The Eric Ries Show cover image

The Eric Ries Show

How To Raise $125M Pre-Revenue and Why Harder Can Be Easier | Celine Halioua (Loyal)

Mar 20, 2025
01:40:25

In this episode of The Eric Ries Show, I'm joined by Celine Halioua, founder and CEO of Loyal, a groundbreaking biotech startup developing drugs to extend dogs' healthspan and lifespan. Celine's journey combines her passion for animals with a bold scientific mission that looks beyond pets to potentially transform human longevity as well.

Our conversation explores:

• Why ambitious, moonshot visions can paradoxically make fundraising and team-building easier

• The critical early pivot that positioned Loyal for its first drug approval

• The undervalued power of listening deeply and asking the right questions

• Loyal's philosophy of exceeding regulatory requirements to build trust and advance the field

• Balancing the startup need for speed with scientific rigor and safety

• How Celine's background led her to focus on the untapped potential of canine longevity

• The competitive advantage of pursuing novel ideas before they become industry trends

• Why founder conviction and scientific expertise were crucial to overcoming skepticism

• Celine's approach to governance and maintaining mission control for the long-term

• Navigating the challenges of Silicon Valley as a female founder in biotech

• The realistic timeline and milestones for Loyal's drug development and approvals

• Building for truly long-term impact beyond conventional startup timelines

• And much more!

Brought to you by:

• Vanta – Automate compliance, manage risk, and prove trust—continuously. ⁠⁠Save $1,000 today⁠⁠.

• Explo – Explo helps teams deploy customer dashboard portals. ⁠Get Started⁠.

Where to find Celine Halioua: 

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/celinehh/

• X: https://x.com/celinehalioua

• Website: https://www.celinehh.com/

Where to find Eric:

• Newsletter:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://ericries.carrd.co/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ 

• Podcast:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://ericriesshow.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ 

• YouTube:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@theericriesshow⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ 

In This Episode We Cover:

(00:00) Intro

(03:29) Early challenges Celine faced promoting Loyal

(08:20) The early pivot that led to Loyal’s first drug approval

(14:50) The importance of listening and asking questions

(15:58) Why you have to love the mission 

(18:02) Why a lofty mission makes it easier to gain support

(22:30) Loyal’s commitment to regulatory frameworks—and doing more than required

(29:10) How to balance speed with safety and quality 

(34:36) Eric’s startup lesson on speed and compromises 

(38:22) How Celine became interested in the biotech space and canine longevity 

(47:32) The power of new ideas, and why it’s too late once it’s a trend

(50:28) How Celine’s conviction and scientific expertise drove Loyal’s success

(56:00) Celine’s advice to new founders: go deep

(1:00:15) How and why Celine maintains control of Loyal

(1:07:23) Breaking through the glass ceiling of Silicon Valley 

(1:15:50) Challenges of building a long-term company, and Loyal’s real milestones

(1:21:11) The timeline of Loyal’s drug approvals 

(1:24:02) Lightning round

You can find the transcript and references at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.ericriesshow.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Production and marketing by⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://penname.co/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

Eric may be an investor in the companies discussed.

Get the Snipd
podcast app

Unlock the knowledge in podcasts with the podcast player of the future.
App store bannerPlay store banner

AI-powered
podcast player

Listen to all your favourite podcasts with AI-powered features

Discover
highlights

Listen to the best highlights from the podcasts you love and dive into the full episode

Save any
moment

Hear something you like? Tap your headphones to save it with AI-generated key takeaways

Share
& Export

Send highlights to Twitter, WhatsApp or export them to Notion, Readwise & more

AI-powered
podcast player

Listen to all your favourite podcasts with AI-powered features

Discover
highlights

Listen to the best highlights from the podcasts you love and dive into the full episode