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 get exclusive perks through Excedr’s partner network—special savings, promotions, and more. Explore these offers today: https://www.excedr.com/partners."In life sciences, time is more important for all stakeholders. Because if you're working in life sciences, you have an obligation. You have a moral obligation to be very efficient, if not optimal." In this final part of our conversation with Stavros, founder and CEO of TileDB, we explore the challenges and opportunities in transforming data management within the life sciences sector. Stavros discusses how smaller organizations often lag behind in adopting innovative solutions due to lack of awareness and reliance on existing tools, while larger companies like big pharma are more proactive in seeking advanced technologies.Stavros highlights the importance of behavioral change in technology adoption, emphasizing that companies should focus on their core competencies rather than building infrastructure. He draws parallels with AWS, which revolutionized server management by allowing companies to focus on their products rather than infrastructure. The conversation also touches on the moral obligation of life sciences companies to optimize efficiency, given the impact on human lives.Key topics covered:Challenges for Smaller Organizations: Overcoming barriers to adopting new technologies due to limited awareness and resources.Adoption Contrast: Big pharma vs. smaller organizations in embracing innovative solutions.Behavioral Change in Technology Adoption: The need for mindset shifts in leveraging external solutions.Efficiency in Life Sciences: The moral obligation to optimize time and resources in the sector.Parallels with AWS: How outsourcing infrastructure can accelerate innovation and focus on core competencies.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/@excedr Website: https://www.thebiotechstartupspodcast.com/ Find our guest, Stavros Papadopoulos, at these links: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stavrospap/Website: https://www.linkedin.com/company/tiledb-inc/Find our host, Jon Chee, at these links: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joncheeLearn more about ExcedrLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/excedr/ Website: https://www.excedr.comResources & Mentions:Crossing the Chasm by Geoffrey Moore: http://soloway.pbworks.com/w/file/fetch/46715502/Crossing-The-Chasm.pdfAzure (Microsoft's cloud computing service): https://azure.microsoft.com/en-gb/Companies & people mentioned:MIT: https://www.mit.edu/TileDB: https://tiledb.com/AWS (Amazon Web Services): https://aws.amazon.com/Millipore Sigma: https://www.sigmaaldrich.com/Y Combinator: https://www.ycombinator.com/PlayStation: https://www.playstation.com/Jake Glanville: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jacobglanvilleJeff Bezos: https://x.com/jeffbezos?lang=enTimestamps:00:00 Intro01:10 Discussion on working with smaller companies and scalable products02:16 Stavros explains how TileDB can replace solution architects05:07 Discussion on freeing up resources for high ROI initiatives06:22 Stavros highlights the difficulty of behavioral changes in adopting new technologies10:16 Jon reflects on the importance of valuing time in life sciences12:57 Introduction of TileDB's new product, Carrara18:16 Discussion on meeting users where they are with Carrara20:06 Stavros shares his vision for TileDB's future adoption23:30 Jon expresses enthusiasm for TileDB's impact on health outcomes26:15 Shoutouts to supporters and team members29:32 Advice to his 21-year-old self30:30 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 get exclusive perks through Excedr’s partner network—special savings, promotions, and more. Explore these offers today: https://www.excedr.com/partners."We're wasting money. You're wasting money as an organization, like, hundreds of millions of dollars that can save you that money easily. But you have to start reasoning a little bit differently."In this third part of our conversation with Stavros Papadopoulos, founder and CEO of TileDB, we delve into the company's ambitious vision to revolutionize data management in the life sciences sector. Stavros shares the journey of TileDB from its inception as a highly technical solution to its current position as a potential game-changer in how organizations handle diverse data types. He discusses the challenges of selling innovative solutions to large pharmaceutical companies and the stark contrast in adoption between big pharma and smaller organizations.Stavros, with his background as a technologist from MIT, details the early days of TileDB, emphasizing the intense focus on technological innovation and performance optimization. He describes the company's evolution from a small team of highly skilled engineers to securing significant funding and attracting major customers in the life sciences sector. Throughout