The Biotech Startups Podcast

Latest Episodes:

🧬eMalick Njie, Ph.D - Ecotone - Part 1 | Growing Up in the Gambia | The Unending Book of Neuroscience | Being a Professional Scientist | How to Lose Your MIT Recommendation Letter: 101 Oct 07, 2024

Show notes

The Biotech Startups Podcast is brought to you by Excedr. Excedr provides life science startups with equipment leases on founder-friendly terms to accelerate R&D and commercialization.
Know anyone that needs lab equipment? Join Excedr’s referral program: Give Your Friends $1,000, and Earn $1,000 for Each Qualified Referral 💸.
Get your unique referral link by going to: refer.excedr.com/ZTHETY.
Part 1 of 4: Jon Chee hosts our latest guest, eMalick Njie, CEO of Ecotone AI, a company that is looking to use AI to find cures for rare inherited diseases. eMalick is an experienced scientist and entrepreneur who has focused on blending his expertise in neuroscience with his knowledge of AI.
In addition to founding two AI companies, Ecotone and Genetic Intelligence, eMalick received his PhD in Neurobiology and Neuroscience from the University of Florida. His extensive and diverse experience from being a postdoctoral fellow at Columbia university to being the CEO of the AI thinktank NeuroStorm makes our conversation with him one you won’t want to miss.
Join us this week to hear about:

Growing up with hippie parents in the Gambia
Being in the first neuroscience class in the country at Northeastern University
Lessons learned in one on one conversations with a CEO
Experience working with Dr. Alice Ting while at MIT
Sticking to his principles and leaving MIT

Please enjoy Jon’s conversation with Dr. eMalick Njie!
Subscribe to the podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-biotech-startups-podcast/id1679591994
Find Our Guest, Barbara Alcaraz Silva, at these links: https://www.linkedin.com/in/emalick-njie-ph-d-ab82348/ https://ecotone.ai/
Find Our Host, Jon Chee, at these links: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jonchee https://www.excedr.com
Excedr Socials & 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:Ecotone AI: https://ecotone.ai/ Genetic Leap: https://www.genetic-leap.com/ Northeastern University: https://cos.northeastern.edu/behavioral-neuroscience/ Millennium Pharmaceuticals https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Takeda_Oncology Eli Lilly Joins Forces with AI Startup Genetic Leap in $409M Deal https://www.geneonline.com/eli-lilly-joins-forces-with-ai-startup-genetic-leap-in-409m-deal-centered-around-rna-targeted-drug-discovery/ Biotech Startup Support: https://www.excedr.com/resources-category/biotech-startup-support
People Mentioned:Dr. Alice Y. Ting: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alice-ting-a7689835/ Dr. Wendy Smith: https://www.linkedin.com/in/wendy-smith-80663714/ Mark Howort https://www.linkedin.com/in/mark-howarth-763112b1/Dr. Eric Kandel: https://www.columbiapsychiatry.org/profile/eric-kandel-md Dr. David Bruchelt https://www.linkedin.com/in/david-borchelt-42474623/ Dr. Wolfgang Streit: https://neuroscience.ufl.edu/profile/streit-wolfgang/
Timestamps:00:28 Intro02:12 Early upbringing in the Gambia, early childhood, and how his unusual hippie parents shaped him into the scientist and entrepreneur he is today04:32 Following his curiosity to his undergrad program Northeastern University to study the “unending book” of neuroscience06:51 Being part of the first neuroscience class in the country and starting the trend of working under Nobel Prize winners, and/or those trained by Nobel Laureates 11:17 First exposure to professional scientists while interning at Millennium Pharmaceuticals 14:03 Lessons learned during his humanizing one-on-one conversations with the CEO17:52 Comparing and contrasting his industry experience with his academia experience19:58 Getting to MIT after graduating from NEU and working with Dr. Alice Ting23:24 Dealing with challenging periods in your life and learning to persevere25:28 Memorable and humbling challenge while working in Dr. Ting’s lab30:18 “How do you lose your recommendation letter to MIT: 101” 32:38 Choosing to moving on to University of Florida36:51 OutroThe 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.

