The Biotech Startups Podcast

🧬 The Biotech Startups Podcast is powered by Excedr—helping life science startups accelerate R&D and commercialization with founder-friendly equipment leasing. Skip the upfront costs, stay lean, and focus on breakthrough science.As a TBSP listener, you can get exclusive perks through Excedr’s partner network—special savings, promotions, and more. Explore these offers today: https://www.excedr.com/partners.Episode Description:"It's not a brute force approach. It's a cleverness-based approach. It's a new kind of information that lets us do new things."Host Jon Chee sits down with Ivan Liachko, founder and CEO of Phase Genomics, to unpack how clever, constraint-driven science turned a scrappy, bootstrapped lab into a genomics powerhouse. Ivan explains how their breakthrough technology—capturing the physical proximity of DNA—opened new frontiers in genome assembly, microbiome discovery, and cancer diagnostics, all propelled by a lean, scientist-led team and organic growth. The episode dives into Phase’s evolution into a data-driven research leader, its focus on non-dilutive funding over venture capital, and its vision for clinical impact and therapeutic spinouts—all fueled by a passion for unlocking powerful new biological information.Key topics covered:Constraint-Driven Innovation: Creative solutions born from limited resources.Breakthrough Genomic Applications: Proximity ligation transforms genome assembly, microbiome, and cancer research.Bootstrapping & Organic Growth: Science-driven sales and grants fuel growth—minimal outside investment.Strategic Vision & Spinouts: Building a research powerhouse and launching new ventures from unique data.Advice for Scientists & Founders: Prioritize complementary teams, embrace uncertainty, and stay passionate.If you enjoy The Biotech Startups Podcast, please consider subscribing, leaving a review, or sharing it with your friends. Thanks for listening.Subscribe to the Podcast:Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-biotech-startups-podcast/id1679591994Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2PSL162R2s0zOwU5913Zv4Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@thebiotechstartupspodcast Website: https://www.thebiotechstartupspodcast.com/ Find our guest, Ivan Liachko, at these links: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ivan-liachko-%F0%9F%87%BA%F0%9F%87%A6-a333055a/Website: https://www.linkedin.com/company/phase-genomics-inc/ Find our host, Jon Chee, at these links: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joncheeLearn more about Excedr:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/excedr/ Website: https://www.excedr.comIntro & Outro Songs Created by OkKyojin, Owned by Excedr:Website: https://flow.page/kyojin Resources & Articles:ARK Invest Podcast: https://www.ark-invest.com/podcast/phase-genomicsHi-C Technology: https://phasegenomics.com/category/hi-c/CytoTerra Platform: https://phasegenomics.com/products/cytoterra/Next-Generation Cytogenomics Platform: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20211018005750/en/Phase-Genomics-Announces-Next-Generation-Cytogenomics-Platform-to-Advance-Precision-Diagnosis-and-Treatment-in-Reproductive-Genetics-and-OncologyThe Genetics Podcast: https://sanogenetics.com/resources/genetics-podcastClinical Chemistry Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/more-than-a-decade-of-rapid-genomic-sequencing/id499883130?i=1000651557537Companies, Universities, & People mentioned:Phase Genomics: https://phasegenomics.comUniversity of Washington: https://www.washington.edu/Gates Foundation: https://www.gatesfoundation.org/Grantham Foundation: https://www.granthamfoundation.org/Stephen Eacker: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stephen-eacker-a657177b/Jonathan Eisen: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jonathaneisen/Timestamps:00:00 Intro02:08 Phase Genomics’ Three Core Applications08:27 Meeting Co-founder and Early Team Formation11:28 Bootstrapping with eBay Lab Gear12:55 Scrappy, MVP-Driven Product Development17:02 Core Customers and Clinical Use Cases22:34 Evolving into a Research Institute with Spinouts25:29 Non-dilutive Funding and Fundraising Approach29:59 Clinical Vision and Anti-infective Focus31:33 Shout-outs and Advice for Young Scientists32:59 Staying Passionate Through Uncertainty33:54 OutroThe 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.

