The Biotech Startups Podcast

Latest Episodes:

🧬 Mark Kotter - bit.bio - Part 3 | Success in Academia vs. Industry | Vital Things All Founders Should Know | The Importance of Company Culture | bit.bio & the Operating System of Life Jun 24, 2024

Show notes

As a podcast listener, you can redeem exclusive discounts with a growing list of biotech vendors and get $500 off your first equipment lease by using promo code “TBSP” on https://www.excedr.com/rewards.
Part 3 of 4.
My guest for this week’s episode is Mark Kotter, neurosurgeon, stem cell biologist, and CEO and founder of bit.bio. Bit.bio is an award-winning human synthetic biology company providing human cells for research, drug discovery, and cell therapy. Bit.bio applies a patented safe harbor gene targeting approach to inducibly express transcription factor combinations that reprogram human-induced pluripotent stem cells into highly defined and mature human cell types. Bit.bio spun out of the University of Cambridge in 2016 and has since raised approximately $200 million from Arch Ventures, Foresight Capital, Milky Way, Charles River Laboratories, National Resilience, Tencent, and Pulau Capital, among others.
In addition to bit.bio, Mark is also the co-founder of Meatable, scientific founder and chairman of rejuvenation startup clock.bio, and co-founder and trustee of Myelopathy.org, the first charity dedicated to a common yet often overseen condition causing a slow-motion spinal cord injury. Mark has also been a professor and researcher at Cambridge for more than 15 years. His diverse experience as an academic and serial entrepreneur offers a wealth of insights aspiring scientist founders can draw from.
Join us this week and hear about:

Gene expression discoveries and the technology bit.bio is developing around them
Vital questions and concepts that every founder should know before they start developing their company
The benefits of founder-led companies and their relentless focus on their mission
And much more!

Please enjoy my conversation with Mark Kotter.
Timestamps:00:28 Intro01:55 Explaining the technology they developed while at the stem cell institute 03:26 An unexpected gene expression discovery and dealing with the issues that followed05:32 Comparing what it means to be successful in academia vs industry06:53 The dangers of having a misalignment of objectives while building a company and other lessons learned by Mark 10:18 Vital things that founders need to address before taking their idea from the lab and building a company around it14:08 How Mark and his COO’s skill sets compliment each other 15:29 The importance of company culture and how it can affect both building a company and investing in one17:55 Benefits to the relentless objective-based focus that some founder-led companies have over professionally managed ones19:44 Parallels between Excedr’s all-in origins and bit.bio’s complete dedication to its mission21:47 What Mark’s operating system of life is, what are its applications, and why it fuels bit.bio’s culture24:07 Outro
Find Our Guest, Mark Kotter, at these links: https://uk.linkedin.com/in/mark-kotter https://www.bit.bio/
Find Our Host, Jon Chee, at these links: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jonchee https://www.excedr.com
Social & WebsiteLinkedIn: 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:Cambridge Stem Cell Institute https://www.stemcells.cam.ac.uk/ University of Cambridge https://www.cam.ac.uk/
Single Cell Analysis: Considerations & Applicationshttps://www.excedr.com/blog/single-cell-analysis-101Lab Equipment for Genetic Engineering Researchhttps://www.excedr.com/blog/lab-equipment-list-for-genetic-engineering-researchWhat is Live-Cell Imaging & How Does It Work?https://www.excedr.com/blog/what-is-live-cell-imagingCommon Lab Equipment for Life Sciences Research in 2024 https://www.excedr.com/blog/common-lab-equipment
People Mentioned:Kathryn Corzo https://www.linkedin.com/in/kathryn-penkus-corzo/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.

🧬 Mark Kotter - bit.bio - Part 2 | Navigating Between the Clinical & Research Worlds | Lessons in Combining Different Fields | The Evolution of Cell Therapies | Transitioning from Academia to Entrepreneurship Jun 20, 2024

Show notes

Part 2 of 4.
My guest today is Mark Kotter, neurosurgeon, stem cell biologist, and CEO and Founder of bit.bio. Bit.bio is an award-winning human synthetic biology company providing human cells for research, drug discovery and cell therapy.
Bit.bio applies a patented safe harbor gene-targeting approach to inducibly express transcription factor combinations that reprogram human induced pluripotent stem cells into highly defined and mature human cell types.
In addition to bit.bio, Mark is also the Co-Founder of Meatable, Scientific Founder and Chairman of rejuvenation start-up clock.bio, and Co-Founder and trustee of Myelopathy.org, the first charity dedicated to a common yet often overseen condition causing a “slow motion spinal cord injury.”
Mark has also been a professor and researcher at Cambridge for more than 15 years. His diverse experience as an academic and serial entrepreneur offers a wealth of insights aspiring scientist-founders can draw from.
Join us this week and hear about Mark’s:

