias-8429b423a Yanis Manolopoulos: https://www.linkedin.com/in/yannis-manolopoulos-47989514/?originalSubdomain=gr Timestamps: 00:00 Intro 01:47 Early Inclination Towards Learning and Competitiveness 03:52 Grandmother's Gift of First Computer 07:23 Cousin's Advice: A Plan for Computer Science and Silicon Valley 12:23 Mentorship and Guidance 17:18 University Experience and Disappointment 21:34 Tips for Getting into Top US Schools 27:36 Serendipitous Encounter on a Bus: Hong Kong Beckons 36:10 Balancing Hard Work and Enjoyment 42:24 Hong Kong's Unique Appeal and University Life 48:20 Research Focus: Spatiotemporal Databases and Data Security 53:06 Data Security and Cryptographic Techniques 53:36 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.…
T
The Biotech Startups Podcast
1 🧬 Becky Beattie: Scaling LaunchBio & Democratizing Biotech Entrepreneurship (Part 2/2) 1:05:36
1:05:36 Play Later Play Later Lists Like Liked1:05:36
Play Later Play Later Lists Like Liked🧬 The Biotech Startups Podcast is powered by Excedr —helping life science startups accelerate R&D and commercialization with founder-friendly equipment leasing. Skip the upfront costs, stay lean, and focus on breakthrough science. As a TBSP listener, you get exclusive perks through Excedr’s partner network—special savings, promotions, and more. Explore these offers today: https://www.excedr.com/partners . "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 If you enjoy The Biotech Startups Podcast, please consider subscribing, leaving a review, or sharing it with your friends. Thanks for listening. Subscribe to the podcast: Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-biotech-startups-podcast/id1679591994 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2PSL162R2s0zOwU5913Zv4 Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@excedr Website: https://www.thebiotechstartupspodcast.com/ 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.…
T
The Biotech Startups Podcast
1 🧬 Becky Beattie: From Rural Beginnings to Building a National Biotech Network (Part 1) 1:02:42
1:02:42 Play Later Play Later Lists Like Liked1:02:42
Play Later Play Later Lists Like Liked🧬 The Biotech Startups Podcast is powered by Excedr —helping life science startups accelerate R&D and commercialization with founder-friendly equipment leasing. Skip the upfront costs, stay lean, and focus on breakthrough science. As a TBSP listener, you get exclusive perks through Excedr’s partner network—special savings, promotions, and more. Explore these offers today: https://www.excedr.com/partners . “If you’re not enjoying what you’re doing or having fun, why are you doing it? Combine that with hard work and you can achieve cool things.” In part one of our conversation with Becky Beattie , CEO of LaunchBio, we trace her unconventional path from rural San Jose pig farmer to biotech ecosystem builder. Becky shares how her early entrepreneurial grit, scientific curiosity, and business acumen converged to shape her career – including surviving a life-altering spinal injury and pioneering shared lab spaces. Becky holds dual degrees in molecular biology and business from the University of Colorado Boulder. Before leading LaunchBio, she honed her skills in life science sales (SeraCare, Eppendorf), strategic marketing (Comprendia), and real estate innovation (ROC Shared Workspace). Key topics covered: Growing up in 4-H raising pigs: Early lessons in economics and grit Mixing science & business: Blending molecular biology training with business strategy at CU Boulder Cold-calling challenges: Cutting teeth in biotech sales at SeraCare Life Sciences Pivoting through crisis: How a spinal cord injury reshaped career priorities Building the shared lab space movement: Pre-WeWork innovation for life sciences If you enjoy The Biotech Startups Podcast, please consider subscribing, leaving a review, or sharing it with your friends. Thanks for listening. Subscribe to the podcast: Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-biotech-startups-podcast/id1679591994 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2PSL162R2s0zOwU5913Zv4 Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@excedr Website: https://www.thebiotechstartupspodcast.com/ 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: LaunchBio’s Larger Than Life Program: https://www.launchbio.org/programs/larger-than-life Founder Circle Peer Advisory Forums: https://launchbio.org/programs/founders-circle/ SBIR Grants: https://www.excedr.com/blog/sbir-grants-guide STTR Grants: https://www.excedr.com/blog/sttr-grants-guide Build to Scale Grant Program: https://www.eda.gov/funding-opportunies UCSD Gene Therapy Initiative: https://healthsciences.ucsd.edu/innovation Companies & people mentioned: LaunchBio: https://launchbio.org/ Eppendorf: https://www.eppendorf.com/ BioLabs: https://www.biolabs.io/ Heinrich Netheler: https://corporate.eppendorf.com/en/company/history/founders/ Hans Hinz: https://corporate.eppendorf.com/en/company/history/founders/ Timestamps: 00:00 Intro 03:15 Becky's early life and entrepreneurial experiences 05:55 College years and combining science with business 11:45 First job in biotech sales at SeraCare Life Sciences 16:44 Transition to Eppendorf and capital equipment sales 24:50 Balancing career and family after having children 31:03 Spinal cord injury and two-year recovery period 36:22 Return to work in real estate with ROC shared workspace 42:26 Lessons learned from sales and relationship-building 46:52 The importance of marketing and business strategy 51:23 Reflections on career pivots and personal growth 55:05 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.…