🧬Barbara Alcaraz Silva - J.P. Morgan - Part 4 | Barbara’s Pivot into Banking | The Power of Mentorship & Resilience | Seizing Unexpected Opportunities | The Challenges of Building a Career in Science & Finance Oct 03, 2024

Show notes

The Biotech Startups Podcast is brought to you by Excedr. Excedr provides life science startups with equipment leases on founder-friendly terms to accelerate R&D and commercialization.
Know anyone that needs lab equipment? Join Excedr’s referral program: Give Your Friends $1,000, and Earn $1,000 for Each Qualified Referral 💸.
Get your unique referral link by going to: refer.excedr.com/ZTHETY.
Part 4 of 4: Jon Chee hosts our latest guest, Barbara Alcaraz Silva, the Executive Director of Early Stage Life Sciences and Healthcare, Startup Banking at J.P. Morgan. Barbara brings a wealth of experience as a former researcher, entrepreneur, and industry veteran. She has worked extensively with startups and early-stage ventures. Her scientific background is in Telomeres and DNA Repair research.
Prior to her role at J.P. Morgan, Barbara advised biotech and medtech companies at Manos Accelerator, served as a Senior Investment Fellow at Life Science Angels, and co-founded BioChron, an AI-driven biological aging tracking company. Her unique combination of scientific knowledge, business acumen, and investment/finance expertise makes her an invaluable resource for founders in the biotech space.
Join us this week to hear about:

Barbara’s unexpected pivot into banking
Her transition from SVB to J.P. Morgan
Her unique life sciences and entrepreneurial backgrounds
The importance of mentorship, resilience, and seizing unexpected opportunities
Navigating the challenges of building a career in both science and finance

Please enjoy Jon’s conversation with Barbara Alcaraz Silva!

Subscribe to the podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-biotech-startups-podcast/id1679591994
Find Our Guest, Barbara Alcaraz Silva, at these links: https://www.linkedin.com/in/barbarasilvaucsf/https://www.jpmorgan.com/global
Find Our Host, Jon Chee, at these links: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jonchee https://www.excedr.com
Excedr Socials & 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:SVB: https://www.svb.com/J.P. Morgan: https://www.jpmorgan.com/globalNucleate: https://www.nucleate.xyz/Women in Bio: https://womeninbio.org/How to Spin Out of Academia: https://www.excedr.com/resources/how-to-spin-out-of-academia-and-into-a-startupPatent Licensing for Biotechs: https://www.excedr.com/resources/how-patent-licensing-worksBiotech Startup Support: https://www.excedr.com/resources-category/biotech-startup-support
People Mentioned:
Timestamps:00:28 Intro02:18 Pivoting from Life Sciences Angels to SVB10:24 Joining the Life Sciences practice and establishing the Early-Stage division13:22 Transitioning to Private Equity and J.P. Morgan16:16 The power of mentorship and mentor networks17:46 Barbara Reflects on her pivot from Life Sciences Angels to J.P. Morgan19:17 Why J.P. Morgan stands out and the impact of Barbara's group23:58 The importance of business partners who understand the Life Sciences27:55 How J.P. Morgan supports Growth-Stage companies30:57 Barbara’s 2-year vision34:34 Barbara’s shoutouts and advice to younger self37:00 OutroThe 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.

🧬 Barbara Alcaraz Silva - J.P. Morgan - Part 3 | From Academia to Entrepreneurship, Investing, & Advising | Co-Founding a Startup | Challenges of Early-Stage Company Building | Improve Your Investor Pitch & Connect with the Right People Sep 30, 2024