the conversation, Stavros highlights the philosophical aspect of TileDB's mission, stressing its potential impact on accelerating scientific discovery and ultimately saving lives.Key topics covered:TileDB's Vision for a Multimodal Database: Replacing fragmented data management systemsChallenges in Selling Innovative Solutions: Large pharmaceutical companies as a target marketThe Contrast Between Big Pharma & Smaller Organizations: Adopting new technologiesThe Philosophical Drive Behind TileDB's Mission: Accelerating scientific discoveryOrganizational Inertia & Decision-Making Complexities: Enterprise software adoptionIf 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/@excedr Website: https://www.thebiotechstartupspodcast.com/ Find our guest, Stavros Papadopoulos, at these links: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stavrospap/Website: https://www.linkedin.com/company/tiledb-inc/Find our host, Jon Chee, at these links: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joncheeLearn more about ExcedrLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/excedr/ Website: https://www.excedr.comResources & Mentions:Crossing the Chasm by Geoffrey Moore: http://soloway.pbworks.com/w/file/fetch/46715502/Crossing-The-Chasm.pdfIntel's Parallel Computing Lab: https://faculty.cc.gatech.edu/~echow/ipcc/Intel Science and Technology Center for Big Data at MIT CSAIL: http://hammer.csail.mit.edu/Hong Kong University of Science and Technology: https://hkust.edu.hk/ AWS (Amazon Web Services): https://aws.amazon.com/Azure (Microsoft's cloud computing service): https://azure.microsoft.com/en-gb/Companies & people mentioned:Intel: https://www.intel.com/MIT: https://www.mit.edu/TileDB: https://tiledb.com/Broad Institute: https://www.broadinstitute.org/Silicon Valley Bank: https://www.svb.com/Browne Consulting: https://browneconsulting.com/Snowflake: https://www.snowflake.com/Databricks: https://www.databricks.com/Seth Shelnutt: https://www.linkedin.com/in/seth-shelnutt/Dimitris Papadias: https://cse.hkust.edu.hk/admin/people/faculty/profile/dimitrisYufei Tao: https://www.linkedin.com/in/yufei-tao-328b0b251/?originalSubdomain=hkTimestamps:00:00 Intro01:18 Early days of TileDB and its mission06:36 Building a high-performance team and securing early customers09:22 Discussing the vision behind TileDB12:11 The problem of data infrastructure complexity16:26 TileDB as a multimodal database for discovery19:27 The inefficiency of in-house database solutions in pharmaceuticals23:09 Overcoming organizational inertia in adopting new technologies28:20 The necessity of TileDB for drug discovery29:48 Differences in working with smaller vs. larger organizations33:21 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 get exclusive perks through Excedr’s partner network—special savings, promotions, and more. Explore these offers today: https://www.excedr.com/partners."Serendipity plays a big role, but you need to chase it, man. You need to [chase it] and you need to perform. You need to deliver [on] your end of the deal."In part two of our conversation with Stavros Papadopoulos, founder of TileDB, we delve into his journey from academia to entrepreneurship. Stavros shares his experiences at MIT and Intel, and the serendipitous events that led to the founding of his company. He details the transition from working on cutting-edge database systems to identifying a market need in the life sciences sector, particularly in handling complex genomic data.Stavros's background in computer science and his work at the intersection of Intel and MIT uniquely positioned him to tackle the challenges of building a new type of database system. His journey highlights the importance of proactivity, networking, and being prepared for unexpected opportunities. He also shares valuable insights on the realities of starting a database company, including the significant funding requirements and the necessity of continuous learning.Key topics covered:Transition from academia to entrepreneurship: Seizing opportunities at MIT and IntelDeveloping TileDB: Creating a novel database system for complex data typesFundraising journey: From angel investors to venture capitalChallenges of starting a database company: High costs and talent requirementsImportance of mentorship and building win-win relationships in tech entrepreneurship: Key strategies for successIf 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/@excedr Website: https://www.thebiotechstartupspodcast.com/ Find our guest, Stavros Papadopoulos, at these links: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stavrospap/Website: https://www.linkedin.com/company/tiledb-inc/Find our host, Jon Chee, at these links: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joncheeLearn more about ExcedrLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/excedr/ Website: https://www.excedr.comMentions:Resources & Articles:Disciplined Entrepreneurship: 24 Steps to a Successful