T
The Biotech Startups Podcast
1 🧬 Dr. Kate Yen: Scaling a Biotech, Running Lean, & Utilizing Translational Biology (Part 2) 51:30
51:30 Play Later Play Later Lists Like Liked51:30
Play Later Play Later Lists Like Liked🧬 The Biotech Startups Podcast is powered by Excedr —helping life science startups accelerate R&D and commercialization with founder-friendly equipment leasing. Skip the upfront costs, stay lean, and focus on breakthrough science. As a TBSP listener, you get exclusive perks through Excedr’s partner network—special savings, promotions, and more. Explore these offers today: https://www.excedr.com/partners . “I didn’t set out to be an entrepreneur, but when I couldn’t find a company doing what I believed in, I built my own.” In part two of our conversation with Kate Yen , Founder and CEO of Auron Therapeutics, we explore her journey from leading a novel cancer therapy program at Agios to founding her own biotech company. Kate shares insights into drug development, clinical trials, and the business of biotech, highlighting the importance of translational biology, strategic partnerships, and lean operations in building a successful biotech startup. Kate earned her Ph.D. in Biological Chemistry from UCLA, where she also completed her postdoc. Before Auron, she held roles at Merck and as a UCLA professor before joining Agios Pharmaceuticals, where she led the IDH translational research team behind two FDA-approved IDH mutant inhibitors and co-led the discovery of vorasidenib, a promising glioma therapy now in clinical development. Key topics covered: Navigating clinical trials from discovery to FDA approval with a biomarker-driven approach The importance of translational biology and how Auron integrates it from day one Building a lean biotech startup , from early fundraising to assembling a high-impact team Securing big pharma partnerships in a challenging biotech market Leveraging AI and machine learning to map cancer biology and identify new drug targets If you enjoy The Biotech Startups Podcast, please consider subscribing, leaving a review, or sharing it with your friends. Thanks for listening. Subscribe to the podcast: Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-biotech-startups-podcast/id1679591994 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2PSL162R2s0zOwU5913Zv4 Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@excedr Website: https://www.thebiotechstartupspodcast.com/ Find our guest, Kate Yen, at these links: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kate-yen-448b22108/ Website: https://www.aurontx.com/ 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 & articles mentioned: The Role of Translational Biology in Drug Development: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S1359644612004060 Navigating Clinical Trials: https://www.fda.gov/patients/learn-about-drug-and-device-approvals/drug-development-process Building & Running a Lean Biotech Startup: https://www.lablaunch.org/post/building-a-lean-biotech-startup Biotech Startup Fundraising Options: https://www.excedr.com/resources/biotech-startup-funding-options Biotech Partnerships - How Partnerships Support R&D: https://www.excedr.com/blog/how-biotech-partnerships-support-research How to Bootstrap Your Biotech Startup & Scale: https://www.excedr.com/resources/how-to-bootstrap-biotech-startup How to Choose the Right CRO for Biotech: https://www.excedr.com/blog/contract-research-organizations How Much Does Lab Space Cost? https://www.excedr.com/blog/how-much-does-lab-space-cost Top VC Firms for Biotech in 2024 - Supporting Innovation & Growth: https://www.excedr.com/blog/top-vc-firms-for-biotech 50 Biotech Seed & Angel Investors to Check Out in 2025: https://www.excedr.com/blog/biotech-seed-and-angel-investors Companies & people mentioned: Auron Therapeutics: https://www.aurontx.com/ Merck: https://www.merck.com/ Agios Pharmaceuticals: https://www.agios.com/ UCLA: https://www.ucla.edu/ Princeton University: https://www.princeton.edu/ Charles Sawyers: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charles_Sawyers Lew Cantley: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lewis_C._Cantley David Schenkein: https://www.linkedin.com/in/david-schenkein-md-45342476/ Mike Carey: https://www.uclahealth.org/cancer/members/michael-carey Ruben Shaw: https://www.linkedin.com/in/reuben-shaw-1b8611109/ Timestamps: 00:00 Intro 02:10 Kate Yen’s transition into leadership at Agios 05:39 Navigating clinical trials and biomarker-driven decision-making 10:29 The importance of translational biology in drug development 14:19 Taking the leap to start Auron Therapeutics 18:36 Raising early funding and building a lean biotech startup 26:41 Leveraging AI and machine learning in cancer drug discovery 30:58 Running a biotech startup with a sustainable and transparent culture 41:07 Fundraising strategies to expanding Auron’s platform beyond oncology 47:08 Closing questions for Kate 49:35 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.…