Show notes

The Biotech Startups Podcast is brought to you by Excedr. Excedr provides life science startups with equipment leases on founder-friendly terms to accelerate R&D and commercialization. Lease the equipment you need with Excedr. Extend your runway, hit your milestones.
Know anyone who needs lab equipment? Join Excedr’s referral program.
Give Your Friends $1,000, and Earn $1,000 for Each Qualified Referral 💸.
Get your unique referral link by going to refer.excedr.com/ZTHETY.
Part 3 of 4.
My guest for this week’s episode is Barbara Alcaraz Silva, Executive Director of Early Stage Life Sciences and Healthcare, Startup Banking at J.P. Morgan. Barbara is a former researcher and entrepreneur, and an accomplished industry veteran. Her career has revolved around startups and early-stage ventures. As a graduate student, she focused on Telomeres and DNA Repair. Before joining J.P. Morgan, Barbara was an advisor for biotech and medtech companies at the Manos Accelerator, where she provided mentorship in business development, fundraising, and other key areas. She also served as a Senior Investment Fellow at Life Science Angels, where she invested in emerging biotechs and managed investor relationships. Additionally, Barbara co-founded BioChron, a company that leveraged AI and machine learning to track biological aging.
Barbara’s dedication to fostering a strong community in the biotech space, combined with her expertise in science, business, and investing, makes her conversation invaluable for founders.
Join us this week to hear about:

Barbara’s transition from academia to entrepreneurship and industry
Her experience co-founding Biochron, which built technologies to track biological aging using AI/ML
The challenges of early-stage company building
Her time as a mentor at the Manos Accelerator, and investment experience in early-stage ventures as a Senior Fellow at Life Science Angels
Advice for improving your investor pitch and connecting with the right people

Please enjoy my conversation with Barbara Alcaraz Silva.
Find Our Guest, Barbara Alcaraz Silva, at these links: https://www.linkedin.com/in/barbarasilvaucsf/https://www.jpmorgan.com/global
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:Harvard: https://www.harvard.edu/UCSF: https://www.ucsf.edu/Kaiser Permanente, Division of Research: https://divisionofresearch.kaiserpermanente.org/Manos Accelerator: https://manosaccelerator.com/Life Science Angels: https://www.lifescienceangels.com/The Column Group: https://www.thecolumngroup.com/How To Spin Out of Academia: https://www.excedr.com/resources/how-to-spin-out-of-academia-and-into-a-startupHow to Fund an R&D Lab: https://www.excedr.com/resources/rd-startup-funding-first-stepsTop Accelerators in Biotech: https://www.excedr.com/resources/biotech-acceleratorsTop Incubators in Biotech: https://www.excedr.com/resources/biotech-incubatorsAccelerator vs. Incubator: https://www.excedr.com/resources/accelerator-vs-incubatorTop VCs in Biotech: https://www.excedr.com/blog/top-vc-firms-for-biotechBiotech Funding Options: https://www.excedr.com/resources/biotech-startup-funding-optionsGrant Funding in Biotech: https://www.excedr.com/resources/grants-public-funding-biotech-startups
Timestamps:00:00 Intro01:54 The story behind Barbara’s decision to create a startup07:33 Experience as a Program Manager at UCSF10:43 Key lessons learned from running a startup and working as a PM16:03 Landing investment and advisory roles at the Manos Accelerator, Life Sciences Angels21:49 Crash course in investing and company assessment26:21 Advice for improving your investor pitch, connecting with the right people33:33 OutroThe 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.

🧬 Barbara Alcaraz Silva - J.P. Morgan - Part 2 | Mentorship & Research at the Beckman Laser Institute | An Entrepreneurial PhD Experience | Exploring Stem Cell Biology in London | Navigating Networking & Postdoc Opportunities Sep 26, 2024

Show notes

The Biotech Startups Podcast is brought to you by Excedr. Excedr provides life science startups with equipment leases on founder-friendly terms to accelerate R&D and commercialization. Lease the equipment you need with Excedr. Extend your runway, hit your milestones.
Know anyone who needs lab equipment? Join Excedr’s Referral Program.
Give Your Friends $1,000, and Earn $1,000 for Each Qualified Referral 💸.
Get your unique referral link by going to refer.excedr.com/ZTHETY.
Part 2 of 4.
My guest for this week’s episode is Barbara Alcaraz Silva, Executive Director of Early Stage Life Sciences and Healthcare, Startup Banking at J.P. Morgan. She is also a former scientist-entrepreneur whose graduate studies focused on Telomeres and DNA Repair. Barbara has worked with many startups, including co-founding her own company, BioChron. While at the Manos Accelerator, she worked as an advisor for Biotech and Medtech companies, providing mentorship in business, fundraising, and capital, and offering guidance to startup companies. Additionally, Barbara worked as a Senior Investment Fellow at Life Science Angels, investing in up-and-coming biotechs and managing investor relationships.
After her time at Life Science Angels, Barbara became the Director of Early-Stage West Coast Life Science and Healthcare banking at SVB and is currently the Executive Director of Early Stage Life Sciences and Healthcare, Startup Banking at J.P. Morgan, where she is leading the national life sciences and healthcare practice. Barbara’s dedication to building a strong community in the biotech space and her expertise in science, management, and investing make her conversation one that founders don’t want to miss.
Join us this week and hear about:

Barbara’s academic journey and graduate school lab experience at UC Irvine
Her insights from her time at the Beckman Laser Institute and her groundbreaking research on DNA repair using lasers
Her international fellowship at King's College London, where she explored stem cell biology
How her transition to entrepreneurship was shaped by navigating different lab environments and overcoming funding challenges

Please enjoy my conversation with Barbara Alcaraz Silva.
Find Our Guest, Barbara Alcaraz Silva, at these links: https://www.linkedin.com/in/barbarasilvaucsf/https://www.jpmorgan.com/global
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:UC Irvine: https://uci.edu/ Minority Science Program: https://msp.bio.uci.edu/What Is Molecular Biology? https://www.excedr.com/blog/what-is-molecular-biologyLab Equipment List for Synthetic Biology: https://www.excedr.com/blog/lab-equipment-list-for-synthetic-biology-research Types of Equipment Used in Molecular Biology Research: https://www.excedr.com/blog/what-type-of-equipment-is-used-in-molecular-biology-research National Autonomous University of Mexico: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Autonomous_University_of_Mexico Beckman Laser Institute https://www.bli.uci.edu/King’s College London https://www.kcl.ac.uk/Guy's Hospital https://www.guysandstthomas.nhs.uk/guys-hospital
People Mentioned:Fiona Watts https://www.linkedin.com/in/fiona-watt-a45a44b5/?originalSubdomain=ukJohn Murnane https://www.linkedin.com/in/john-murnane-b57340179/
Timestamps:00:28 Intro01:59 Episode starts, applying to grad school06:07 Starting at the Beckman Laser Institute12:18 Barbara’s first time managing a team during her PhD16:24 Fellowship at King’s College London, postdoc experience at UCSF19:31 Barbara shares her outreach efforts for postdoc positions and responses she received23:46 Barbara discusses her experience at UCSF and the differences in lab culture26:36 OutroThe 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.

🧬 Barbara Alcaraz Silva - J.P. Morgan - Part 1 | Living the American Dream & Emigrating From Mexico | Soaking Up Experiences & Embracing Opportunities | Researching at the Harvard of Mexico | Presenting In Spanish at a National Conference Sep 23, 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 4.
My guest for this week’s episode is Barbara Alcaraz Silva, Executive Director of Early Stage Life Sciences and Healthcare, Startup Banking at J.P. Morgan. She is also a former scientist-entrepreneur whose graduate studies focused on Telomeres and DNA Repair. Barbara has worked with many startups, including co-founding her own company, BioChron. While at the Manos Accelerator, she worked as an advisor for Biotech and Medtech companies, providing mentorship in business, fundraising, and capital, and offering guidance to startup companies. Additionally, Barbara worked as a Senior Investment Fellow at Life Science Angels, investing in up-and-coming biotechs and managing investor relationships.
After her time at Life Science Angels, Barbara became the Director of Early-Stage West Coast Life Science and Healthcare banking at SVB and is currently the Executive Director of Early Stage Life Sciences and Healthcare, Startup Banking at J.P. Morgan, where she is leading the national life sciences and healthcare practice. Barbara’s dedication to building a strong community in the biotech space and her expertise in science, management, and investing make her conversation one that founders don’t want to miss.
Join us this week and hear about:

Barbara’s immigrant journey and how her upbringing played an important role in her lead-up to becoming a scientist-entrepreneur.
Her path from community college to UC Irvine, where she gained essential lab experience, secured a research position in Plant Biology.
Her travels abroad to the National Autonomous University of Mexico.