Transition from his PhD studies at Cambridge to the Medical University of Vienna, where he became a resident in neurosurgery and ran his own research group
Experience at the Max Planck Institute for Experimental Medicine
Return to Cambridge, where he combined clinical practice with research
Shift from academia to entrepreneurship, which led to the founding of his first biotech startup

Please enjoy my conversation with Mark Kotter.
Timestamps:00:28 Intro 01:54 Mark’s spinal cord injury research in Vienna, setting up a lab, and avoiding rigid hierarchy03:26 Working at the Max Planck Institute, getting noticed again at Cambridge 04:34 Going from no supervisor to teaching PhD students while running a lab 05:36 Starting a new role at Cambridge, the impact of sharing information 08:11 Two different worlds: the research world and the clinical world 09:57 The value of being exposed to and combining the newest tech and patient samples 11:37 Complexity around protocols, cell programming history, and contradictory data 14:18 The translation gap between research and the clinic 16:34 Juggling a teaching role at Cambridge while conducting research, studying in Toronto18:56 Shifting to the startup world from academia and clinical research 20:23 Starting a family business, understanding financial models and cash flow 21:58 Outro
Enriched Notes:

Topics Mentioned:Max Planck Institute for Experimental Medicine https://maxplanckneuroscience.org/institute/mpi-exp-medicine/University of Cambridge https://www.cam.ac.uk/Neurosurgery https://www.ohsu.edu/school-of-medicine/neurosurgery/what-neurosurgeryCell Programing https://youtu.be/jrVQXHmxH7Y?si=csFYmCfaqkQFm95yDifferentiation Protocols https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9405110/Direct reprogramming protocols https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8161510/Synthetic Biology https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Synthetic_biologyOpti-ox Technology https://www.bit.bio/platformHow to Spin Out of Academia https://www.excedr.com/resources/how-to-spin-out-of-academia-and-into-a-startup
People Mentioned:Roger Pedersen https://www.linkedin.com/in/roger-pedersen-0b231115/ Harold Weintraub https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harold_M._WeintraubMarius Wernig https://med.stanford.edu/profiles/marius-wernigThomas Südhof https://med.stanford.edu/sudhoflab/about-thomas-sudhof.htmlShinya Yamanaka https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shinya_YamanakaThe 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.

🧬 Mark Kotter - bit.bio - Part 1 | Childhood Experiences in Different Countries | Overcoming Dyslexia & Developing Math Skills | Pivoting His Career to Science and Medicine | Facilitating Curiosity Via Research & Lab Experiences Jun 17, 2024

Show notes

As a podcast listener, you can redeem exclusive discounts with a growing list of biotech vendors and get $500 off your first equipment lease by using promo code “TBSP” on https://www.excedr.com/rewards.
My guest for this week’s episode is Mark Kotter, neurosurgeon, stem cell biologist, and CEO and founder of bit.bio. Bit.bio is an award-winning human synthetic biology company providing human cells for research, drug discovery, and cell therapy. Bit.bio applies a patented safe harbor gene targeting approach to inducibly express transcription factor combinations that reprogram human-induced pluripotent stem cells into highly defined and mature human cell types. Bit.bio spun out of the University of Cambridge in 2016 and has since raised approximately $200 million from Arch Ventures, Foresight Capital, Milky Way, Charles River Laboratories, National Resilience, Tencent, and Pulau Capital, among others.
In addition to bit.bio, Mark is also the co-founder of Meatable, scientific founder and chairman of rejuvenation startup clock.bio, and co-founder and trustee of Myelopathy.org, the first charity dedicated to a common yet often overseen condition causing a slow-motion spinal cord injury. Mark has also been a professor and researcher at Cambridge for more than 15 years. His diverse experience as an academic and serial entrepreneur offers a wealth of insights aspiring scientist founders can draw from.
Join us this week and hear about:

Mark's upbringing as a curious child in Canada and his exposure to a broad range of cultures and perspectives
His experiences growing up with dyslexia and how it led him to focus on science and mathematics at an early age
His experience as a researcher and PhD student at Cambridge, where he transitioned from medicine to synthetic biology and stem cell research
And much more!