T
The Biotech Startups Podcast
1 🧬 Kate Yen - Part 1 | From Academia to Biotech Leader | Translating Research into Cancer Therapies | Early Days at Merck & Agios 51:33
51:33 Play Later Play Later Lists Like Liked51:33
Play Later Play Later Lists Like Liked🧬 The Biotech Startups Podcast, brought to you by Excedr—empowering life science startups with founder-friendly equipment leasing to fast-track R&D and drive commercialization success. 🔬 Know someone in need of lab equipment? Join Excedr’s referral program: Give your friends $1,000 and earn $1,000 for every qualified referral! 💸 🔗 Get your unique referral link here : refer.excedr.com/ZTHETY . Part 1 of 2 : Our guest today is Kate Yen, Founder and CEO of Auron Therapeutics. Auron Therapeutics leverages cutting-edge science and AI-powered analysis to develop next-generation cancer therapies by mapping key drivers of tumorigenesis. Kate earned her Ph.D. in Biological Chemistry from UCLA, where she also completed her postdoc. She held roles at Merck and as a UCLA professor before joining Agios Pharmaceuticals, where she led the IDH translational research team behind two FDA-approved IDH mutant inhibitors and co-led the discovery of vorasidenib, a promising glioma therapy now in clinical development. With deep expertise in preclinical and clinical research, a proven track record in advancing breakthrough therapies, and a passion for oncology, Kate’s journey and insights are invaluable. In this episode, you'll hear about: Kate Yen’s journey from aspiring physician to PhD researcher at UCLA How her postdoc in Charles Sawyers’ lab sparked her passion for translational research Transitioning from academia to industry and learning drug discovery at Merck Taking the leap to join Agios Pharmaceuticals and leading the IDH program The role of collaboration in biotech, from academia to CRO partnerships If you enjoy The Biotech Startups Podcast, please consider subscribing, leaving a review, or sharing it with your friends. Thanks for listening. Subscribe to the podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-biotech-startups-podcast/id1679591994 https://open.spotify.com/show/2PSL162R2s0zOwU5913Zv4 Find Our Guest, Kate Yen, at these links: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kate-yen-448b22108/ https://www.aurontx.com/ Find Our Host, Jon Chee, at these links: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jonchee https://www.excedr.com Excedr Socials & Website LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/excedr/ Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@excedr Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/excedr_inc Twitter: https://twitter.com/ExcedrInc Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/excedr TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@excedr Podcast Website: https://www.thebiotechstartupspodcast.com/ Enriched Notes: Topics Mentioned: Auron Therapeutics: https://www.aurontx.com/ Merck: https://www.merck.com/ Agios Pharmaceuticals: https://www.agios.com/ UCLA: https://www.ucla.edu/ Princeton University: https://www.princeton.edu/ Biotech Startup Fundraising: https://www.excedr.com/resources/biotech-startup-funding-options Biotech Accelerators: https://www.excedr.com/resources/biotech-accelerators Biotech Incubators: https://www.excedr.com/resources/biotech-incubators Top VC Firms for Biotech: https://www.excedr.com/blog/top-vc-firms-for-biotech 50 Biotech Seed & Angel Investors: https://www.excedr.com/blog/biotech-seed-and-angel-investors Guide to Choosing a CRO: https://www.excedr.com/blog/contract-research-organizations Guide to Choosing a CMO: https://www.excedr.com/blog/contract-manufacturing-organizations People Mentioned: Charles Sawyers: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charles_Sawyers Lew Cantley: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lewis_C._Cantley David Schenkein: https://www.linkedin.com/in/david-schenkein-md-45342476/ Mike Carey: https://www.uclahealth.org/cancer/members/michael-carey Timestamps: 00:00 Intro 03:01 Kate Yen’s background and Auron Therapeutics’ mission 04:40 Early influences and passion for research 06:27 Choosing academia over medicine, attending UCLA grad school 13:11 Postdoc with Charles Sawyers and translational research 16:58 Transitioning to industry and joining Merck 24:44 Learning drug discovery and pharma culture at Merck 32:32 Taking the leap to Agios Pharmaceuticals 37:42 Leading the IDH program and cancer research 44:43 Collaborating with academic labs and CROs 50:28 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.…
T
The Biotech Startups Podcast
1 🧬 Oguzhan Atay - Part 2 | From Immigrant to Biotech Innovator | Battling Deportation with Nobel Laureate Support | Building a $140M Prenatal Testing Empire 1:04:56
1:04:56 Play Later Play Later Lists Like Liked1:04:56