🧬 The Biotech Startups Podcast is powered by Excedr—helping life science startups accelerate R&D and commercialization with founder-friendly equipment leasing. Skip the upfront costs, stay lean, and focus on breakthrough science.As a TBSP listener, you can get exclusive perks through Excedr’s partner network—special savings, promotions, and more. Explore these offers today: https://www.excedr.com/partners."If you get a new kind of information, suddenly you can do something with it that you couldn't do before at all."In this episode of The Biotech Startups Podcast, Ivan Liachko shares how scientific curiosity and unexpected collaborations took him from DNA replication research in yeast at Cornell to a breakthrough in 3D genome mapping and the founding of Phase Genomics. Embracing Hi-C technology at the University of Washington, Ivan and his team unlocked a new kind of biological information, enabling scientists to assemble genomes and map complex microbial communities and their viruses—transforming what was once impossible into a new standard for genomics. His journey highlights how creativity, collaboration, and seizing serendipitous moments can drive the most impactful scientific innovations.Key topics covered:Scientific Serendipity: Collaborations and chance encounters that propelled Ivan’s careerComparative Biology: Probing DNA replication by comparing diverse yeast “machines”The Move to Genomics: Shifting from classic genetics to high-throughput genomics at UW3D Genome Mapping: Hi-C technology unlocking the secrets of genome structureMicrobiome and Phage Discovery: Sequencing breakthroughs revealing hidden microbial worldsIf you enjoy The Biotech Startups Podcast, please consider subscribing, leaving a review, or sharing it with your friends. Thanks for listening.Subscribe to the Podcast:Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-biotech-startups-podcast/id1679591994Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2PSL162R2s0zOwU5913Zv4Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@thebiotechstartupspodcast Website: https://www.thebiotechstartupspodcast.com/ Find our guest, Ivan Liachko, at these links: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ivan-liachko-%F0%9F%87%BA%F0%9F%87%A6-a333055a/Website: https://www.linkedin.com/company/phase-genomics-inc/ Find our host, Jon Chee, at these links: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joncheeLearn more about Excedr:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/excedr/ Website: https://www.excedr.comIntro & Outro Songs Created by OkKyojin, Owned by Excedr:Website: https://flow.page/kyojin Resources & Articles:MCM Proteins and DNA Replication: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0955067406000251Hi-C Technology: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hi-C_(genomic_analysis_technique)Kitty Biome Project: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/catbiome/kittybiome-kitty-microbiomes-for-cat-health-and-biGenome Startup Day: https://genomestartupday.com/ARK Invest Podcast: https://www.ark-invest.com/podcast/phase-genomicsCompanies, Universities, & People mentioned:Phase Genomics: https://phasegenomics.comUniversity of Washington: https://www.washington.edu/Animal Biome: https://www.animalbiome.com/pages/our-company?srsltid=AfmBOope9rX1mixuGLFD44P81n_UJsHdYSHTlHJ7qUYmd3FRAscR2DxQMaitreya Dunham: https://www.linkedin.com/in/maitreya-dunham-b23a9148/Josh Burton: https://www.linkedin.com/in/josh-burton-6292a25/Jay Shendure: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jay-shendure-32b2a96/Timestamps:00:00 Intro02:12 Ivan’s early research at Cornell on DNA replication and yeast biology05:52 Move to University of Washington and postdoc opportunity09:49 Life and culture in the Pacific Northwest13:04 Experimental evolution and comparative biology in yeast17:16 Discovering Hi-C technology and 3D genome mapping24:40 Using Hi-C for genome assembly and the jigsaw puzzle analogy30:23 Applications of Hi-C in microbiome research and phage discovery33:04 Mapping phages and plasmids to their microbial hosts34:23 Founding of Phase Genomics and commercialization of technology34:29 OutroThe 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.