Please enjoy my conversation with Mark Kotter.
Find Our Guest, Mark Kotter, at these links: https://uk.linkedin.com/in/mark-kotter https://www.bit.bio/
Find Our Host, Jon Chee, at these links: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jonchee https://www.excedr.com
Timestamps:00:28 Intro2:42 Episode starts, early days experiencing different countries and cultures, family influence as entrepreneurs, growing up with dyslexia 7:14 Despite strong mathematical skills, Mark’s desire to make an impact leads to a pivot to medicine10:38 The impact of experiences in other countries while overcoming the struggles of dyslexia12:29 Developing a passion for science and medicine, Mark’s exposure to spinal cord injuries as a nursing assistant14:39 Changes in academic career at the University of Graz in Austria to pursue medicine18:26 Experience at the University of Cambridge as a researcher23:21 The culture at Cambridge supporting a sense of curiosity, lab experience as a PhD student28:45 Understanding your purpose while navigating unique opportunities 30:52 Outro
Social & WebsiteLinkedIn: 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:What is Dyslexia?https://dyslexiaida.org/dyslexia-basics/Spinal Cord Injurieshttps://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/spinal-cord-injury/symptoms-causes/syc-20377890University of Grazhttps://www.uni-graz.at/en/University of Cambridgehttps://www.cam.ac.uk/
Single Cell Analysis: Considerations & Applicationshttps://www.excedr.com/blog/single-cell-analysis-101Lab Equipment for Genetic Engineering Researchhttps://www.excedr.com/blog/lab-equipment-list-for-genetic-engineering-researchWhat is Live-Cell Imaging & How Does It Work?https://www.excedr.com/blog/what-is-live-cell-imagingCommon Lab Equipment for Life Sciences Research in 2024 https://www.excedr.com/blog/common-lab-equipment 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.

🧬 Quin Wills - Ochre Bio - Part 4 | Quin’s Journey Through Y Combinator | The Role of Empathy in Team Dynamics | Adapting in a Shifting Biotech Industry | Ochre Bio’s Fundraising Journey & Future Plans Jun 13, 2024

Show notes

Part 4 of 4.
My guest for this week’s episode is Quin Wills, CSO and Co-Founder of Ochre Bio, a pioneering biotechnology company developing RNA therapies for chronic liver diseases. Using a combination of genomic deep phenotyping, precision RNA medicine, and testing in live human donor livers, Ochre is developing therapies for liver health challenges ranging from increasing donor liver supply to reducing cirrhosis complications.
In addition to his work at Ochre, Quin is also a highly accomplished academic with a medical degree from Witwatersrand University and doctoral degrees from Cambridge and Oxford in computational biology, mathematics, and statistical genomics.
Along with his academic accomplishments, Quin also co-founded SimuGen and has worked at the University College London, the Mayo Clinic, and Novo Nordisk before he went on to co-found Ochre Bio. Quin's diverse experiences offer a wealth of insights that everyone can draw inspiration from.
Join us this week and hear about Quin’s:

Unique journey through Y Combinator and its impact
Thoughts about empathy’s role in organizational and team dynamics
Strategies for adapting as an entrepreneur in a shifting biotech landscape
Experience expanding Ochre Bio globally and the challenges of scaling
Fundraising journey and his unconventional tips for aspiring entrepreneurs

Please enjoy my conversation with Quin Wills.
Find Our Guest, Quin Wills, at these links: https://www.linkedin.com/in/quinwills/https://www.ochre-bio.com/
Find Our Host, Jon Chee, at these links: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jonchee https://www.excedr.com
Timestamps:00:28 Intro01:46 Applying to and joining Y Combinator03:19 Building a full stack solution for Ochre Bio and generating critical data05:04 The impact of COVID-19, expanding globally to Taiwan and the US08:48 Day-to-day operations and scientific structure of Ochre Bio09:42 Investing in chemistry, establishing XLAB and its role in innovation and decision-making11:42 Balancing innovation and value-driven projects, defining metrics of success12:38 Quin’s fundraising journey, insights, and philosophy13:49 The importance of focus and ending unproductive projects quickly16:11 Ochre Bio’s evolution and future plans17:19 Quin’s shoutouts and advice to his 21-year-old self20:03 Outro
Social & WebsiteLinkedIn: 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:JP Morgan https://www.jpmorgan.com/globalY Combinator https://www.ycombinator.com/Ochre Bio https://www.ochre-bio.com/Covid 19 Pandemic https://www.who.int/europe/emergencies/situations/covid-19Biotech Accelerators https://www.excedr.com/resources/biotech-acceleratorsFull-Stack Solution in Biotech https://www.synthego.com/blog/full-stack-genome-engineeringNHS https://www.nationalhonorsociety.org/Tissue Cell Culture https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4843260/How Much Does Lab Space Cost? https://www.excedr.com/blog/how-much-does-lab-space-costSeed Series https://www.excedr.com/resources/seed-round-funding-explainedSeries A, B, & C https://www.excedr.com/resources/series-funding-explainedBiotech Fundraising https://www.excedr.com/resources/biotech-startup-funding-optionsWhen & How to Pivot a Biotech https://www.excedr.com/blog/when-how-to-pivot-a-biotech-startup
People Mentioned:Jacob Glanville https://www.linkedin.com/in/jacobglanvilleVinod Khosla https://www.linkedin.com/in/vinod-khosla-65387416/ 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.