Please enjoy my conversation with Barbara Alcaraz Silva.
Find Our Guest, Barbara Alcaraz Silva, at these links: https://www.linkedin.com/in/barbarasilvaucsf/https://www.jpmorgan.com/global
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:UC Irvine: https://uci.edu/ Minority Science Program: https://msp.bio.uci.edu/Sanitor Corporation: https://www.sanitorcorp.com/What Is Molecular Biology? https://www.excedr.com/blog/what-is-molecular-biologyLab Equipment List for Synthetic Biology: https://www.excedr.com/blog/lab-equipment-list-for-synthetic-biology-research Types of Equipment Used in Molecular Biology Research: https://www.excedr.com/blog/what-type-of-equipment-is-used-in-molecular-biology-research National Autonomous University of Mexico: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Autonomous_University_of_Mexico
Timestamps:00:28 Intro02:24 Episode starts, Barbara's adolescence and immigrant upbringing, the start of community college in Orange County10:08 Professors and classmates who built bonds and inspired the pursuit of science and chemistry, the struggle of learning English15:31 Moving from the academic realm to industry and the cultural adjustments of becoming a project manager at Sanitor Corporation19:58 The bumpy transfer from community college to UC Irvine and the unexpected love of biology25:39 Lab experiences at UC Irvine, the opportunity of being a part of the Minority Science Program31:03 Doing research abroad in Mexico at UNAM35:46 Next steps after Mexico research and applying to grad school37:18 OutroThe 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.

🧬 Derek Hennecke - Kincell Bio - Part 4 | Building & Scaling Xcelience | Buy-Side vs. Sell-Side of M&A | The Importance of Continuous Learning | Transition into Investing & Board Member Work Sep 19, 2024

Show notes

Part 4 of 4.
My guest for this week’s episode is Derek Hennecke, a veteran biotech entrepreneur and board member with over 30 years of experience in the CDMO industry, whose mission is to support the biotech revolution and create value for patients, customers, and investors.
In addition to his Board work, Derek previously held leadership positions at DSM and was the Founder and CEO of Xcelience, a Florida-based CDMO specializing in preformulation, micronization, analytical services, formulation development, cGMP manufacturing, and more. Derek eventually sold Xcelience to Capsugel (now Lonza) in 2016.
His extensive pharma and cell therapy expertise makes for an insightful conversation that founders can learn from.
Join us this week and hear about:

The process of building and scaling Xcelience, from leveraging innovative technology to disrupt the market to navigating the impact of the 2008 Recession
Derek’s experience with strategic buy-side and sell-side transactions
His commitment to continuous learning
His transition into investing and work as a board member

Please enjoy my conversation with Derek Hennecke.
Find Our Guest, Derek Hennecke, at these links: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hennecke/https://kincellbio.com/
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:Xcelience: https://www.linkedin.com/company/xcelience-llc/MicroSize: https://www.microsize.com/Capsugel: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CapsugelLonza (Capsugel’s Parent Company): https://www.lonza.com/Austin Px: https://www.austinpx.com/Micronization: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MicronizationBiotech Partnerships: https://www.excedr.com/blog/how-biotech-partnerships-support-researchM&A Strategies in Biotech: https://www.mckinsey.com/capabilities/m-and-a/our-insights/life-sciences-m-and-a-shows-new-signs-of-lifeBiotech Funding Options: https://www.excedr.com/resources/biotech-startup-funding-optionsMarketing and Sales Strategies in Biotech: https://www.excedr.com/blog/marketing-sales-strategies-for-biotechsHow To Run an Efficient Board Meeting: https://www.excedr.com/resources/how-to-run-an-effective-board-meetingElephant Slides: https://rapport.bio/all-stories/elephant-in-boardroom
Timestamps:00:28 Intro01:48 Disrupting the market with Xcelience03:34 Derek’s M&A experience and acquisition strategy on the buy-side04:36 Financing Xcelience’s acquisition of another micronization company06:32 Derek’s sell-side experience with Capsugel12:03 Challenges of work and life post-acquisition; Working with Lonza14:32 Going back to school, starting as an investor, and transitioning to board work17:35 Bringing confidence and decision-making skills to board member roles20:21 Running effective board meetings and finding CEO mentorship26:53 Final reflections and Derek’s advice for founders30:11 OutroThe 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.