🧬 The Biotech Startups Podcast is powered by Excedr—helping life science startups accelerate R&D and commercialization with founder-friendly equipment leasing. Skip the upfront costs, stay lean, and focus on breakthrough science.As a TBSP listener, you can get exclusive perks through Excedr’s partner network—special savings, promotions, and more. Explore these offers today: https://www.excedr.com/partners.“Every time you think you’re right and somebody puts you in your place and you learn from it, eventually you’re like, that guy gave me the greatest gift… You learn to love it.”In this episode of The Biotech Startups Podcast, Ivan Liachko, CEO and co-founder of Phase Genomics, delivers an unfiltered look at the realities of building a biotech company, revealing how the mental toll of leadership, managing egos, and embracing frugality shaped his journey from academia to entrepreneurship. Through candid stories of scrappy problem-solving and bootstrapping Phase Genomics, Ivan and host Jon Chee highlight the surprising overlap between science and business, the importance of knowing which game you’re playing, and why resilience, adaptability, and learning from failure are crucial for startup success.Key topics covered:The Emotional Toll of Leadership: Handling conflict, building resilience, and staying mentally tough.From Academia to Entrepreneurship: Turning scientific know-how into business savvy.Frugality & Resourcefulness: Scrappy solutions over spending sprees.Knowing Your Game: Avoiding hype and matching strategy to your company’s reality.Embracing Discomfort and Failure: Growing by learning from mistakes and challenging expert advice.If you enjoy The Biotech Startups Podcast, please consider subscribing, leaving a review, or sharing it with your friends. Thanks for listening.Subscribe to the Podcast:Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-biotech-startups-podcast/id1679591994Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2PSL162R2s0zOwU5913Zv4Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@thebiotechstartupspodcast Website: https://www.thebiotechstartupspodcast.com/ Find our guest, Ivan Liachko, at these links: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ivan-liachko-%F0%9F%87%BA%F0%9F%87%A6-a333055a/Website: https://www.linkedin.com/company/phase-genomics-inc/ Find our host, Jon Chee, at these links: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joncheeLearn more about Excedr:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/excedr/ Website: https://www.excedr.comIntro & Outro Songs Created by OkKyojin, Owned by Excedr:Website: https://flow.page/kyojin Resources & Articles:Ultra-Long-Range Genomic Information: https://www.ark-invest.com/podcast/phase-genomicsGenome Startup Day: https://innovatebio.org/blog/podcast-genome-startup-day-bacteria-breakthroughsLife Science and Biotech CEO Stories: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/life-science-and-biotech-ceo-stories/id1725353867Accelerating Biochemical R&D (TEKsystems): https://www.teksystems.com/en/insights/success-stories/machine-learning-aws-phase-genomicsThe Future of Phage Therapy: https://www.scispot.com/blog/the-future-of-phage-therapy-can-bacteriophages-replace-antibioticsGeekWire Awards: https://www.geekwire.com/2023/how-this-ukrainian-born-ceo-created-a-biotech-startup-where-curious-scientists-thrive/Companies, Universities, & People mentioned:Phase Genomics: https://phasegenomics.comMicrosoft: https://www.microsoft.com/Cornell University: https://www.cornell.edu/Brandeis University: https://www.brandeis.edu/Gates Foundation: https://www.gatesfoundation.org/Shawn Sullivan: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shawn-sullivan-mit/Maitreya Dunham: https://www.linkedin.com/in/maitreya-dunham-b23a9148/Josh Burton: https://www.linkedin.com/in/josh-burton-6292a25/Timestamps:00:00 Intro02:06 Mental Toll of Startup Leadership07:03 Learning from Conflict and Managing People13:00 Immigrant Experience and Grad School Survival15:18 Starting Phase Genomics and Budgeting18:52 Frugality: Instant Pot as Autoclave22:49 Knowing Your Game: Startup Growth Strategies25:57 Saying No to Expert Advice28:02 Grad School Selection and Cornell Experience30:04 Moving to Seattle and Postdoc Life30:32 OutroThe 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.

🧬 The Biotech Startups Podcast is powered by Excedr—helping life science startups accelerate R&D and commercialization with founder-friendly equipment leasing. Skip the upfront costs, stay lean, and focus on breakthrough science.As a TBSP listener, you can get exclusive perks through Excedr’s partner network—special savings, promotions, and more. Explore these offers today: https://www.excedr.com/partners."Passion is chaos. You're doing unreasonable things sometimes for reasons you can't explain to anyone why. That's just what I want.”In this episode of The Biotech Startups Podcast, host Jon Chee sits down with Ivan Liachko, CEO and co-founder of Phase Genomics, to reveal how a childhood passion for genetics, relentless family support, and Ivan’s trademark persistence—“better to be annoying than forgotten”—helped him break into science as an immigrant and rise to biotech leadership.Ivan shares candid lessons on embracing unpredictability, turning setbacks into opportunities, and the parallels between research and entrepreneurship, emphasizing the power of authentic curiosity, running toward problems, and leading with bold optimism.Key topics covered:Ivan’s childhood in Kyiv and early passion for geneticsMoving and adapting to a new country and systemBreaking into science with grit and curiosityHis transition from the lab to launching Phase GenomicsNavigating setbacks and uncertainty in a leadership roleIf you enjoy The Biotech Startups Podcast, please consider subscribing, leaving a review, or sharing it with your friends. Thanks for listening.Subscribe to the