Seth Bannon

Seth Bannon, co-founder and general partner at Fifty Years, delves into the intricate world of deep tech and biotech. He highlights the challenges of translating academic research into commercial success and the crucial differences between biotech and tech bio. Discussions reveal the pivotal role of AI and machine learning in advancing biological research. Bannon also emphasizes the importance of innovative funding models and global talent in reshaping the biotech landscape, all while fostering a culture of entrepreneurship among scientists.

In this special episode, Seth is joined by Ash Trotman-Grant to demystify spinning out from academia. They discuss the Spinout Playbook, offering tips for entrepreneurial academics. They address challenges in negotiating technology transfer, equity conversations, and fairness concerns. They emphasize the importance of involving the Principal Investigator early on and highlight the significance of assignments in tech transfer. They explore recreating technology outside of the university, discuss leverage in negotiations, and share future plans for the playbook.