🧬 James Evans - PhenoVista - Part 3 | Being a Scrappy Founder | Adapting to Change & Learning to Pivot | The Importance of Professional Business Development | Setting Client Expectations

Part 3 of 3.

My guest for this week’s episode is James Evans, Founder and CEO of PhenoVista Biosciences, a contract research organization that works with biopharma clients of all sizes, from start-ups to established global companies.

Before starting PhenoVista, James spent a decade at MIT’s Whitehead Institute for Biomedical Research as a Postdoc, a Research Scientist, and finally, Director of the Bioimaging Center.

Join us as we sit down with James to talk about how important it is to be scrappy as an entrepreneur, and how it is critical to adapt to change, as plans rarely remain unaltered. James also speaks to the importance of professional business development and how acquiring that skillset was a huge unlock for PhenoVista. J

James also covers the importance of setting client expectations, and discussing what is coming in the next year for PhenoVista. Please enjoy my conversation with James Evans.

Find Our Guest, James Evans, at these links:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/jamesgevans/
https://phenovista.com/

Find Our Host, Jon Chee, at these links:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/jonchee
https://www.excedr.com

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/

Timestamps:
00:00 Intro
01:45 Episode start, finding first lab space, incubator/shared space vs standard lab lease
04:10 Being scrappy, having a plan versus having a strategy, adapting to change
07:08 Phases of company growth,  in-house business development, professionalizing operations for scale and outside investors
08:34 Tips for improving sales and marketing, always trying new things
10:30 Difference between working with large and small clients, setting expectations with clients
12:49 PhenoVista’s coming year, new services in cell & gene therapy, functional assays, toxicology, fundraising for future growth
14:00 Shout-outs to people who helped along the way
15:47 Advice to James’ younger self, dealing with stress, physical and mental health
17:23 Outro

Enriched Notes:

Topics Mentioned:
Lab Equipment https://www.excedr.com/category/lab-equipment
First Set of Equipment https://www.excedr.com/general-lab-equipment
Autoclave https://www.excedr.com/general-lab-equipment/autoclave
CO2 Incubator https://www.excedr.com/general-lab-equipment/co2-incubator
Centrifuge https://www.excedr.com/blog/what-is-a-centrifuge
Lab Automation/Robotics https://www.excedr.com/general-lab-equipment/industrial-robots
Lab Balance https://www.excedr.com/general-lab-equipment/lab-balance 
Lab Shaker https://www.excedr.com/general-lab-equipment/lab-shaker
Liquid Handler https://www.excedr.com/general-lab-equipment/liquid-handler
Ultra Low Temp Freezer https://www.excedr.com/general-lab-equipment/ultra-low-temperature-freezer
Biotech/Life Science Equipment https://www.excedr.com/biotech-life-sciences
Cell Counter/Analyzer https://www.excedr.com/biotech-life-sciences/cell-counter
Flow Cytometer/Cell Sorter https://www.excedr.com/biotech-life-sciences/flow-cytometer
Microplate Reader https://www.excedr.com/biotech-life-sciences/microplate-reader
RT-PCR https://www.excedr.com/biotech-life-sciences/pcr-systems
Used Lab Equipment https://www.excedr.com/blog/buying-used-equipment
Refurbished Lab Equipment https://www.excedr.com/blog/refurbished-lab-equipment
Startup Bootstrapping https://www.excedr.com/resources/how-to-bootstrap-biotech-startup
Writing a Lean Business Plan https://www.excedr.com/resources/how-to-write-lean-business-plan
Marketing, Sales, & Business Development https://www.excedr.com/blog/marketing-sales-strategies-for-biotechs
Reducing Costs & Improving Efficiencies https://www.excedr.com/blog/startup-costs-and-expenses
Cell Painting & High Content Imaging https://www.excedr.com/blog/an-introduction-to-high-content-imaging
Biotechnology Funding Options https://www.excedr.com/resources/biotech-startup-funding-options

People Mentioned:
Alan McNeilly https://www.linkedin.com/in/alan-mcneilly-a497a025/?originalSubdomain=uk
Pamela Brown https://www.linkedin.com/in/pamela-brown-a8140a1a/?originalSubdomain=uk
Paul Matsudaira https://www.linkedin.com/in/paul-matsudaira/
Ivan Correia https://www.linkedin.com/in/ivan-correia-mba-phd-9b026576/
Sanjoy Ray https://www.linkedin.com/in/sanjoy-ray-1236051/
PhenoVista Advisors: https://phenovista.com/advisors
PhenoVista Team: https://phenovista.com/our-team 

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.