Podcast:Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-biotech-startups-podcast/id1679591994Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2PSL162R2s0zOwU5913Zv4Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@thebiotechstartupspodcast Website: https://www.thebiotechstartupspodcast.com/ Find our guest, Ivan Liachko, at these links: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ivan-liachko-%F0%9F%87%BA%F0%9F%87%A6-a333055a/Website: https://phasegenomics.com/ Find our host, Jon Chee, at these links: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joncheeLearn more about Excedr:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/excedr/ Website: https://www.excedr.comIntro & Outro Songs Created by OkKyojin, Owned by Excedr:Website: https://flow.page/kyojin Resources & Articles:Play Nice But Win: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/57005158-play-nice-but-winUltra-Long-Range Genomic Information: https://www.ark-invest.com/podcast/phase-genomicsBioinformatics & Genomics: https://www.excedr.com/blog/what-is-bioinformatics-and-computational-biology A New Tool in the Genomics Kit: https://share.snipd.com/episode/9ee3bc63-9d1a-43f2-b749-2c7a339a2b63What is CRISPR: https://www.excedr.com/resources/what-is-crispr-cas9-definition-and-overview The CRISPR Revolution and the New Era of Genome Editing: https://www.biochemjournal.com/archives/2024/vol8issue1S/PartG/S-8-1-92-790.pdfCytogenomics with Phase Genomics: https://dnapodcast.com/episodes/2022/1/28/169-cytogenomics-with-phase-genomicsConnect My Variant: https://connectmyvariant.org/The Phage Atlas Project: https://phage.directory/atlasCompanies, Universities, & People mentioned:Phase Genomics: https://phasegenomics.comQuest Diagnostics: http://www.questdiagnostics.comUniversity of Pennsylvania: https://www.upenn.edu/Brandeis University: https://www.brandeis.edu/Michael Dell: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mdell/David Younger: https://www.linkedin.com/in/david-a-younger/Timestamps:00:00 Intro03:40 Early Interest in Science and Upbringing in Kyiv05:27 First Lab Experiences and Persistence in Science07:37 The Power of Passion in Scientific Careers09:47 Family Support and Academic Encouragement10:37 The Value of Persistence and Grit13:10 Navigating College Applications as an Immigrant15:59 Choosing Brandeis University and Embracing New Opportunities17:36 Maximizing Luck and Serendipity in Career Choices19:13 Breaking Out of Academic Silos and Embracing Opportunity34:47 OutroThe 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.

🧬 The Biotech Startups Podcast is powered by Excedr—helping life science startups accelerate R&D and commercialization with founder-friendly equipment leasing. Skip the upfront costs, stay lean, and focus on breakthrough science.As a TBSP listener, you can get exclusive perks through Excedr’s partner network—special savings, promotions, and more. Explore these offers today: https://www.excedr.com/partners.“It's the partnership all the way down, and everyone needs to be around the table to enable the ecosystem.”In this episode of The Biotech Startups Podcast, Johnny Hu reflects on his path to becoming a Principle at Menlo Ventures, what it's been like returning to gene editing after years away, and how he's thinking about unlocking true platform potential in life sciences. He also shares his outlook on early-stage biotech, the importance of mentorship, intellectual range and curiosity, and what's ahead as he continues building at the intersection of biology, computation, and company creationKey topics covered:Firm building: Building a venture firm from the ground upAI & Bio: Looking at the intersection of AI and BiologyGene Editing: The clinical success of gene editingMentorship: The importance of mentors and advisorsCareer Advice: Tips and common pitfalls to avoid when starting a career in venture investingIf you enjoy The Biotech Startups Podcast, please consider subscribing, leaving a review, or sharing it with your friends. Thanks for listening.Subscribe to the Podcast:Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-biotech-startups-podcast/id1679591994Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2PSL162R2s0zOwU5913Zv4Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@thebiotechstartupspodcast Website: https://www.thebiotechstartupspodcast.com/ Find our guest, Johnny Hu, at these links: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/johnnyhhu/Website: https://www.linkedin.com/company/menlo-ventures/ Find our host, Jon Chee, at these links: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joncheeLearn more about Excedr:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/excedr/ Website: https://www.excedr.comIntro & Outro Songs Created by OkKyojin, Owned by Excedr:Website: https://flow.page/kyojin Resources & Articles:Institute for Protein Design: https://www.bakerlab.org/Merck’s PCSK9 Program: https://www.merck.com/news/merck-initiates-phase-3-clinical-program-for-oral-pcsk9-inhibitor-candidate-mk-0616/RF Diffusion Paper: https://www.bakerlab.org/2023/07/11/diffusion-model-for-protein-design/Companies, Universities, & People mentioned:Menlo Ventures: https://www.menlovc.com/Genentech: https://www.gene.com/Vilya: http://vilyatx.com/Synthego: https://www.synthego.com/Recursion Pharmaceuticals: https://www.recursion.com/Beam Therapeutics: https://beamtx.com/Protein Data Bank: https://www.rcsb.org/Timestamps:00:00 Intro01:14 Building Boston Office at Omega Funds03:34 Move to West Coast and Joining Menlo Ventures13:34 Current State of Life Sciences Venture Landscape15:00 Focus on AI and Life Sciences Intersection18:26 Most Fun and Least Fun Aspects of Venture Investing20:04 Advice for Aspiring Venture Investors23:19 Future Plans and Return to Gene Editing25:01 Clinical Success and Market Challenges in Gene Editing30:01 Advice to 21-Year-Old Self: Intellectual Curiosity35:58 OutroThe 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.