Startup by Bill Aulet: https://www.d-eship.com/Zero to IPO by Frederic Kerrest: https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/book-day-zero-ipo-frederic-kerrest-summary-mircea-ioan-soit-kvspe/TileDB database technology: https://cloud.tiledb.com/academy/what-is-tiledb/ Genomics DB (precursor to TileDB): https://www.tiledb.com/blog/population-genomics-data-with-tiledbMIT Technology Licensing Office: https://tlo.mit.edu/Broad Institute's VCF (Variant Call Format): https://www.broadinstitute.org/publications/broad12186Rady Children's Institute for Genomic Medicine (RCIGM): https://radygenomics.org/begin-ngs-newborn-sequencing/UK Biobank: https://www.ukbiobank.ac.uk/Companies & People:Intel: https://www.intel.com/MIT: https://www.mit.edu/TileDB: https://tiledb.com/Broad Institute: https://www.broadinstitute.org/Nexus Venture Partners: https://nexusvp.com/Sam Madden: https://www.linkedin.com/in/samuel-madden-8ba0835/Frederic Kerrest: https://www.linkedin.com/in/fkerrest/Timestamps:00:00 Intro01:24 Transitioning from Hong Kong to MIT/Intel11:30 The importance of proactivity and hustle in seizing opportunities20:59 Working on database systems at MIT/Intel29:08 The serendipitous encounter that led to starting TileDB32:16 Developing TileDB: A database for non-tabular data and machine learning35:30 Solving scalability issues for the Broad Institute36:55 Raising initial funding and spinning out TileDB from MIT/Intel37:26 Challenges of starting a database business38:15 Structuring TileDB's launch as a win-win for all stakeholders39:47 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.

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 get exclusive perks through Excedr’s partner network—special savings, promotions, and more. Explore these offers today: https://www.excedr.com/partners."If you are capable of acquiring knowledge, of applying the knowledge, and you like it, you can succeed. It doesn't matter what it is."In this episode of The Biotech Startups Podcast, we delve into Stavros Papadopoulos' transformative journey from Greece to Hong Kong, exploring his experiences as a PhD student at the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology. Stavros shares how a chance encounter on a bus and his professor's last-minute recommendation led him to pursue his doctorate in Hong Kong, a decision that would shape his career and personal life.Stavros describes Hong Kong as the "best city in the world," highlighting the perfect balance between intense academic rigor and vibrant city life. He explains how the university's unique environment, with students working late into the night and a campus integrated into the natural landscape, fostered both hard work and adventure. Stavros also touches on his research focus, which evolved from spatiotemporal databases to data security and cryptography, and how he learned valuable skills that continue to shape his career to this day.Key topics covered:The Power of Mentorship: How guidance from family, professors, and peers influenced Stavros' academic journeyChoosing Hong Kong: Balancing academic excellence with quality of life in selecting a PhD programHKUST Experience: Rigorous academics, supportive professors, and a vibrant student communityResearch Evolution: Transitioning from spatiotemporal databases to data security and cryptographyWork-Life Balance: Maintaining high academic performance while enjoying Hong Kong's unique offeringsIf 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/@excedr Website: https://www.thebiotechstartupspodcast.com/ Find our guest, Stavros Papadopoulos, at these links: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stavrospap/Website: https://www.linkedin.com/company/tiledb-inc/Find our host, Jon Chee, at these links: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joncheeLearn more about ExcedrLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/excedr/ Website: https://www.excedr.comResources & Mentions:Spatiotemporal Databases: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spatiotemporal_database Data Security and Cryptography in Database Management: https://datastackshow.com/podcast/what-is-a-universal-database-featuring-stavros-papadopoulos-of-tiledb-inc/MIT CSAIL: https://www.csail.mit.edu/TileDB Universal Database: https://docs.tiledb.com/cloud/concepts/universal-data-managementGenomics Data Management: https://tiledb.com/blog/population-genomics-is-a-data-management-problemLiDAR Data Processing: https://tiledb.com/blog/analyzing-lidar-and-sar-data-with-capella-space-and-tiledbBig Data in Telecommunications: https://startups.epam.com/blog/big-data-analytics-for-telecommunicationsVenture Capital Funding for Tech Startups:  https://www.investopedia.com/terms/v/venturecapital.aspCompanies & people mentioned:Hong Kong University of Science and Technology: https://hkust.edu.hk/TileDB: https://tiledb.com/HKUST: https://iau-hesd.net/university/hong-kong-university-science-and-technologyMIT: https://www.mit.edu/Intel: https://www.intel.com/Dimitris Papadias: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dimitris-papadias-8429b423aYanis Manolopoulos: https://www.linkedin.com/in/yannis-manolopoulos-47989514/?originalSubdomain=grTimestamps:00:00 Intro01:47 Early Inclination Towards Learning and Competitiveness03:52 Grandmother's Gift of First Computer07:23 Cousin's Advice: A Plan for Computer Science and Silicon Valley12:23 Mentorship and Guidance17:18 University Experience and Disappointment21:34 Tips for Getting into Top US Schools27:36 Serendipitous Encounter on a Bus: Hong Kong Beckons36:10 Balancing Hard Work and Enjoyment42:24 Hong Kong's Unique Appeal and University Life48:20 Research Focus: Spatiotemporal Databases and Data Security53:06 Data Security and Cryptographic Techniques53:36 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 get exclusive perks through Excedr’s partner network—special savings, promotions, and more. Explore these offers today: https://www.excedr.com/partners."If I'm not building something, then I'm probably not going to be doing it for long. That's the fun part."In part two of our conversation with Becky Beattie, CEO of LaunchBio, we explore her journey scaling a national nonprofit dedicated to supporting early-stage life science founders. Becky shares how she transitioned from BioLabs to LaunchBio, initially joining what she jokingly calls "a lunch club," and eventually stepping into leadership during the pandemic. She details LaunchBio's evolution from local programming to a national organization connecting biotech entrepreneurs with critical resources and capital.Becky's background in both science and real estate uniquely positioned her to understand the challenges of biotech startups, particularly around shared lab spaces and ecosystem development. Her leadership at LaunchBio has focused on creating targeted connections between founders and investors while expanding into new markets and launching initiatives for underrepresented entrepreneurs.Key topics covered:Building LaunchBio: From "lunch club" to national nonprofit supporting early-stage life science foundersNavigating leadership challenges: Taking the CEO role during a pandemic and pivoting to virtual programmingCreating Investor Connect: Developing curated matchmaking between startups and appropriate VCsExpanding biotech ecosystems: Building thriving life science hubs in emerging markets like DallasLaunching HiveBio: A new accelerator program for underrepresented founders in the life sciencesIf 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/@excedr Website: https://www.thebiotechstartupspodcast.com/ Find our guest, Becky Beattie, at these links: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rebecca-beattie-68927a9/ Website: https://launchbio.org/ Find our host, Jon Chee, at these links: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joncheeLearn more about ExcedrLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/excedr/ Website: https://www.excedr.comResources & Mentions:Resources & articles mentioned:Investor Connect https://launchbio.org/programs/investor-connect/ NextGen VC Podcast https://launchbio.org/nextgen-vc-podcast/ Invest in Cures Forum https://launchbio.org/programs/invest-in-cures/ EDA Build to Scale Grant https://www.eda.gov/funding/programs/build-to-scale UCSD Gene Therapy Initiative https://genetherapy.ucsd.edu/ Companies & people mentioned:LaunchBio: https://launchbio.org/ HiveBio: https://www.hivebio.io/ BioLabs: https://www.biolabs.io/ Pegasus Park https://pegasuspark.com/ Phase Three: https://phasethreere.com/ Biocom: https://www.biocom.org/ Wilson Sonsini: https://www.wsgr.com/ Connect: https://connect.org/ Susie Harborth https://www.linkedin.com/in/sharborth/ Johannes Fruehauf https://www.linkedin.com/in/johannesfruehauf/ Joan Rose https://www.linkedin.com/in/joansrose/ Kelly Huang https://www.linkedin.com/in/kellychuang/ Caroline Okun https://www.linkedin.com/in/brainsarepretty/ Meredith Martindale https://www.linkedin.com/in/meredithmartindale/ Melissa Schmidt https://www.linkedin.com/in/melissakschmidt/ Sasha Farina https://www.linkedin.com/in/sasha-farina/ Nirav Shah https://www.linkedin.com/in/shahnirav321/ Timestamps:00:00 Intro02:09 Returning to life sciences and meeting Susie Harborth04:47 Joining BioLabs and the shared lab space movement07:33 The origins of LaunchBio as a "lunch club"12:47 Challenges of shared lab spaces and building biotech ecosystems20:01 Joining LaunchBio and focusing on early-stage life science founders25:11 Transitioning LaunchBio during COVID and scaling nationally31:22 Taking on the CEO role at LaunchBio during the pandemic37:51 Launching Investor Connect to strategically match startups with VCs40:17 Building biotech ecosystems in Dallas and other emerging markets45:17 Launching HiveBio, an accelerator for underrepresented founders51:20 The Invest in Cures Forum and rare disease funding initiatives55:54 Closing reflections and shoutouts01:03:24 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.

