The Biotech Startups Podcast 🧬 Terry Lo - Vizgen - Part 1 | Leveraging Passion for Science to Succeed in Finance | Sales Excellence as an Introvert Through Competition | Financial Modeling & Creating Proper Deal Structure | How Not To Be A Jack of All Trades
Apr 3, 2024
38:15
Part 1 of 3.
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” at https://www.excedr.com/rewards.
My guest for this week’s episode is Terry Lo, President and CEO of Vizgen. Vizgen is developing and commercializing the next generation of genomics tools to expand on the capabilities of spatially resolved transcriptomics. Vizgen’s technology will aid the acceleration of biological research and discovery to advance human health. Terry is a pioneer in the emerging Spatial Biology market and has a proven track record of driving exceptional growth across global life science organizations, including Bristol-Myers Squibb, Hologic, Roche, PerkinElmer, and Akoya Biosciences. In addition to over two decades of experience scaling and building multinational biopharma and diagnostic groups, he is also an expert in developing business strategies for novel, innovative products.
Join us as we sit down with Terry as he talks about his early years, studying psychology and molecular genetics as an undergraduate at Ohio State and his later decision to pursue a master's in microbiology at Virginia Tech and then finance at the University of Chicago. Terry also discusses his transition from investment banking to corporate development and marketing roles at Bristol Myers Squibb, and highlights the importance of understanding customer needs and financial modeling in business development. Please enjoy my conversation with Terry Lo.
Find Our Guest, Terry Lo, at these links:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/terry-lo-034a034/
https://vizgen.com/
Find Our Host, Jon Chee, at these links:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/jonchee
https://www.excedr.com
Timestamps:
00:28 Intro
02:10 Episode start, early experiences at Ohio State and Terry’s decision to pursue science
05:09 Terry's unique undergraduate lab experience in psychology and molecular biology
07:01 Terry's time at Virginia Tech as a molecular microbiology grad student running experiments
10:08 Terry mapping out his decision to go towards business after graduating from Virginia Tech
13:00 Terry's experience in sales after being in the lab
16:02 MBA at the University of Chicago and the decision that led Terry there
17:44 Key lessons and takeaways from being at the University of Chicago
19:28 Terry's experience in investment banking and financing, key takeaways, and learning financial modeling
25:28 Terry's time at Bristol-Myers Squibb in corporate development and experience in the marketing department
29:45 Terry's experience and transition to international business
31:50 Advice on business development
37:16 Outro
Social & 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/
Topics Mentioned:
An Equipment Leasing Program for Scientists https://www.excedr.com/leasing
How to Fund an R&D Startup https://www.excedr.com/resources/rd-startup-funding-first-steps
Unleashing Innovation https://www.excedr.com/resources/rd-tax-credits-incentives
Biotech Partnerships https://www.excedr.com/blog/how-biotech-partnerships-support-research
Pre-Money vs. Post-Money: What's the Difference? https://www.excedr.com/resources/pre-money-vs-post-money
What Is Financial Modeling & How Can It Help with Fundraising? https://www.excedr.com/resources/what-is-financial-modeling
Equipment Leasing vs. Financing: What's the Difference? https://www.excedr.com/blog/equipment-leasing-vs-financing
Finance https://www.excedr.com/category/finance
What Is a C-Corp & Why Do Investors Prefer It? https://www.excedr.com/resources/c-corp-investors-prefer
What Is Due Diligence? How to Prepare For It & Avoid Mistakes https://www.excedr.com/resources/what-is-due-diligence
A Guide to Writing a Small Business Grant Proposal https://www.excedr.com/blog/how-to-write-a-small-business-grant-proposal
How to Write a Business Plan for Your Biotech Startup
https://www.excedr.com/resources/how-to-write-a-business-plan-for-biotechs
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” at https://www.excedr.com/rewards.
My guest for this week’s episode is Terry Lo, President and CEO of Vizgen. Vizgen is developing and commercializing the next generation of genomics tools to expand on the capabilities of spatially resolved transcriptomics. Vizgen’s technology will aid the acceleration of biological research and discovery to advance human health. Terry is a pioneer in the emerging Spatial Biology market and has a proven track record of driving exceptional growth across global life science organizations, including Bristol-Myers Squibb, Hologic, Roche, PerkinElmer, and Akoya Biosciences. In addition to over two decades of experience scaling and building multinational biopharma and diagnostic groups, he is also an expert in developing business strategies for novel, innovative products.
Join us as we sit down with Terry as he talks about his early years, studying psychology and molecular genetics as an undergraduate at Ohio State and his later decision to pursue a master's in microbiology at Virginia Tech and then finance at the University of Chicago. Terry also discusses his transition from investment banking to corporate development and marketing roles at Bristol Myers Squibb, and highlights the importance of understanding customer needs and financial modeling in business development. Please enjoy my conversation with Terry Lo.
Find Our Guest, Terry Lo, at these links:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/terry-lo-034a034/
https://vizgen.com/
Find Our Host, Jon Chee, at these links:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/jonchee
https://www.excedr.com
Timestamps:
00:28 Intro
02:10 Episode start, early experiences at Ohio State and Terry’s decision to pursue science
05:09 Terry's unique undergraduate lab experience in psychology and molecular biology
07:01 Terry's time at Virginia Tech as a molecular microbiology grad student running experiments
10:08 Terry mapping out his decision to go towards business after graduating from Virginia Tech
13:00 Terry's experience in sales after being in the lab
16:02 MBA at the University of Chicago and the decision that led Terry there
17:44 Key lessons and takeaways from being at the University of Chicago
19:28 Terry's experience in investment banking and financing, key takeaways, and learning financial modeling
25:28 Terry's time at Bristol-Myers Squibb in corporate development and experience in the marketing department
29:45 Terry's experience and transition to international business
31:50 Advice on business development
37:16 Outro
Social & 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/
Topics Mentioned:
An Equipment Leasing Program for Scientists https://www.excedr.com/leasing
How to Fund an R&D Startup https://www.excedr.com/resources/rd-startup-funding-first-steps
Unleashing Innovation https://www.excedr.com/resources/rd-tax-credits-incentives
Biotech Partnerships https://www.excedr.com/blog/how-biotech-partnerships-support-research
Pre-Money vs. Post-Money: What's the Difference? https://www.excedr.com/resources/pre-money-vs-post-money
What Is Financial Modeling & How Can It Help with Fundraising? https://www.excedr.com/resources/what-is-financial-modeling
Equipment Leasing vs. Financing: What's the Difference? https://www.excedr.com/blog/equipment-leasing-vs-financing
Finance https://www.excedr.com/category/finance
What Is a C-Corp & Why Do Investors Prefer It? https://www.excedr.com/resources/c-corp-investors-prefer
What Is Due Diligence? How to Prepare For It & Avoid Mistakes https://www.excedr.com/resources/what-is-due-diligence
A Guide to Writing a Small Business Grant Proposal https://www.excedr.com/blog/how-to-write-a-small-business-grant-proposal
How to Write a Business Plan for Your Biotech Startup
https://www.excedr.com/resources/how-to-write-a-business-plan-for-biotechs
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.