🧬 The Biotech Startups Podcast is powered by Excedr—helping life science startups accelerate R&D and commercialization with founder-friendly equipment leasing. Skip the upfront costs, stay lean, and focus on breakthrough science.As a TBSP listener, you can get exclusive perks through Excedr’s partner network—special savings, promotions, and more. Explore these offers today: https://www.excedr.com/partners."Sometimes you don't know what you don't know. And frankly, this is a journey that's long, and you'll learn a lot of things along the way. A lot of things, it's the first time you'll be doing that thing. Your job as an entrepreneur is to ultimately listen, then decide, and own that decision.”In this episode, Johnny Hu, Principle at Menlo Ventures, takes us inside his journey from scientist to venture capitalist, revealing how adapting to new mindsets, operational discipline, and calculated risk-taking are crucial in biotech. He breaks down the differences between the lab and the investment world, shares lessons from mentors at Omega Funds, and explains how founder-first investing and clear communication drive his approach at Menlo Ventures. Johnny also explores the challenges of fundraising, the realities of board dynamics, and how AI is reshaping biotech, all while emphasizing the value of curiosity and adaptability in a field defined by complexity and constant change.Key topics covered:Navigating the transition from scientist to venture capitalist: Adapting to new mindsetsThe importance of operational discipline, capital efficiency, and decision-making in biotech startups: Stretching every dollarLessons learned from mentors and experiences at Omega Funds: Start with the end in mindThe value of founder-first investing and building intentional, transparent relationships with entrepreneurs: Build trust and clarityThe impact of AI and technological innovation on biotech, and the unique challenges of risk assessment in life sciences: Managing risk in complex systemsIf you enjoy The Biotech Startups Podcast, please consider subscribing, leaving a review, or sharing it with your friends. Thanks for listening.Subscribe to the Podcast:Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-biotech-startups-podcast/id1679591994Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2PSL162R2s0zOwU5913Zv4Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@thebiotechstartupspodcast Website: https://www.thebiotechstartupspodcast.com/ Find our guest, Johnny Hu, at these links: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/johnnyhhu/Website: https://menlovc.com/ Find our host, Jon Chee, at these links: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joncheeLearn more about Excedr:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/excedr/ Website: https://www.excedr.comIntro & Outro Songs Created by OkKyojin, Owned by Excedr:Website: https://flow.page/kyojin Resources & Articles:The Odd Lots Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/ph/podcast/odd-lots/id1056200096Protein Data Bank: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Protein_Data_BankAlphaFold: https://alphafold.ebi.ac.uk/Human Genome Project: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Human_Genome_ProjectJanelia Research Campus: https://www.janelia.org/CRISPR and Genome Engineering: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CRISPR_gene_editingBehavioral Economics: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Behavioral_economicsCompanies, Universities, & People mentioned:Menlo Ventures: https://www.menlovc.com/Genentech: https://www.gene.com/Gilead Sciences: https://www.gilead.com/Bio-Rad: https://www.bio-rad.com/Omega Funds: https://omegafunds.com/Richard Lim: https://www.linkedin.com/in/richard-j-lim/Timestamps:00:00 Intro01:16 Credit vs VC Mindset: Finding Opportunity in Complexity07:07 Operational Discipline and Capital Efficiency in Biotech Startups16:26 Board Dynamics and Decision-Making in Startups19:23 Challenges of Risk and Complexity in Life Sciences22:45 AI's Role in Biotech and Investment25:42 Johnny Hu's Career Path and Mentorship at Omega Funds28:12 Working Backwards: Strategy and Product-Market Fit31:25 Risk Management and Personal Tolerance in Venture Investing35:23 OutroThe 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.