Play Later Play Later Lists Like Liked🧬 The Biotech Startups Podcast, brought to you by Excedr—empowering life science startups with founder-friendly equipment leasing to fast-track R&D and drive commercialization success. 🔬 Know someone in need of lab equipment? Join Excedr’s referral program: Give your friends $1,000 and earn $1,000 for every qualified referral! 💸 🔗 Get your unique referral link here : refer.excedr.com/ZTHETY . Part 2 of 2 : Our guest today is Oguzhan Atay, Co-founder & CEO of BillionToOne. BillionToOne is a precision diagnostics company that quantifies biology to create powerful molecular diagnostics. They work to improve disease detection by counting molecules with their proprietary molecular counting platform. They place patients at the forefront of everything they do and are currently applying their proprietary technology to non-invasive prenatal screening and liquid biopsy. Oguzhan holds a Ph.D. from Stanford in Systems Biology, where he implemented machine learning algorithms and mathematical models to solve specific problems in cellular biology and developed a data-driven mathematical framework to simplify the analysis of complex biological networks. He also has a degree in Molecular Biology from Princeton, as well as minors in Computer Science, Physics, and Applied Mathematics. Oguzhan not only combines deep technical expertise with visionary leadership, but he also has an incredibly inspirational immigrant journey, which makes this series a must-listen for first-time founders, scientists, and industry leaders alike. In this episode, you'll hear about: Oguzhan's journey from Turkey to Stanford BillionToOne's origin, including Y Combinator's role and initial funding challenges The company's innovative prenatal testing approach Expansion into oncology with blood tests for therapy selection and monitoring Oguzhan's personal struggles with immigration issues while starting the company and the support of his mentors If you enjoy The Biotech Startups Podcast, please consider subscribing, leaving a review, or sharing it with your friends. Thanks for listening! Subscribe to the podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-biotech-startups-podcast/id1679591994 https://open.spotify.com/show/2PSL162R2s0zOwU5913Zv4 Find Our Guest, Oguzhan Atay, at these links: https://www.linkedin.com/in/oatay/ https://billiontoone.com/ Find Our Host, Jon Chee, at these links: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jonchee https://www.excedr.com Excedr Socials & Website LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/excedr/ Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@excedr Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/excedr_inc Twitter: https://twitter.com/ExcedrInc Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/excedr TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@excedr Podcast Website: https://www.thebiotechstartupspodcast.com/ Enriched Notes: Topics Mentioned: BillionToOne https://billiontoone.com/ Y Combinator https://www.ycombinator.com/ Common Mistakes Biotechs Make & How to Avoid Them https://www.excedr.com/blog/common-business-mistakes How to Fund an R&D Startup https://www.excedr.com/resources/rd-startup-funding-first-steps Guide to the Venture Capitalist Decision https://www.excedr.com/resources/guide-to-the-venture-capitalist-decision-making-process People Mentioned: David Tsao https://www.linkedin.com/in/davidtsao/ Jim Collins https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_C._Collins Timestamps: 00:00 - Intro 02:28 - The origin of BillionToOne and early challenges 06:48 - Y Combinator's role and initial funding struggles 12:24 - Meeting co-founders and pivoting based on market needs 17:17 - Realizing the importance of the problem in the United States 24:11 - Building physical infrastructure and scaling operations 32:04 - Company culture, hiring philosophy, and growth strategy 38:55 - Expanding into oncology and future product lines 46:40 - Plans for going public and becoming a generational company 53:42 - Shoutouts to supporters and overcoming immigration challenges 59:34 - Advice to his 21-year-old self: keeping an open mind 01:02:51 - 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.…
T
The Biotech Startups Podcast
1 🧬 Oguzhan Atay - Part 1 | From Small-Town Turkey to Stanford PhD | Solving Cell Cycle Mysteries | Building a Biotech During a Global Pandemic 1:00:46
1:00:46 Play Later Play Later Lists Like Liked1:00:46
Play Later Play Later Lists Like Liked🧬 The Biotech Startups Podcast, brought to you by Excedr—empowering life science startups with founder-friendly equipment leasing to fast-track R&D and drive commercialization success. 🔬 Know someone in need of lab equipment? Join Excedr’s referral program: Give your friends $1,000 and earn $1,000 for every qualified referral! 