🧬 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 get exclusive perks through Excedr’s partner network—special savings, promotions, and more. Explore these offers today: https://www.excedr.com/partners.“If you’re not enjoying what you’re doing or having fun, why are you doing it? Combine that with hard work and you can achieve cool things.”In part one of our conversation with Becky Beattie, CEO of LaunchBio, we trace her unconventional path from rural San Jose pig farmer to biotech ecosystem builder. Becky shares how her early entrepreneurial grit, scientific curiosity, and business acumen converged to shape her career – including surviving a life-altering spinal injury and pioneering shared lab spaces.Becky holds dual degrees in molecular biology and business from the University of Colorado Boulder. Before leading LaunchBio, she honed her skills in life science sales (SeraCare, Eppendorf), strategic marketing (Comprendia), and real estate innovation (ROC Shared Workspace).Key topics covered:Growing up in 4-H raising pigs: Early lessons in economics and gritMixing science & business: Blending molecular biology training with business strategy at CU BoulderCold-calling challenges: Cutting teeth in biotech sales at SeraCare Life SciencesPivoting through crisis: How a spinal cord injury reshaped career prioritiesBuilding the shared lab space movement: Pre-WeWork innovation for life sciencesIf 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/@excedr Website: https://www.thebiotechstartupspodcast.com/ Find our guest, Becky Beattie, at these links: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rebecca-beattie-68927a9/ Website: https://launchbio.org/ Find our host, Jon Chee, at these links: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joncheeLearn more about ExcedrLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/excedr/ Website: https://www.excedr.comResources & Mentions:Resources & articles mentioned:LaunchBio’s Larger Than Life Program: https://www.launchbio.org/programs/larger-than-life Founder Circle Peer Advisory Forums: https://launchbio.org/programs/founders-circle/ SBIR Grants: https://www.excedr.com/blog/sbir-grants-guide STTR Grants: https://www.excedr.com/blog/sttr-grants-guide Build to Scale Grant Program: https://www.eda.gov/funding-opportunies UCSD Gene Therapy Initiative: https://healthsciences.ucsd.edu/innovation Companies & people mentioned:LaunchBio: https://launchbio.org/ Eppendorf: https://www.eppendorf.com/ BioLabs: https://www.biolabs.io/ Heinrich Netheler: https://corporate.eppendorf.com/en/company/history/founders/ Hans Hinz: https://corporate.eppendorf.com/en/company/history/founders/ Timestamps:00:00 Intro03:15 Becky's early life and entrepreneurial experiences05:55 College years and combining science with business11:45 First job in biotech sales at SeraCare Life Sciences16:44 Transition to Eppendorf and capital equipment sales24:50 Balancing career and family after having children31:03 Spinal cord injury and two-year recovery period36:22 Return to work in real estate with ROC shared workspace42:26 Lessons learned from sales and relationship-building46:52 The importance of marketing and business strategy51:23 Reflections on career pivots and personal growth55:05 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 get exclusive perks through Excedr’s partner network—special savings, promotions, and more. Explore these offers today: https://www.excedr.com/partners.“I didn’t set out to be an entrepreneur, but when I couldn’t find a company doing what I believed in, I built my own.”In part two of our conversation with Kate Yen, Founder and CEO of Auron Therapeutics, we explore her journey from leading a novel cancer therapy program at Agios to founding her own biotech company. Kate shares insights into drug development, clinical trials, and the business of biotech, highlighting the importance of translational biology, strategic partnerships, and lean operations in building a successful biotech startup. Kate earned her Ph.D. in Biological Chemistry from UCLA, where she also completed her postdoc. Before Auron, she held roles at Merck and as a UCLA professor before joining Agios Pharmaceuticals, where she led the IDH translational research team behind two FDA-approved IDH mutant inhibitors and co-led the discovery of vorasidenib, a promising glioma therapy now in clinical development.Key topics covered:Navigating clinical trials from discovery to FDA approval with a biomarker-driven approachThe importance of translational biology and how Auron integrates it from day oneBuilding a lean biotech startup, from early fundraising to assembling a high-impact teamSecuring big pharma partnerships in a challenging biotech marketLeveraging AI and machine learning to map cancer biology and identify new drug targetsIf 