🧬 Quin Wills - Ochre Bio - Part 3 | University of Oxford’s Single Cell Consortium | The Pitfalls of Californian Entrepreneurships | Dinner Table Origins of Ochre Bio | The Laws that Guide Ochre Bio Jun 10, 2024

Show notes

As a podcast listener, you can redeem exclusive discounts with a growing list of biotech vendors and get $500 off your first equipment lease by using promo code “TBSP” on https://www.excedr.com/rewards.
Part 3 of 4.
My guest for this week’s episode is Quin Wills, CSO and Co-Founder of Ochre Bio, a pioneering biotechnology company developing RNA therapies for chronic liver diseases. Using a combination of genomic deep phenotyping, precision RNA medicine, and testing in live human donor livers, Ochre is developing therapies for liver health challenges ranging from increasing donor liver supply to reducing cirrhosis complications.
In addition to his work at Ochre, Quin is also a highly accomplished academic with a medical degree from Witwatersrand University and doctoral degrees from Cambridge and Oxford in computational biology, mathematics, and statistical genomics.
Along with his academic accomplishments, Quin also co-founded SimuGen and has worked at the University College London, the Mayo Clinic, and Novo Nordisk before he went on to co-found Ochre Bio. Quin's diverse experiences offer a wealth of insights that everyone can draw inspiration from.
Join us this week and hear about Quin’s:

Working at the Mayo Clinic’s Single Cell Consortium at The University of Oxford
The dynamics of collaboration between academia and industry, including lessons learned from his time at Novo Nordisk
The founding principles and evolution of Ochre Bio
Pivoting towards a bioinformatics approach

Please enjoy my conversation with Quin Wills.
Find Our Guest, Quin Wills, at these links: https://www.linkedin.com/in/quinwills/https://www.ochre-bio.com/
Find Our Host, Jon Chee, at these links: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jonchee https://www.excedr.com
Timestamps: 00:28 Intro01:46 Dealing with a rapidly evolving company and Quin’s decision to move to America02:58 Transitioning from the Mayo Clinic back to Oxford to work at their Single Cell Consortium04:51 Learning when to make waves and when to ride the waves and the pitfalls of “Californian entrepreneurship” 08:10 Experience working at Novo Nordisk in collaboration with Oxford and building an innovation center that behaved like a biotech11:35 Learning to focus more on the people element of building his department and other lessons learned from Novo Nordisk12:57 How a chance dinner table conversation turned into Ochre Bio14:36 Finding his co-founder and how they built Ochre from an idea to a company17:11 The deceptively simple laws that Ochre Bio is built upon and why a good failure culture is so important to innovation20:10 Outro
Social & WebsiteLinkedIn: 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:Ochre Bio https://www.ochre-bio.com/ Mayo Clinic https://www.mayoclinic.org/ Pharmacogenomics https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pharmacogenomics Oxford Single Cell Consortium https://www.imm.ox.ac.uk/research/oxford-single-cell-biology-consortium Novo Nordisk Research Center https://www.novonordisk.com/science-and-technology/research-and-technology-centres/oxford-research-centre.html Bioinformatics & Computational Biology https://www.excedr.com/blog/what-is-bioinformatics-and-computational-biologySingle-Cell Genomics https://genomebiology.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s13059-016-0960-xSingle-Cell Epigenomics https://www.excedr.com/blog/single-cell-epigenomicsSpinning Out of Academia https://www.excedr.com/resources/how-to-spin-out-of-academia-and-into-a-startupCommon Mistakes of First-Time Founders & Biotechs https://www.excedr.com/blog/common-business-mistakes
People Mentioned:Chris Holmes https://www.stats.ox.ac.uk/people/chris-holmes Jack O’Meara https://www.linkedin.com/in/jackomeara/?originalSubdomain=uk 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.