💸 🔗 Get your unique referral link here : refer.excedr.com/ZTHETY . Part 1 of 2 : Our guest today is Oguzhan Atay, Co-founder & CEO of BillionToOne. BillionToOne is a precision diagnostics company that quantifies biology to create powerful molecular diagnostics. They work to improve disease detection by counting molecules with their proprietary molecular counting platform. They place patients at the forefront of everything they do and are currently applying their proprietary technology to non-invasive prenatal screening and liquid biopsy. Oguzhan holds a Ph.D. from Stanford in Systems Biology, where he implemented machine learning algorithms and mathematical models to solve specific problems in cellular biology and developed a data-driven mathematical framework to simplify the analysis of complex biological networks. He also has a degree in Molecular Biology from Princeton, as well as minors in Computer Science, Physics, and Applied Mathematics. Oguzhan not only combines deep technical expertise with visionary leadership, but he also has an incredibly inspirational immigrant journey, which makes this series a must-listen for first-time founders, scientists, and industry leaders alike. In this episode, you'll hear about: Oguzhan's upbringing in a small Turkish town His early passion for science, deciding to become a scientist at just 10 years old Oguzhan's experience in Turkey's rigorous education system His transition to studying at Princeton Oguzhan's PhD journey at Stanford If you enjoy The Biotech Startups Podcast, please consider subscribing, leaving a review, or sharing it with your friends. Thanks for listening! Subscribe to the podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-biotech-startups-podcast/id1679591994 https://open.spotify.com/show/2PSL162R2s0zOwU5913Zv4 Find Our Guest, Oguzhan Atay, at these links: https://www.linkedin.com/in/oatay/ https://billiontoone.com/ Find Our Host, Jon Chee, at these links: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jonchee https://www.excedr.com Excedr Socials & Website LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/excedr/ Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@excedr Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/excedr_inc Twitter: https://twitter.com/ExcedrInc Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/excedr TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@excedr Podcast Website: https://www.thebiotechstartupspodcast.com/ Enriched Notes: Topics Mentioned: Princeton https://www.princeton.edu/ Stanford https://www.stanford.edu/ BillionToOne https://billiontoone.com/ Common Mistakes Biotechs Make & How to Avoid Them https://www.excedr.com/blog/common-business-mistakes How to Fund an R&D Startup https://www.excedr.com/resources/rd-startup-funding-first-steps Guide to the Venture Capitalist Decision https://www.excedr.com/resources/guide-to-the-venture-capitalist-decision-making-process People Mentioned: Jan Skotheim https://www.linkedin.com/in/jan-skotheim-5157a426a/ Daniel Fisher https://www.linkedin.com/in/daniel-fisher-5466812a/ Jacques Fresco https://www.asbmb.org/asbmb-today/people/082222/in-memoriam-jacques-fresco Max Delbruck https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Max_Delbr%C3%BCck Linus Pauling https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Linus_Pauling J. Robert Oppenheimer https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/J._Robert_Oppenheimer Timestamps: 00:00 - Intro 05:41 - Oguzhan's upbringing in Turkey and his parents' emphasis on education 10:22 - Competitive nature of the Turkish education system 15:18 - Oguzhan's decision to attend Princeton for undergraduate studies 21:28 - Integrated science program at Princeton and interdisciplinary approach 26:57 - Oguzhan's experience at the University of Oxford 32:20 - Choosing Stanford for PhD studies 38:21 - Oguzhan's PhD research at Stanford in cell cycle control 43:24 - The importance of resilience in scientific research and entrepreneurship 48:54 - BillionToOne's challenges and creative solutions during the COVID-19 pandemic 55:47 - How overcoming challenges led to unprecedented growth for BillionToOne 59:41 - 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.…
T
The Biotech Startups Podcast
1 🧬 Parag Shah - Part 2 | Scaling a Multi-Billion Dollar Life Sciences Fund | Culture, Capital & Entrepreneurship | The K2 HealthVentures Story 1:04:27
1:04:27 Play Later Play Later Lists Like Liked1:04:27
Play Later Play Later Lists Like Liked🧬 The Biotech Startups Podcast, brought to you by Excedr—empowering life science startups with founder-friendly equipment leasing to fast-track R&D and drive commercialization success. 🔬 Know someone in need of lab equipment? Join Excedr’s referral program: Give your friends $1,000 and earn $1,000 for every qualified referral! 💸 🔗 Get your unique referral link here : refer.excedr.com/ZTHETY . Part 2 of 2 : Our guest today is Parag Shah, CEO and Founding Managing Director of K2 HealthVentures. K2 HealthVentures is an alternative investment firm that provides flexible, long-term financing solutions to innovative private and public companies in the life sciences and healthcare industries. Committed to making a broader impact, K2 also donates a percentage of its profits to support underserved areas in healthcare. Before founding K2, Parag was Senior Managing Director & Group Head of the Life Sciences practice at Hercules Capital, where he led the fund’s public offering and managed over $2 billion in investments. His deep expertise in life science and healthcare financing was further shaped through key leadership roles at Comerica, Imperial Bank, and BankBoston.Parag’s academic background includes a Masters in Environmental Policy & Planning and a Bachelors in Molecular Biology from MIT, where he conducted research at the Whitehead Institute. With 25+ years of experience at the intersection of science and finance, Parag brings invaluable insights for first-time founders, investors, scientists, and