🧬 Derek Hennecke - Kincell Bio - Part 3 | Starting an Operations Role in Egypt | The Importance of Teamwork | Moving into Biologics & Overseeing GMP Operations | Buying a Business & Founding Xcelience Sep 16, 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 Derek Hennecke, a veteran biotech entrepreneur and board member with over 30 years of experience in the CDMO industry, whose mission is to support the biotech revolution and create value for patients, customers, and investors.
In addition to his Board work, Derek previously held leadership positions at DSM and was the Founder and CEO of Xcelience, which he eventually sold to Capsugel Lonza in 2016. Xcelience was a Florida-based CDMO specializing in preformulation, micronization, analytical services, formulation development, cGMP manufacturing, and more. His extensive pharma and cell therapy expertise makes for an insightful conversation that founders can learn from.
Join us this week and hear about:

Derek’s transition from commercial roles to Operations, managing a challenging site in Egypt, and the teamwork that turned it around
His move to a Biologics site in Montreal and the hurdles he faced there overseeing GMP Operations
The start of his entrepreneurial journey: buying a portion of a business and founding Xcelience.

Please enjoy my conversation with Derek Hennecke.
Find Our Guest, Derek Hennecke, at these links: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hennecke/https://kincellbio.com/
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:MDS Pharma Services: https://www.mdsps.com/Xcelience: https://www.linkedin.com/company/xcelience-llc/GMP Operations Roles: https://www.linkedin.com/advice/0/how-do-you-identify-common-gmp-roles-responsibilities-skills-gmpGMP Practices: https://safetyculture.com/topics/gmp/GMP vs. GLP: https://www.excedr.com/resources/gmp-vs-glp-whats-the-differenceMatrix Organizations: https://www.pmi.org/learning/library/matrix-organization-structure-reason-evolution-1837Sales-Leasebacks (SLB): https://www.excedr.com/blog/what-is-a-sale-leasebackEquipment Leasing: https://www.excedr.com/leasing
Timestamps:00:00 Intro01:50 Starting a role in Operations04:01 Derek’s move to Egypt; Improving safety, performance, and cost structure08:03 Scaling the Egypt site and expanding into other markets; Improving product quality and employee safety10:01 Moving back to Montreal, Canada; Dealing with a site failure, deciding to leave the company13:50 Lessons learned from leaving, the importance of saying “no,” and communicating clearly20:16 Becoming VP of GMP Operations of MDS Pharma; Overseeing multiple locations25:08 Navigating the hurdles of a closing business; Buying one of the units in Tampa, Florida27:45 Derek’s jump into entrepreneurship: Founding Xcelience30:00 Early days of running the company, looking into a sales-leaseback, and securing capital38:21 OutroThe 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.

🧬 Derek Hennecke - Kincell Bio - Part 2 | Taking Risks and Jumping for the Right Opportunity | The Willingness To Do, Opens Doors | Your Job is More than the Products It is Producing | Building Trust in Other Countries Sep 12, 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 Derek Hennecke, a veteran biotech entrepreneur and board member with over 30 years of experience in the CDMO industry, whose mission is to support the biotech revolution and create value for patients, customers, and investors.
In addition to his Board work, Derek previously held leadership positions at DSM and was the Founder and CEO of Xcelience, which he eventually sold to Capsugel Lonza in 2016. Xcelience was a Florida-based CDMO that specialized in preformulation, micronization, analytical services, formulation development, cGMP manufacturing, and more. His extensive expertise in pharma and cell therapy makes for an insightful conversation that founders can learn from.
Join us this week and hear about:

Derek’s early challenges and financial hurdles he faced after moving to Europe for his MBA
His first role in business development
His managing transition, learning the ropes of leadership, and his joint venture experience in Mexico
Derek’s intricacies of managing a matrix organization and his experience as a product manager