🧬 Quin Wills - Ochre Bio - Part 2 | Pursuing Dual Masters at Oxford & Cambridge | Moving from Genomics to RNA Research | Balancing Academia & Entrepreneurship | The Challenges of Product-Market Fit in Biotech Jun 06, 2024

Show notes

As a podcast listener, you can redeem exclusive discounts with a growing list of biotech vendors and get $500 off your first equipment lease by using promo code “TBSP” on https://www.excedr.com/rewards.
Part 2 of 4.
My guest for this week’s episode is Quin Wills, CSO and Co-Founder of Ochre Bio, a pioneering biotechnology company developing RNA therapies for chronic liver diseases. Using a combination of genomic deep phenotyping, precision RNA medicine, and testing in live human donor livers, Ochre is developing therapies for liver health challenges ranging from increasing donor liver supply to reducing cirrhosis complications.
In addition to his work at Ochre, Quin is also a highly accomplished academic with a medical degree from Witwatersrand University and doctoral degrees from Cambridge and Oxford in computational biology, mathematics, and statistical genomics.
Along with his academic accomplishments, Quin also co-founded SimuGen and has worked at the University College London, the Mayo Clinic, and Novo Nordisk before he went on to co-found Ochre Bio. Quin's diverse experiences offer a wealth of insights that everyone can draw inspiration from.
Join us this week and hear about Quin’s:

Early interest for bioinformatics and genomics
Pursuit of dual degrees in Computational Mathematics and Biology at Oxford University at Cambridge, respectively
Exploration of single-cell genomics, RNA, and gene regulation
Experience founding SimuGen during his graduate studies

Please enjoy my conversation with Quin Wills.
Find Our Guest, Quin Wills, at these links: https://www.linkedin.com/in/quinwills/https://www.ochre-bio.com/
Find Our Host, Jon Chee, at these links: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jonchee https://www.excedr.com
Timestamps:00:28 Intro01:52 Pursuing dual masters at Oxford and Cambridge in computational biology and mathematics05:16 Quin’s experience at Oxford studying genomics06:22 Studying single-cell genomics and gene regulation09:16 Academia’s early views on entrepreneurship and spinning out a startup11:19 Founding SimuGen as a graduate student, balancing studies with entrepreneurship13:04 SimuGen’s approach to drug development, the lessons learned from a lack of product-market fit14:35 Common mistakes of a first-time scientific founder16:21 Lessons learned from 1st wave of bioinformatics, the importance of having a clear vision18:19 The value of understanding complex systems and learning by doing19:05 Outro
Social & WebsiteLinkedIn: 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:Oxford University https://www.ox.ac.uk/University of Cambridge https://www.cam.ac.uk/Bioinformatics & Computational Biology https://www.excedr.com/blog/what-is-bioinformatics-and-computational-biologySingle-Cell Genomics https://genomebiology.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s13059-016-0960-xSingle-Cell Epigenomics https://www.excedr.com/blog/single-cell-epigenomicsGene Regulation https://www.genome.gov/genetics-glossary/Gene-RegulationSpinning Out of Academia https://www.excedr.com/resources/how-to-spin-out-of-academia-and-into-a-startupProduct-Market Fit in the Life Sciences https://www.universitylabpartners.org/blog/understanding-product-market-fitCommon Mistakes of First-Time Founders & Biotechs https://www.excedr.com/blog/common-business-mistakesThe 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.

🧬 Quin Wills - Ochre Bio - Part 1 | Childhood Moments in Johannesburg | A Passion for Science Grows with an Evolving Society | Academic Experience in Biology and Genetics | Exposure to Bioinformatics and Big Data Jun 03, 2024

Show notes

Part 1 of 4.
My guest for this week’s episode is Quin Wills, CSO and Co-Founder of Ochre Bio, a pioneering biotechnology company developing RNA therapies for chronic liver diseases. Using a combination of genomic deep phenotyping, precision RNA medicine, and testing in live human donor livers, Ochre is developing therapies for liver health challenges ranging from increasing donor liver supply to reducing cirrhosis complications.
In addition to his work at Ochre, Quin is also a highly accomplished academic with a medical degree from Witwatersrand University and doctoral degrees from Cambridge and Oxford in computational biology, mathematics, and statistical genomics. Along with his academic accomplishments, Quin also co-founded SimuGen and has worked at the University College London, the Mayo Clinic, and Novo Nordisk before he went on to co-found Ochre Bio. Quin's diverse experiences offer a wealth of insights that everyone can draw inspiration from.
Join us this week and hear about:

Quin's childhood, the importance of seizing opportunities when they arise, and challenging the status quo
His time at the University College London (UCL)
Transitioning from medical school to studying genetics while at Witwatersrand University
Getting his MPhil in biology at Cambridge
Early exposure and passion for bioinformatics and big data during the Human Genome Project era
And much more!