🧬 The Biotech Startups Podcast is powered by Excedr—helping life science startups accelerate R&D and commercialization with founder-friendly equipment leasing. Skip the upfront costs, stay lean, and focus on breakthrough science.As a TBSP listener, you can get exclusive perks through Excedr’s partner network—special savings, promotions, and more. Explore these offers today: https://www.excedr.com/partners."Every technology has a shelf life. It’s just true, right? And, so, is that shelf life years? Is it months? Is it weeks? Is it days? You know, has it actually already been surpassed? That’s just progress, right? That’s great”In this episode, Johnny Hu, Principal at Menlo Ventures, unpacks his journey through neuroscience research at Genentech and Cambridge, the electrifying early days of CRISPR, and the fast-moving Boston biotech scene, revealing how academic culture, tool-building, and intentional company culture fuel breakthrough innovation. He offers a candid look at bridging academia and industry, the realities of risk and execution in biotech startups, and the collaborative and competitive dynamics of venture investing—showing what it really takes to thrive where science, startups, and investment meet.Key topics covered:The Value of Academic Culture: Cambridge’s traditions and cross-disciplinary thinking fueled Johnny’s passion for building tools and deep scientific exploration.The Rise of CRISPR: Inside the early, high-energy days of gene editing’s rapid ascent.Boston Biotech Ecosystem: How a dense, connected community unlocked opportunities in startups and venture capital.Company Culture & Team Dynamics: Why setting culture early shapes how teams execute and succeed.Investing in Biotech: The real work of weighing risk, building strong boards, and making tough calls in venture.If you enjoy The Biotech Startups Podcast, please consider subscribing, leaving a review, or sharing it with your friends. Thanks for listening.Subscribe to the Podcast:Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-biotech-startups-podcast/id1679591994Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2PSL162R2s0zOwU5913Zv4Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@thebiotechstartupspodcast Website: https://www.thebiotechstartupspodcast.com/ Find our guest, Johnny Hu, at these links: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/johnnyhhu/Website: https://www.linkedin.com/company/menlo-ventures/ Find our host, Jon Chee, at these links: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joncheeLearn more about Excedr:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/excedr/ Website: https://www.excedr.comIntro & Outro Songs Created by OkKyojin, Owned by Excedr:Website: https://flow.page/kyojin Resources & Articles:DNA Origami:https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DNA_origamiGeorge Church Lab: https://churchlab.hms.harvard.edu/David Liu Lab: https://www.liugroup.us/Editas Medicine: https://www.editasmedicine.com/Companies, Universities, & People mentioned:Menlo Ventures: https://www.menlovc.com/Genentech: https://www.gene.com/Vida Ventures: https://vidaventures.com/RA Capital: https://www.racap.com/Beam Therapeutics: https://beamtx.com/University of Cambridge: https://www.cam.ac.uk/Harvard University: https://www.harvard.edu/Harvard Medical School: https://hms.harvard.edu/MIT: https://www.mit.edu/George Church: https://www.linkedin.com/in/george-church-2b86301/David R. Liu: https://www.linkedin.com/in/david-r-liu-465394185/Peter Kolchinsky: https://www.linkedin.com/in/peterkolchinskyRajeev Shah: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rajeevmshah/Timestamps:00:00 Intro01:23 UK Academic Ecosystem and Cambridge Experience04:10 Focus on Tool Building in Neuroscience08:00 DNA Origami and Early CRISPR Exposure10:57 Technology Shelf Life and Progress16:05 Boston Biotech Ecosystem and Company Incubation20:00 Importance of Company Culture in Startups24:00 Team Dynamics and Organizational Structure29:15 Venture Capital Culture and Collaboration32:22 Investment Decision-Making and Risk35:50 Board Role and Execution in Biotech Startups36:14 OutroThe 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.

