Biocon: The First Startup in the Country

Kiran Mazumdar Shaw, the brilliant founder of Biocon and a true trailblazer in the biotech industry. We talked for two hours straight, diving into her 40-year journey in biotech and her life beyond business.

In my eyes, she is a testament to woman entrepreneurs in India; no one else comes close.

Kiran is not just an inspiration to me professionally but also a dear friend and neighbour. Our bond has grown over the years, and I can't help but look up to her in so many ways. Her passion for transforming healthcare and giving back to society is incredible. It's a story that can't be missed, told in a more candid manner than ever before.

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00:00 Intro

00:54 Did you know Kiran was a football fan? 

02:20 Humble beginnings and the way of life

04:35 How Kiran became a brewmaster 

7:24 Kiran's favourite beers as a pro taster 

08:30 Kiran's take on friend Vijay Mallya 

11:40 Lessons to learn from Vijay Mally’s story

14:15 Kiran’s challenges as a female brewmaster

16:40 Irish encounter: Serendipity in Kiran's entrepreneurial tale

20:20 The untold story: What held Kiran back from entrepreneurship

23:40 Enzyme technology - A deep dive

25:35 Ways to make enzymes

27:00 Greening effluents: A revolutionary treatment approach

30:14 Biocon: Garage days and a brave banker who bet on Kiran

34:29 Building a dream team: How Kiran attracted top talent

38:38 Empowering over 100 entrepreneurs

40:45 Golden entrepreneurial insight 

42:40 What Kiran might have done differently

44:40 1998: IP, Unilever, global benchmarks - The turning point

48:10 How John charmed Kiran 

50:50 AIG's incredible bet: How they got the best ROI!

53:12 Conquering global markets: How Biocon became the largest producer of statins

57:20 Pioneering anti-cancer and immunosuppressants

58:18 Transforming the insulin market: Biocon's groundbreaking role

1:00:40 Entrepreneurial pivots: Valuable insights for success

1:02:10 IPO: The launchpad to Kiran's billionaire status

1:05:20 How money defines Kiran

1:09:15 Nikhil & Kiran's personal journey: Kids & family

1:11:06 Demographic dynamics: India vs China fertility rates

1:12:00 The power of giving back: Nikhil’s & Kiran's philanthropy; the Giving Pledge 

1:14:43 The purpose behind this podcast

1:19:15 India's policies and pharma climate

1:22:10 Empowering India to lead, not follow!

1:23:15 Kiran's view on retirement at 70

1:24:42 Virtue signalling unmasked: A candid look at today's world

1:28:51 3 changes India needs 

1:31:37 Empowering women in the workforce: Challenges and ESG perspectives

1:36:03 Women's roles across sectors at Biocon 

1:38:05 IP ownership: The key to long-term profitability

1:40:45 How Biocon became the world's No. 1 biosimilar company

1:44:47 Unraveling Biocon: Is it a holding company?

1:45:43 Biotech startup guide: How to venture into the field 

1:47:30 Bio-revolution: From cloning to designer babies

1:49:16 Biotech startups to watch out for 

1:51:07 Hottest biotech sectors right now 

1:53:31 An emotional tribute, Nikhil thanks Kiran 

1:54:37 Kiran's secret to overcoming challenges

1:57:54 Pick the charity of your choice and be part of something incredible!

1:59:04 Outro