Please enjoy my conversation with Quin Wills.
Find Our Guest, Quin Wills, at these links: https://www.linkedin.com/in/quinwills/https://www.ochre-bio.com/
Find Our Host, Jon Chee, at these links: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jonchee https://www.excedr.com
Timestamps:00:28 Intro2:22 Episode starts, childhood experiences in Johannesburg that influenced Quin’s leadership philosophy, being an action-prone scientist, and challenging the status quo 7:07 Developing a passion for science in connection to the evolution of society9:33 Undergraduate academic experience with genetics, microbiology, and lab-based work11:51 Decision to leave South Africa to attend University College London (UCL), passion for bioinformatics and big data during the Human Genome Project era15:06 Learning that taking steps back is sometimes necessary to move forward17:38 Outro
Social & WebsiteLinkedIn: 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:What is Bioinformatics?https://www.excedr.com/blog/what-is-bioinformatics-and-computational-biologyHuman Genome Projecthttps://www.genome.gov/human-genome-projectWitwatersrand Universityhttps://www.wits.ac.za/University College Londonhttps://www.ucl.ac.uk/University of Cambridgehttps://www.cam.ac.uk/
Lab Equipment for Genetic Engineering Researchhttps://www.excedr.com/blog/lab-equipment-list-for-genetic-engineering-researchWhat is Live-Cell Imaging & How Does It Work?https://www.excedr.com/blog/what-is-live-cell-imagingThe 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.

🧬 Grant Aarons - FabricNano - Part 3 | Meeting His Co-Founder at Entrepreneur First | Importance of Sales to the Scientific Community | Disrupting the Petrochemical Industry | The Dark Horse of Biology, Synthetic Biology May 29, 2024

Show notes

As a podcast listener, you can redeem exclusive discounts with a growing list of biotech vendors and get $500 off your first equipment lease by using promo code “TBSP” on https://www.excedr.com/rewards.
Part 3 of 3.
My guest for this week’s episode is Grant Aarons, Co-Founder and CEO of FabricNano, a London-based biotech whose mission is to transform industrial chemical processes using cell-free biomanufacturing. FabricNano empowers users with the world's most advanced, flexible, and easily scalable biocatalyst platform, providing highly stable and performant biocatalysts to enable profitable production of sustainable and biobased chemicals. Their approach starts with novel immobilization engineering for enzyme stabilization, followed by budget-conscious protein engineering and process engineering to reach their clients' targets for commercialization of their new biochemical production process.
Before FabricNano, Grant was a Research Analyst at the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, and while pursuing his PhD at the London Business School, became an Entrepreneur In Residence at Entrepreneur First, an international business accelerator that has created over 300 companies worth over $10 billion. Grant's diverse experience gives him a unique perspective on the startup ecosystem that everyone can benefit from.
Join us this week and hear about:

Grant’s experience at Entrepreneur First and how FabricNano started
Why sales is such an underrated part of the scientific community
How show and tell helped Grant learn at a young age how to pitch to VCs
What a future powered by enzymes might look like and how to disrupt the petrochemical market
Tips on how entrepreneurs can bring their ideas to life even in difficult economic times

Please enjoy my conversation with Grant Aarons.
Find Our Guest, Grant Aaron, at these links: https://www.linkedin.com/in/grantaarons/https://fabricnano.com/
Find Our Host, Jon Chee, at these links: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jonchee https://www.excedr.com
Timestamps:00:28 Intro01:36 What Entrepreneur First was like and the mentality one should have while in an accelerator02:58 Meeting his co-founder and the spark of curiosity that ended up never dying05:01 Launching FabricNano and learning how to properly run an email marketing campaign07:43 The underrated value of sales in the biotech/scientific community and how show and tell helped Grant learn how to talk to VCs09:39 Why FabricNano wants a future powered by enzymes and biology misconceptions14:40 The current state of the biology market and why petrochemistry is so important to it17:49 How do we move away from petrochemicals and what is FabricNano's role in that21:00 What is FabricNano's go-to-market strategy and why now is the right time to disrupt the petrochemical market24:29 Tips to other founders on how to navigate difficult economic markets and bring your innovative ideas to life25:53 What is on the horizon for FabricNano27:21 Teaching people about the dark horse of the industrial biology industry, synthetic biology28:39 Grant shouts out his mentors, FabricNano, family, and why no founder gets to where they are on their own30:17 Advice to a younger Grant31:39 Outro
Social & WebsiteLinkedIn: 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:
Entrepreneur First https://www.joinef.com/ Streak CRM https://www.streak.com/ Cell-Free https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cell-free_system Synthetic Biology https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Synthetic_biology Petrochemicals https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Petrochemical
Biotech Investors https://www.excedr.com/blog/top-vc-firms-for-biotechMore Biotech Investors https://www.excedr.com/blog/biotech-seed-and-angel-investors Biotech Funding https://www.excedr.com/resources/biotech-startup-funding-optionsLab Equipment for Synthetic Biology https://www.excedr.com/blog/lab-equipment-list-for-synthetic-biology-research The Power Law https://www.amazon.com/Power-Law-Venture-Capital-Making/dp/052555999X
People Mentioned:Ferdinando Randisi https://www.linkedin.com/in/ferdinando-randisi/?locale=en_US Thomas Synnott https://www.linkedin.com/in/tom-synnott-babb774/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.

