EP272: How a $10B Company Turned De-Extinction into a Platform

Dec 30, 2025

Ben Lamm, Co-Founder and CEO of Colossal Biosciences, dives into the fascinating world of de-extinction. He discusses how bringing back species like mammoths isn’t just dream-like fantasy but a practical engineering challenge. Lamm highlights how Colossal transforms genetic technology into viable businesses, even creating new companies like Form Bio. He shares how cultural trends and social media are being used to make science relatable and outlines the ecological importance of reviving these species for biodiversity.

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INSIGHT

De-Extinction As An Engineering Challenge

De-extinction is an engineering scaling problem, not a scientific miracle.
Colossal plans a portfolio approach to bring multiple species back and reintroduce them into ecosystems.

ADVICE

Monetize By Spinning Out Tech

Spin out usable technology into focused companies to monetize midterm.
Package platform tech into specific use cases like FormBio and other startups to capture value.

ANECDOTE

Why Ben Left Software For De-Extinction

Ben started Colossal because he wanted a mission bigger than another software company and felt prepared after prior exits.
He viewed failure as reversible and felt he could return to software if it didn't work out.

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What kind of entrepreneur decides to bring back extinct species and why might that become one of the most important businesses of our lifetime? In this episode, I talk with Ben Lamm, Co-Founder and CEO of Colossal Biosciences, about why de-extinction is not science fiction but an engineering problem — and how solving it is creating breakthrough technologies across biology, conservation, and medicine. Ben shares how Colossal evolved from a bold idea into a multi-billion-dollar platform, why mammoths, dire wolves, and dodos became cultural gateways into serious science, and how mission-driven companies can attract talent, capital, and public imagination at once.

Highlights:

Why de-extinction is an engineering challenge, not a science breakthrough
How Colossal is building a “portfolio of species” like products
Why mammoths and dire wolves are cultural on-ramps to deep tech
How Form Bio emerged from Colossal’s internal tooling
Using memes, pop culture, and celebrities to make science mainstream
Why investor alignment matters more than valuation
The difference between persuading and educating
How mission focus drives execution speed
Why frontier companies require extreme context-switching
How optionality becomes the ultimate business advantage

Guest Bio: Ben Lamm is a technology entrepreneur and the Co-Founder and CEO of Colossal Biosciences, a company focused on de-extinction, genetic rescue, and biodiversity restoration. He has previously founded and exited multiple companies across software, gaming, and AI, including Chaotic Moon (acquired by Accenture), Team Chaos (acquired by Zynga), and Conversable (acquired by LivePerson). Ben is also a Co-Founder and board member of Form Bio and is known for building ambitious, mission-driven companies that operate at the intersection of science, culture, and technology.

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Disclaimer:

This podcast is for informational purposes only and does not constitute investment, financial, legal, or tax advice. Nothing in this episode should be interpreted as an offer to buy or sell any securities or to participate in any investment strategy. All opinions expressed by the host and guests are their own and do not represent the views of Weisburd Capital. Participants may hold positions or have financial interests in the companies, funds, or investments discussed. Any references to specific investments are for illustrative purposes only. Investing involves risk, including the potential loss of capital. Past performance is not indicative of future results, and any forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties. Any third-party data or opinions have not been independently verified. Listeners should conduct their own research and consult their own advisors before making any investment decisions.

(0:00) Introduction to de extinction, cultural significance, and company future plans (1:03) Scaling genome engineering and business models in synthetic biology (3:27) Potential applications of de extinction technologies and pharmaceutical uses (4:30) Inspiration and initial challenges in starting a de extinction company (5:22) Impact of previous successes and strategies for rapid growth (8:08) Leadership structure and the role of species leads (9:49) Lessons learned from previous ventures and aligning investors (12:34) Foundational principles and media strategy for Colossal (16:44) Worldwide awareness and balancing public narrative with business strategies (21:30) Vision for the next decade and the importance of species reintroduction (24:34) Capital market alignment and strategies for entrepreneurial resilience (27:46) Entrepreneurial mindset, dealing with failure, and the value of freedom (29:28) Episode closing and listener call-to-action