This Week in Startups E998: The Next Unicorns: Benchling CEO & Co-founder Sajith Wickramasekara is increasing efficiency for scientists with a cloud-based platform, gives insights on recent life-science innovations, ethics of gene therapy & defining the line between quackery & brilliance – E10 of 10-ep miniseries
Nov 6, 2019
Sajith Wickramasekara, CEO and co-founder of Benchling, revolutionizes scientific efficiency with a cloud-based platform. He shares his journey into life sciences and discusses the promise of immunotherapy and breakthroughs in gene therapy. The ethics of editing human embryos sparks a heated debate, distinguishing legitimate advancements from quackery. Insights into genetically modified crops and their implications for health provide a well-rounded view of the future in biotechnology. It's a thought-provoking conversation about the intersection of science, morality, and innovation.
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Sajith's Path to Benchling
- Sajith Wickramasekara's interest in blending computer science and biology stemmed from his high school research experience at Duke.
- He realized biology's collaborative limitations compared to software development.
Benchling's Software Suite
- Benchling software is designed specifically for life sciences, resembling a suite like Microsoft Office.
- It integrates various tools for experiment design, documentation, material tracking, and workflows, centralizing data.
Shift to Biologics
- The life sciences industry is shifting from chemistry-based small molecule drugs to biology-focused large molecules.
- Large molecules, like monoclonal antibodies, leverage human biology and are produced by re-engineered organisms.