🧬 Grant Aarons - FabricNano - Part 2 | The Defensibility of Software Companies | Studying Econometrics at London Business School | Joining Entrepreneur First | Becoming a Biotech Startup CEO & Navigating the Startup Journey May 22, 2024

Show notes

Part 2 of 3.
My guest for this week’s episode is Grant Aarons, Co-Founder and CEO of FabricNano, a London-based biotech whose mission is to transform industrial chemical processes using cell-free biomanufacturing. FabricNano empowers users with the world's most advanced, flexible, and easily scalable biocatalyst platform, providing highly stable and performant biocatalysts to enable profitable production of sustainable and biobased chemicals. Their approach starts with novel immobilization engineering for enzyme stabilization, followed by budget-conscious protein engineering and process engineering to reach their clients' targets for commercialization of their new biochemical production process.
Before FabricNano, Grant was a Research Analyst at the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, and while pursuing his PhD at the London Business School, became an Entrepreneur In Residence at Entrepreneur First, an international business accelerator that has created over 300 companies worth over $10 billion. Grant's diverse experience gives him a unique perspective on the startup ecosystem that everyone can benefit from.
Join us this week and hear about Grant’s:

Thoughts on the defensibility of software vs. hardware companies and the importance of capital expenditure and continuous business development
Decision to attend London Business School and pursue his PhD
Econometrics and grad school research endeavors in predictive modeling
Learnings from the accelerator experience at Entrepreneur First, highlighting the importance of resilience and adaptability in entrepreneurship.

Please enjoy my conversation with Grant Aarons.
Find Our Guest, Grant Aaron, at these links: https://www.linkedin.com/in/grantaarons/https://fabricnano.com/
Find Our Host, Jon Chee, at these links: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jonchee https://www.excedr.com
Timestamps:00:28 Intro01:38 Software companies will no longer be defensible; Intel’s hardware strategy, Nvidia’s success04:46 CapEx investments, market-capture, and FabricNano’s focus on stability and yield07:38 How hardware companies are servicing the software industry and accumulating value09:08 Grant’s econometrics research, DSGE mentors, and support network 12:26 The importance of learning, decision to attend London Business School14:58 UK mentors, their impacts on Grant’s education, and the power of opportunity19:26 Grad school research: asset pricing, econometrics models, micro and macroeconomics23:10 Grant’s decision to leaving the PhD program and the encouragement he received25:25 Resonating with an investment style, The Power Law, and hardware investors31:01 Getting involved in Entrepreneur First and the randomness of creating startups36:23 The various approaches accelerators use to create startups, Entrepreneur First’s thesis38:48 Management and philosophy styles, how co-founders help each other and the organization40:33 Outro
Social & WebsiteLinkedIn: 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:
Federal Reserve https://www.federalreserve.gov/London Business School https://www.london.edu/Intel https://www.intel.com/content/www/us/en/homepage.htmlNvidia https://www.nvidia.com/en-us/Simple Pharma (UK) https://www.simplepharma.com/Entrepreneur First https://www.joinef.com/DSGE Model https://www.newyorkfed.org/research/staff_reports/sr554.htmlEconometrics https://www.investopedia.com/terms/e/econometrics.aspAsset pricing https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Asset_pricingMicro and Macroeconomics https://www.investopedia.com/ask/answers/difference-between-microeconomics-and-macroeconomics/Biotech Investors https://www.excedr.com/blog/top-vc-firms-for-biotechBiotech Funding https://www.excedr.com/resources/biotech-startup-funding-optionsThe Power Law https://www.amazon.com/Power-Law-Venture-Capital-Making/dp/052555999X
People Mentioned:Marc Giannoni https://www.linkedin.com/in/marcpgiannoni/Marco Del Negro https://www.linkedin.com/in/marco-del-negro-91122550/Domenico Giannone https://www.linkedin.com/in/domenico-giannone-55755b45/Jerry Yang https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jerry_YangSebastian Mallaby https://www.linkedin.com/in/sebastian-mallaby-13a24936/Matt Cliford https://www.linkedin.com/in/mattcliffordef/?originalSubdomain=ukAlice Bentinck https://www.linkedin.com/in/alicebentinck/Masayoshi Son https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Masayoshi_SonThe 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.