🧬 The Biotech Startups Podcast is powered by Excedr—helping life science startups accelerate R&D and commercialization with founder-friendly equipment leasing. Skip the upfront costs, stay lean, and focus on breakthrough science.As a TBSP listener, you can get exclusive perks through Excedr’s partner network—special savings, promotions, and more. Explore these offers today: https://www.excedr.com/partners.“Every startup starts the journey at zero, and you’re just building from scratch. Day by day, you do a little bit better, and eventually, you look back and realize how far you’ve come.”In this episode of The Biotech Startups Podcast, we dive into the formative journey of Johnny Hu, Principal at Menlo Ventures, tracing his path from a childhood spent on a UK university campus to the heart of biotech investing. Johnny shares how early exposure to academia, a move to Alabama near NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center, and a deep curiosity for science and business shaped his worldview. He reflects on pivotal moments—from hands-on research in structural biology at Harvard and a summer at Genentech, to witnessing the evolution of biotech tools and infrastructure. Throughout, Johnny offers candid insights on the power of mentorship, the non-linear nature of discovery, and the incremental progress that fuels both scientific breakthroughs and startup success.Key topics covered:Academic Roots: Early immersion in campus life sparked a passion for science and discovery.Transatlantic Perspective: Moving from the UK to Alabama, NASA’s influence broadened his horizons.Interdisciplinary Curiosity: Juggled chemical biology, economics, and programming at Harvard.Research Evolution: Experienced the grind of structural biology and witnessed AI revolutionizing the field.Startup Realities: Saw firsthand how mentorship and modern infrastructure now supercharge biotech innovation.If you enjoy The Biotech Startups Podcast, please consider subscribing, leaving a review, or sharing it with your friends. Thanks for listening.Subscribe to the Podcast:Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-biotech-startups-podcast/id1679591994Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2PSL162R2s0zOwU5913Zv4Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@thebiotechstartupspodcast Website: https://www.thebiotechstartupspodcast.com/ Find our guest, Johnny Hu, at these links: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/johnnyhhu/Website: https://www.linkedin.com/company/menlo-ventures/ Find our host, Jon Chee, at these links: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joncheeLearn more about Excedr:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/excedr/ Website: https://www.excedr.comIntro & Outro Songs Created by OkKyojin, Owned by Excedr:Website: https://flow.page/kyojin Resources & Articles:The Odd Lots Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/ph/podcast/odd-lots/id1056200096Protein Data Bank: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Protein_Data_BankAlphaFold: https://alphafold.ebi.ac.uk/Human Genome Project: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Human_Genome_ProjectJanelia Research Campus: https://www.janelia.org/CRISPR and Genome Engineering: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CRISPR_gene_editingBehavioral Economics: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Behavioral_economicsCompanies, Universities, & People mentioned:Genentech: https://www.gene.com/Gilead Sciences: https://www.gilead.com/Bio-Rad: https://www.bio-rad.com/David Jeruzalmi: https://www.linkedin.com/in/davidjeruzalmi/Timestamps:00:00 Intro02:48 Early Life and Academic Roots08:30 Move to Alabama and NASA Influence11:11 Harvard Admission and Interdisciplinary Interests18:38 Undergraduate Lab Experience in Structural Biology31:07 Summer at Genentech33:57 Comparing Academic and Industry Labs36:17 Startup Realities and Biotech Infrastructure39:08 Incremental Progress in Biotech Startups42:08 OutroThe 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.

🧬 The Biotech Startups Podcast is powered by Excedr—helping life science startups accelerate R&D and commercialization with founder-friendly equipment leasing. Skip the upfront costs, stay lean, and focus on breakthrough science.As a TBSP listener, you can get exclusive perks through Excedr’s partner network—special savings, promotions, and more. Explore these offers today: https://www.excedr.com/partners."If you really want to understand biology, you need to be able to represent it in the computer. If you can’t model it, you can’t really predict its behavior”In this episode of The Biotech Startups Podcast, Michael Antonov, Co-Founder of Oculus and Founder & CEO of Deep Origin, returns for the fourth installment of his series to share how his vision for holistic biological simulation evolved from Formic Labs into Deep Origin. Michael discusses the challenges of building a unified R&D platform for biotech, the current suite of Deep Origin’s products, and how the company is making advanced drug discovery tools accessible to organizations of every size. He also dives into the company’s philosophy, the lessons learned from previous ventures, and what’s next as Deep Origin continues to scale its impact on the life sciences sector.Key topics covered:The Evolution from Formic Labs to Deep Origin: Transforming a bold simulation vision into a focused biotech platform.Building a Unified R&D Platform: Tackling integration hurdles to streamline biological modeling.Deep Origin’s Product Suite: Delivering cutting-edge, accessible tools for drug discovery and research.Company Philosophy & Culture: Fostering innovation, impact, and research-driven teamwork.What’s Next for Deep Origin: Productizing novel tools, deepening partnerships, and expanding access.If you enjoy The Biotech Startups Podcast, please consider subscribing, leaving a review, or sharing it with your friends. Thanks for listening.Subscribe to the Podcast:Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-biotech-startups-podcast/id1679591994Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2PSL162R2s0zOwU5913Zv4Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@thebiotechstartupspodcast Website: https://www.thebiotechstartupspodcast.com/ Find our guest, Michael Antonov, at these links: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michaelantonov/Website: https://www.linkedin.com/company/deep-origin/ Find our host, Jon Chee, at these links: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joncheeLearn more about Excedr:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/excedr/ Website: https://www.excedr.comIntro & Outro Songs Created by OkKyojin, Owned by Excedr:Website: https://flow.page/kyojin Resources & Articles:AlphaFold: https://alphafold.ebi.ac.uk/Balto AI Assistant: https://www.deeporigin.com/balto-ai-assistant-for-drug-discoveryCompanies, Universities, & People mentioned:Deep Origin: https://deeporigin.com/Scaleform: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scaleform_GFxBenchling: https://www.benchling.com/BioSim: https://biosim.pt/eMolecules: https://emolecules.com/Enamine: https://enamine.net/Garegin Papoian: https://www.linkedin.com/in/garegin-papoian-9472a85/Matt Shlosberg: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dshlos/Ashot Papoyan: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ashot-papoyan-066b403/Henk Campher: https://www.linkedin.com/in/henkcampher/Jonathan Karr: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jonrkarr/Benjamin Siranosian: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bsiranosian/Natalie Ma: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nataliejingma/Tiago Luchini: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tiagoluchini/Brendan Iribe: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brendaniribe/Timestamps:00:00 Intro01:14 Formic Labs and Deep Origin Origins08:33 Early Team and Status Quo Disruption17:56 Challenges in Biotech Tool Ecosystem19:06 Deep Origin's Product Suite Overview24:31 Target Customers and Accessibility28:24 Company Philosophy and Fundraising34:53 Future Plans and Productization38:45 Shout Outs and Supporters39:25 Advice to Younger Self41:08 Closing Remarks and Thanks41:40 OutroThe 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.