industry leaders navigating the complexities of biotech funding. In this episode, you'll hear about: How Parag scaled Hercules Capital into a multi-billion-dollar life sciences fund The challenges of building a strong company culture in investment firms Why evergreen capital structures can be a game-changer for biotech startups The founding story of K2 HealthVentures and its mission-driven approach How balancing work, family, and entrepreneurship leads to long-term success If you enjoy The Biotech Startups Podcast, please consider subscribing, leaving a review, or sharing it with your friends. Thanks for listening! Subscribe to the podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-biotech-startups-podcast/id1679591994 https://open.spotify.com/show/2PSL162R2s0zOwU5913Zv4 Find Our Guest, Parag Shah, at these links: https://www.linkedin.com/in/paragshah333/ https://k2hv.com/ Find Our Host, Jon Chee, at these links: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jonchee https://www.excedr.com Excedr Socials & Website LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/excedr/ Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@excedr Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/excedr_inc Twitter: https://twitter.com/ExcedrInc Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/excedr TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@excedr Podcast Website: https://www.thebiotechstartupspodcast.com/ Enriched Notes: Topics Mentioned: K2 HealthVentures: https://www.k2healthventures.com/ Hercules Capital: https://www.htgc.com/ Cooley LLP: https://www.cooley.com/ Life Science Cares: https://lifesciencecares.org/ Debt vs. Equity Financing for Biotech Startups: https://www.excedr.com/resources/debt-equity-options-funding-startup Biotech Startup Fundraising: https://www.excedr.com/resources/biotech-startup-funding-options Biotech Startup Support: https://www.excedr.com/resources-category/biotech-startup-support People Mentioned: Roy Liu: https://www.linkedin.com/in/roy-liu-36a35/ Anup Arora: https://www.linkedin.com/in/anup-arora-368ba81/ Meghan FitzGerald: https://www.linkedin.com/in/meghanmfitzgerald/ John Hale: https://www.linkedin.com/in/john-hale-770158b/ Timestamps: 00:00 Intro 01:54 Early days at Hercules and the challenge of biotech debt 06:14 Scaling Hercules, taking it public, and leadership lessons 11:34 Public vs. private investment funds: Key trade-offs and pressures 19:18 Leaving Hercules, taking a break, and redefining priorities 25:35 Avoiding burnout: Balancing work, family, and entrepreneurship 29:04 How time and capital constraints drive better decision-making 33:52 Founding K2 HealthVentures and reshaping biotech venture debt 39:01 Evergreen investment structure and why it benefits startups 46:59 The importance of co-founders, team culture, and shared vision 53:32 Scaling K2, launching a foundation, and investing with purpose 01:02:24 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.…
T
The Biotech Startups Podcast
1 🧬 Parag Shah - Part 1 | Rethinking Biotech Startup Funding | Building Smarter Capital Strategies | Risk, Reward & Leadership in Investing 47:10
47:10 Play Later Play Later Lists Like Liked47:10
Play Later Play Later Lists Like Liked🧬 The Biotech Startups Podcast, brought to you by Excedr—empowering life science startups with founder-friendly equipment leasing to fast-track R&D and drive commercialization success. 🔬 Know someone in need of lab equipment? Join Excedr’s referral program: Give your friends $1,000 and earn $1,000 for every qualified referral! 💸 🔗 Get your unique referral link here : refer.excedr.com/ZTHETY . Part 1 of 2 : Our guest today is Parag Shah, CEO and Founding Managing Director of K2 HealthVentures. K2 HealthVentures is an alternative investment firm that provides flexible, long-term financing solutions to innovative private and public companies in the life sciences and healthcare industries. Committed to making a broader impact, K2 also donates a percentage of its profits to support underserved areas in healthcare. Before founding K2, Parag was Senior Managing Director & Group Head of the Life Sciences practice at Hercules Capital, where he led the fund’s public offering and managed over $2 billion in investments. His deep expertise in life science and healthcare financing was further shaped through key leadership roles at Comerica, Imperial Bank, and BankBoston.Parag’s academic background includes a Masters in Environmental Policy & Planning and a Bachelors in Molecular Biology from MIT, where he conducted research at the Whitehead Institute. With 25+ years of experience at the intersection of science and finance, Parag brings invaluable insights for first-time founders, investors, scientists, and industry leaders navigating the complexities of biotech funding. In this episode, you'll hear about: How Parag’s NYC upbringing shaped his leadership and risk-taking mindset His transition from molecular biology to finance and investing Key lessons from his early career in credit and venture lending How he helped shape biotech venture credit and redefine startup financing When to use debt vs. equity in life sciences fundraising If you enjoy The Biotech Startups Podcast, please consider subscribing, leaving a review, or