🧬 Grant Aarons - FabricNano - Part 1 | How NYC Shaped a Love of Engineering | Benefitting from Great Diversity at Cooper Union | Experiences & Opportunities at the Federal Reserve Bank of New York | Impact of the Economy on Deep Tech May 15, 2024

Show notes

As a podcast listener, you can redeem exclusive discounts with a growing list of biotech vendors and get $500 off your first equipment lease by using promo code “TBSP” on https://www.excedr.com/rewards.
Part 1 of 3.
My guest for this week’s episode is Grant Aarons, Co-Founder and CEO of FabricNano, a London-based biotech whose mission is to transform industrial chemical processes using cell-free biomanufacturing. FabricNano empowers users with the world's most advanced, flexible, and easily scalable biocatalyst platform. With clients ranging from startups to multinationals like Sumitomo Chemical Company, FabricNano provides highly stable and performant biocatalysts to enable profitable production of sustainable and biobased chemicals. FabricNano's approach starts with novel immobilization engineering for enzyme stabilization, followed by budget-conscious protein engineering and process engineering to reach their clients' targets for commercialization of their new biochemical production process. Before FabricNano, Grant was a Research Analyst at the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, and while pursuing his PhD at the London Business School, became an Entrepreneur In Residence at Entrepreneur First, an international business accelerator that has created over 300 companies worth over $10 billion. Grant's diverse experience gives him a unique perspective on the startup ecosystem that everyone can benefit from.
Join us this week and hear about:

Benefitting from diverse experiences while studying engineering at Cooper Union
Embracing experiences at the Federal Reserve Bank of New York as a research analyst
The impact of the economy on deep tech companies
Tips for embracing capital dependency, intensity, and efficiency
And much more!

Please enjoy my conversation with Grant Aarons.
Find Our Guest, Grant Aaron, at these links: https://www.linkedin.com/in/grantaarons/https://fabricnano.com/
Find Our Host, Jon Chee, at these links: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jonchee https://www.excedr.com
Timestamps:00:28 Intro2:29 Episode starts, early days, growing up in upstate New York and New York City’s influence on Grant’s career path5:42 Decision to attend The Cooper Union and study engineering7:38 Undergrad experience with physical and chemical labs, courses about new inventions11:45 The value of diverse work experiences in coding, mechanical electrical plumbing (MEP), and economics, experience as an Android developer17:28 The challenges of a slow feedback loop in engineering and its impact on his career choice19:10 Experiences and opportunities at The New York Federal Reserve Bank, the opportunity to attend research presentations and being employed as a research analyst23:39 How times of uncertainty and stress at The Fed led to innovation, new tools, new models25:53 The purpose of the Federal Reserve Bank and its goals to keep inflation in check and keep unemployment low30:02 The current state of the economy, coming off zero, and its impact on deep tech and innovative technology businesses34:29 Benefits of deep tech embracing capital dependency with capital intensity and efficiency37:02 Outro
Social & WebsiteLinkedIn: 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:The Cooper Union https://cooper.edu/welcomeFederal Reserve Bank of New York https://www.newyorkfed.org/Mechanical Electrical Plumbinghttps://apaengineering.com/engineering/mechanical-electrical-plumbingWhat is debugging?https://careerfoundry.com/en/blog/web-development/what-is-debugging/Tappan zee Bridge Replacement Projecthttps://www.fhwa.dot.gov/ipd/project_profiles/ny_governor_cuomo_bridge.aspxDSGE Model-Based Forecasthttps://www.newyorkfed.org/research/staff_reports/sr554.html#:~:text=Dynamic%20stochastic%20general%20equilibrium%20 New York Fed Nowcasthttps://www.newyorkfed.org/research/policy/nowcast#/overview
Equipment Leasing vs. Traditional Financing https://www.excedr.com/resources/equipment-leasing-vs-traditional-financing Loan Covenants 101 for Startups https://www.excedr.com/resources/loan-covenants-and-their-effectsLease Financing vs. Debt Financing https://www.excedr.com/blog/lease-financing-vs-debt-financing What Is an Operating Lease? https://www.excedr.com/blog/operating-lease
People Mentioned:Ben Bernanke https://www.federalreservehistory.org/people/ben-s-bernankeChristopher Sims https://jrc.princeton.edu/people/christopher-simsDomenico Glannone https://www.linkedin.com/in/domenico-giannone-55755b45/ 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.

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