🧬 The Biotech Startups Podcast is powered by Excedr—helping life science startups accelerate R&D and commercialization with founder-friendly equipment leasing. Skip the upfront costs, stay lean, and focus on breakthrough science.As a TBSP listener, you can get exclusive perks through Excedr’s partner network—special savings, promotions, and more. Explore these offers today: https://www.excedr.com/partners."My mind is analytical – so I wondered ‘what is the most exciting, impactful thing I could do?’ I felt we’re all growing older, so where is the technology of aging? How well do we understand the biochemistry of us as humans?"In this episode, Michael Antonov, Co-Founder of Oculus and Founder & CEO of Deep Origin, shares his bold leap from pioneering virtual reality to tackling the complexities of human aging and biotech innovation. Driven by a lifelong curiosity about biology and the mysteries of longevity, Michael reveals how his software background inspired him to "debug" biology, build better research tools, and launch Formic Ventures to back high-risk, high-reward startups.He discusses his vision for integrating computational and biological approaches, the promise of cellular reprogramming, and his mission to create a new ecosystem that empowers researchers and accelerates breakthroughs in extending human healthspan.Key topics covered:From Oculus to Biotech: Michael Antonov’s leap from VR pioneer to longevity-focused founderDebugging Biology: Using software logic to unravel aging’s complexityInvestment Philosophy: Formic Ventures’ bold bets on transformative biotechCellular Reprogramming: Rejuvenating cells to fight aging at its coreBuilding Deep Origin: Unifying platforms to supercharge drug discovery and researchIf you enjoy The Biotech Startups Podcast, please consider subscribing, leaving a review, or sharing it with your friends. Thanks for listening.Subscribe to the Podcast:Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-biotech-startups-podcast/id1679591994Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2PSL162R2s0zOwU5913Zv4Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@thebiotechstartupspodcast Website: https://www.thebiotechstartupspodcast.com/ Find our guest, Michael Antonov, at these links: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michaelantonov/Website: https://www.linkedin.com/company/deep-origin/ Find our host, Jon Chee, at these links: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joncheeLearn more about Excedr:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/excedr/ Website: https://www.excedr.comIntro & Outro Songs Created by OkKyojin, Owned by Excedr:Website: https://flow.page/kyojin Resources & Articles:Cellular Reprogramming: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0167779922000257Longevity.Technology: https://www.longevity.technology/PyTorch: https://pytorch.org/Carmel Browser and React VR: https://developers.meta.com/horizon/blog/carmel-developer-preview-launches-today/?locale=pt_PTThe Michael Antonov Foundation: https://antonovfoundation.org/Companies, Universities, & People mentioned:Deep Origin: https://deeporigin.com/Oculus (Meta Quest): https://www.meta.com/quest/Scaleform: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scaleform_GFxFormic Ventures: https://formic.vc/TileDB: https://tiledb.com/HKUST: https://hkust.edu.hk/Garegin Papoian: https://www.linkedin.com/in/garegin-papoian-9472a85/Timestamps:00:00 Intro01:22 Joining Facebook and Acquisition Experience05:01 Resource Abundance and Internal Politics06:41 Working at Facebook and Priorities09:41 Early Fascination with Biology of Aging15:17 Studying Biology at Berkeley Extension17:39 Starting Biotech Investing21:57 Learning the Ins and Outs of Investing25:19 Challenges in Biotech Investing26:24 OutroThe 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.