The Biotech Startups Podcast 🧬 Alfredo Andere - LatchBio: Conquering Berkeley's EECS & Building a Global Vision (Part 1)
Mar 31, 2025
37:31
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"I had to make a decision because I knew that if nothing changed, I was just gonna fail out of EECS. I remember EECS actually sent me a letter where they were like, 'Hey, if your GPA continues this low, you will be kicked out next semester.'"
In part one of our conversation with Alfredo Andere, we delve into his journey from Mexico to the prestigious EECS program at UC Berkeley. Alfredo shares his early fascination with technology, the challenges of adapting to a new educational system, and the pivotal moments that shaped his academic and personal growth.
Raised in various cities across Mexico, Alfredo's passion for technology was sparked by reading biographies of tech leaders like Steve Jobs and Elon Musk. His entrepreneurial spirit emerged early when he organized a forum that attracted high-profile speakers, including former Mexican presidents, to his all-boys Catholic high school. Despite initial struggles with calculus at Berkeley, Alfredo's determination and commitment to his studies ultimately led to his success in the competitive EECS program.
Key topics covered:
- Upbringing in Mexico: Moving between cities and experiencing different cultures
- Early tech inspiration: Impact of reading biographies and following Apple keynotes
- High school innovation: Creating a forum with 4,000 attendees and notable speakers
- Transition to US education: Challenges of applying to and choosing Berkeley
- Academic resilience: Overcoming initial struggles in EECS through intense dedication
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Subscribe to the podcast:
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@excedr
Find our guest, Alfredo Andere, at these links:
Find our host, Jon Chee, at these links:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jonchee
Learn more about Excedr
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/excedr/
Website: https://www.excedr.com
Resources and articles:
AWS (Amazon Web Services): https://aws.amazon.com/
AstraZeneca: https://www.astrazeneca.com/
GCP (Google Cloud Platform): https://cloud.google.com/
AlphaFold 2: https://alphafold.ebi.ac.uk/
Dyno Therapeutics: https://www.dynotx.com/
Companies, universities, & people mentioned:
Apple: https://www.apple.com/
LatchBio: https://latch.bio/
UC Berkeley: https://www.berkeley.edu/
Uri Levine: https://il.linkedin.com/in/uri-levine
Timestamps:
00:00 Intro
02:50 Alfredo's upbringing in Mexico and early influences
05:24 Reading biographies of tech leaders and early inspirations
08:09 Developing interest in technology and Apple
11:51 High school experience in Mexico
15:40 The importance of relationships in Mexican business culture
20:10 Creating a forum that attracted high-profile speakers
23:13 The power of persistence and networking
27:10 Application process to US universities and choosing Berkeley
31:22 First experiences at Berkeley and academic challenges
35:14 Struggling with calculus and the pivotal decision to commit
35:39 Outro
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.