🧬 Derek Hennecke - Kincell Bio - Part 1 | Sales Means Having Two Ears and One Mouth | The Support of a Partner Can Make or Break a Career | Skip the MBA Sep 09, 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 4.
My guest for this week’s episode is Derek Hennecke, a veteran biotech entrepreneur and board member with over 30 years of experience in the CDMO industry, whose mission is to support the biotech revolution and create value for patients, customers, and investors.
In addition to his Board work, Derek previously held leadership positions at DSM and was the Founder and CEO of Xcelience, which he eventually sold to Capsugel Lonza in 2016. Xcelience was a Florida-based CDMO that specialized in preformulation, micronization, analytical services, formulation development, cGMP manufacturing, and more. His extensive expertise in pharma and cell therapy makes for an insightful conversation that founders can learn from.
Join us this week and hear about:

Derek’s childhood and his early interest in history and science
His academic journey in microbiology at the University of Alberta, where he shifted from chemistry to biology, and his eventual move into sales.
His MBA experience in the Netherlands and his current outlook on the degree.

🧬 Doug Drysdale - Cybin - Part 4 | The Challenges of Running a Public Company | Transforming Psychiatric Treatments Through Psychedelic Compounds | Developing Breakthrough Therapies in Depression & Anxiety Sep 05, 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 4 of 4.
My guest for this week’s episode is Doug Drysdale, CEO at Cybin. Cybin is a clinical-stage biopharma company on a mission to create safe and effective psychedelic-based therapeutics.
Doug is an experienced investor, Corporate Director and CEO, who has chaired the Board of a NASDAQ-listed company and, as a CEO for the past 12 years, has built and turned around 3 pharma companies. During his 30+ years of experience in the healthcare sector, he has formed cohesive management teams, recruited board members, completed 16 corporate acquisitions across three continents and has raised and invested around $4 billion of both public and private capital.
Before Cybin, Doug was Commercial Products Manager at DuPont Merck, Director of BD at Elan, VP of M&A at Actavis Group, CEO of Norwich Pharmaceuticals and Alvogen, CEO of Pernix Therapeutics, and CEO of Tedor Pharma. His extensive background as a seasoned executive, investor, and turn-around specialist gives him a wide range of experiences that founders can learn from.
Join us this week and hear about:

Doug’s first-time experience running a public company: the challenges of hitting quarterly numbers and juggling the pressure of share price volatility
His move to Cybin, a startup transforming psychiatric treatments through psychedelic compounds
Cybin’s recent progress, including some key acquisitions, taking the company public, and their breakthrough therapies in depression and anxiety.

Please enjoy my conversation with Doug Drysdale.
Timestamps:00:28 Intro01:50 Doug’s first experience running a public company, Pernix Therapeutics06:51 Leaving Pernix for a private company and a break from public scrutiny08:22 Joining Cybin, going public, and raising $300MM; quickly developing therapy and IP assets11:34 Cybin’s mission and focus; the co-founders and the team behind the technology15:08 The DEA’s outlook on psychedelics and the development of SSRI alternatives17:26 Doug’s experience working with the FDA19:39 Cybin’s IP and partnership strategies; building out a core team and retaining talent24:00 Cybin’s 2-year vision24:58 Shoutouts and advice to 21-year old self26:37 Outro
Find Our Guest, Doug Drysdale, at these links: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dougdrysdale/https://cybin.com/
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:Pernix Therapeutics: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pernix_Therapeutics_HoldingsCybin: https://cybin.com/Intellectual Property 101: https://www.excedr.com/resources/intellectual-property-guideSSRIs: https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/depression/in-depth/ssris/art-20044825Psychedelic Compounds for Therapies: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4592297/Pharmacokinetics: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK557744/Understanding Psilocybin and DMT Treatments for Depression: https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/news/newsroom/news-releases/2022/02/psilocybin-treatment-for-major-depression-effective-for-up-to-a-year-for-most-patients-study-showsCybin’s Developmental Pipeline: https://cybin.com/development-pipeline/DEA’s outlook on psychedelics: https://www.cato.org/regulation/spring-2023/psychedelics-dea-regulating-religionGuide to FDA Drug Approval Process: https://www.excedr.com/blog/fda-drug-approval-process-guide IP Strategy for Biotechs: https://www.excedr.com/resources/intellectual-property-strategy-for-biotechsBiotech Partnerships: https://www.excedr.com/blog/how-biotech-partnerships-support-researchThe 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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