sharing it with your friends. Thanks for listening! Subscribe to the podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-biotech-startups-podcast/id1679591994 https://open.spotify.com/show/2PSL162R2s0zOwU5913Zv4 Find Our Guest, Parag Shah, at these links: https://www.linkedin.com/in/paragshah333/ https://k2hv.com/ Find Our Host, Jon Chee, at these links: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jonchee https://www.excedr.com Excedr Socials & Website LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/excedr/ Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@excedr Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/excedr_inc Twitter: https://twitter.com/ExcedrInc Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/excedr TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@excedr Podcast Website: https://www.thebiotechstartupspodcast.com/ Enriched Notes: Topics Mentioned: K2 HealthVentures: https://www.k2healthventures.com/ Hercules Capital: https://www.htgc.com/ BankBoston (now part of Bank of America): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BankBoston Imperial Bank (acquired by Comerica): https://www.comerica.com/ Venture Debt in Biotech: https://www.fiercebiotech.com/biotech/rise-venture-debt-and-when-biotechs-should-and-shouldnt-use-it Equity vs. Debt Financing: https://www.excedr.com/resources/debt-equity-options-funding-startup Biotech Startup Fundraising: https://www.excedr.com/resources/biotech-startup-funding-options Risk-Taking & Leadership in Startups: Biotech Startup Support: https://www.excedr.com/resources-category/biotech-startup-support Scaling Biotech Companies: https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/scaling-up-overcoming-multifaceted-challenges-growing-rami-levin-njoqe/ People Mentioned: Larry Suskind: https://dusp.mit.edu/people/lawrence-susskind John Ehrenfeld: https://www.linkedin.com/in/johnehrenfeld/ Timestamps: 00:00 Intro 02:59 Parag’s background and early career in finance 06:24 Growing up in NYC and how his parents influenced his mindset 09:42 The impact of education and key mentors in shaping his path 15:11 Transitioning from science to finance, why he left the lab 19:56 Lessons from Bank Boston and entering the world of credit investing 24:32 Moving to Argentina and unexpected entry into banking 29:56 Joining Imperial Bank and the challenges of building biotech venture credit 36:37 Understanding risk-taking and decision-making in biotech financing 42:52 When startups should use debt vs. equity and how venture debt fits into biotech funding 46:02 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.…
T
The Biotech Startups Podcast
1 🧬 Jason C. Foster - Part 2 | Manufacturing Brighter Futures | From Richmond to London: Building a Biotech Empire | Culture Eats Strategy for Breakfast 1:04:58
1:04:58 Play Later Play Later Lists Like Liked1:04:58
Play Later Play Later Lists Like Liked🧬 The Biotech Startups Podcast, brought to you by Excedr—empowering life science startups with founder-friendly equipment leasing to fast-track R&D and drive commercialization success. 🔬 Know someone in need of lab equipment? Join Excedr’s referral program: Give your friends $1,000 and earn $1,000 for every qualified referral! 💸 🔗 Get your unique referral link here : refer.excedr.com/ZTHETY . Part 2 of 2 : My guest today is Jason C. Foster, CEO and Executive Director of Ori Biotech. Ori is revolutionizing Cell and Gene Therapy manufacturing through the development of its proprietary platform, IRO®. By automating and standardizing Cell and Gene Therapy manufacturing, Ori and IRO® offer scientists the tools they need to streamline development and support widespread patient access to life-saving treatments. Jason's experience prior to Ori includes more than 20 years of life science leadership in operations, sales, marketing, technology, and investing, during which he developed deep expertise in commercial strategy and a thorough understanding of healthcare markets across the UK, US, and EU. In this episode, you'll hear about: Jason Foster's journey from Virginia to London The critical role of culture in company success Ori Biotech's mission to increase accessibility of cell therapies by developing scalable manufacturing solutions Challenges in commercializing cell therapies and the need to consider commercial viability alongside safety and efficacy Jason's leadership insights, including the concept of being a "trusted advisor" and the importance of transparency in team building If you enjoy The Biotech Startups Podcast, please consider subscribing, leaving a review, or sharing it with your friends. Thanks for listening! Subscribe to the podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-biotech-startups-podcast/id1679591994 Find Our Guest, Jason C. Foster, at these links: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasoncfoster/ https://oribiotech.com/ Find Our Host, Jon Chee, at these links: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jonchee https://www.excedr.com Excedr Socials & Website LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/excedr/ Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@excedr Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/excedr_inc Twitter: https://twitter.com/ExcedrInc Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/excedr TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@excedr Podcast Website: https://www.thebiotechstartupspodcast.com/ Enriched Notes: Topics Mentioned: Ori Biotech https://oribiotech.com/ How to Spin Out of Academia https://www.excedr.com/resources/how-to-spin-out-of-academia-and-into-a-startup How VC-Backed Startups Win When They Lease https://www.excedr.com/blog/how-vc-backed-startups-win-when-they-lease Marketing & Sales Strategies for Startups https://www.excedr.com/blog/marketing-sales-strategies-for-biotechs People Mentioned: Farlan Veraitch https://www.linkedin.com/in/farlan-singh-veraitch-a677112/ Reed Hastings https://www.linkedin.com/in/reedhastings/ Dan Pink https://www.linkedin.com/in/danielpink/ Timestamps: 00:00 - Intro 05:21 - Early days of expanding the business in Europe 10:37 - Reflections on entrepreneurship within a large organization 15:44 - The importance of culture in building a successful company 20:35 - Jason's journey to founding Ori Biotech 27:22 - Building Ori Biotech from the ground up 33:35 - The challenges and potential of cell therapy 39:51 - Ori Biotech's approach to go-to-market strategy 46:09 - The importance of being a trusted advisor to clients 51:10 - Hiring for cultural fit and building a strong team 55:17 - Future plans for Ori Biotech 57:59 - Shoutouts to mentors and supporters 1:00:05 - Advice to his 21-year-old self 1:02:48 - 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.…
Welcome to Player FM!
Player FM is scanning the web for high-quality podcasts for you to enjoy right now. It's the best podcast app and works on Android, iPhone, and the web. Signup to sync subscriptions across devices.
Similar to The Biotech Startups Podcast
A myriad of AI, science, and technology experts explore the real challenges and enormous opportunities facing entrepreneurs who are building the future of health. Raising Health, a podcast by a16z Bio + Health and hosted by Kris Tatiossian and Olivia Webb, dives deep into the heart of biotechnology and healthcare innovation. Join veteran company builders, operators, and investors Vijay Pande, Julie Yoo, Vineeta Agarwala, and Jorge Conde, along with distinguished guests like Mark Cuban, Greg ...
…
continue reading
Flash Forward is a show about possible (and not so possible) future scenarios. What would the warranty on a sex robot look like? How would diplomacy work if we couldn’t lie? Could there ever be a fecal transplant black market? (Complicated, it wouldn’t, and yes, respectively, in case you’re curious.) Hosted and produced by award winning science journalist Rose Eveleth, each episode combines audio drama and journalism to go deep on potential tomorrows, and uncovers what those futures might re ...
…
continue reading
This Week in Microbiology is a podcast about unseen life on Earth hosted by Vincent Racaniello and friends. Following in the path of his successful shows 'This Week in Virology' (TWiV) and 'This Week in Parasitism' (TWiP), Racaniello and guests produce an informal yet informative conversation about microbes which is accessible to everyone, no matter what their science background.
…
continue reading
DNA science. Artificial intelligence. Smartphones and 3D printers. Science and technology have transformed the world we live in. But how did we get here? It wasn’t by accident. Well, sometimes it was. It was also the result of hard work, teamwork, and competition. And incredibly surprising moments. Hosted by bestselling author Steven Johnson (“How We Got To Now”), American Innovations uses immersive scenes to tell the stories of the scientists, engineers, and ordinary people behind the great ...
…
continue reading
Business tips for startups by proven entrepreneurs
…
continue reading
All In The Mind is ABC RN's weekly podcast looking into the mental universe, the mind, brain and behaviour — everything from addiction to artificial intelligence.
…
continue reading
Unexplainable takes listeners right up to the edge of what we know…and then keeps on going. The Unexplainable team — Noam Hassenfeld, Julia Longoria, Byrd Pinkerton, and Meradith Hoddinott — tackles scientific mysteries, unanswered questions, and everything we learn diving into the unknown. New episodes Mondays and Wednesdays. From Vox and the Vox Media Podcast Network.
…
continue reading
Entrepreneurship empowers everyone
…
continue reading
Alessandro Bogliari, CEO and Co-Founder of The Influencer Marketing Factory, a global influencer marketing agency, talks with great guests about influencer marketing, social media, the creator economy, social commerce and much more.
…
continue reading
Custom Manufacturing Industry podcast is an entrepreneurship and motivational podcast on all platforms, hosted by Aaron Clippinger. Being CEO of multiple companies including the signage industry and the software industry, Aaron has over 20 years of consulting and business management. His software has grown internationally and with over a billion dollars annually going through the software. Using his Accounting degree, Aaron will be talking about his organizational ways to get things done. Hi ...
…
continue reading
Player FM - Podcast App
Go offline with the Player FM app!
Go offline with the Player FM app!