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/@excedr Website: https://www.thebiotechstartupspodcast.com/ Find our guest, Kate Yen, at these links: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kate-yen-448b22108/Website: https://www.aurontx.com/Find our host, Jon Chee, at these links: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joncheeLearn more about ExcedrLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/excedr/ Website: https://www.excedr.comResources & articles mentioned:The Role of Translational Biology in Drug Development: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S1359644612004060Navigating Clinical Trials: https://www.fda.gov/patients/learn-about-drug-and-device-approvals/drug-development-processBuilding & Running a Lean Biotech Startup: https://www.lablaunch.org/post/building-a-lean-biotech-startupBiotech Startup Fundraising Options: https://www.excedr.com/resources/biotech-startup-funding-optionsBiotech Partnerships - How Partnerships Support R&D: https://www.excedr.com/blog/how-biotech-partnerships-support-researchHow to Bootstrap Your Biotech Startup & Scale: https://www.excedr.com/resources/how-to-bootstrap-biotech-startupHow to Choose the Right CRO for Biotech: https://www.excedr.com/blog/contract-research-organizationsHow Much Does Lab Space Cost? https://www.excedr.com/blog/how-much-does-lab-space-costTop VC Firms for Biotech in 2024 - Supporting Innovation & Growth: https://www.excedr.com/blog/top-vc-firms-for-biotech50 Biotech Seed & Angel Investors to Check Out in 2025: https://www.excedr.com/blog/biotech-seed-and-angel-investorsCompanies & people mentioned:Auron Therapeutics: https://www.aurontx.com/Merck: https://www.merck.com/Agios Pharmaceuticals: https://www.agios.com/UCLA: https://www.ucla.edu/Princeton University: https://www.princeton.edu/Charles Sawyers: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charles_SawyersLew Cantley: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lewis_C._CantleyDavid Schenkein: https://www.linkedin.com/in/david-schenkein-md-45342476/Mike Carey: https://www.uclahealth.org/cancer/members/michael-careyRuben Shaw: https://www.linkedin.com/in/reuben-shaw-1b8611109/Timestamps:00:00 Intro02:10 Kate Yen’s transition into leadership at Agios05:39 Navigating clinical trials and biomarker-driven decision-making10:29 The importance of translational biology in drug development14:19 Taking the leap to start Auron Therapeutics18:36 Raising early funding and building a lean biotech startup26:41 Leveraging AI and machine learning in cancer drug discovery30:58 Running a biotech startup with a sustainable and transparent culture41:07 Fundraising strategies to expanding Auron’s platform beyond oncology47:08 Closing questions for Kate49:35 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, brought to you by Excedr—empowering life science startups with founder-friendly equipment leasing to fast-track R&D and drive commercialization success.🔬 Know someone in need of lab equipment? Join Excedr’s referral program: Give your friends $1,000 and earn $1,000 for every qualified referral! 💸🔗 Get your unique referral link here: refer.excedr.com/ZTHETY. Part 1 of 2: Our guest today is Kate Yen, Founder and CEO of Auron Therapeutics.Auron Therapeutics leverages cutting-edge science and AI-powered analysis to develop next-generation cancer therapies by mapping key drivers of tumorigenesis.Kate earned her Ph.D. in Biological Chemistry from UCLA, where she also completed her postdoc. She held roles at Merck and as a UCLA professor before joining Agios Pharmaceuticals, where she led the IDH translational research team behind two FDA-approved IDH mutant inhibitors and co-led the discovery of vorasidenib, a promising glioma therapy now in clinical development.With deep expertise in preclinical and clinical research, a proven track record in advancing breakthrough therapies, and a passion for oncology, Kate’s journey and insights are invaluable.In this episode, you'll hear about:Kate Yen’s journey from aspiring physician to PhD researcher at UCLAHow her postdoc in Charles Sawyers’ lab sparked her passion for translational researchTransitioning from academia to industry and learning drug discovery at MerckTaking the leap to join Agios Pharmaceuticals and leading the IDH programThe role of collaboration in biotech, from academia to CRO partnershipsIf 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: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-biotech-startups-podcast/id1679591994https://open.spotify.com/show/2PSL162R2s0zOwU5913Zv4Find Our Guest, Kate Yen, at these links: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kate-yen-448b22108/https://www.aurontx.com/Find Our Host, Jon Chee, at these links: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joncheehttps://www.excedr.comExcedr Socials & WebsiteLinkedIn: 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/Enriched Notes:Topics Mentioned:Auron Therapeutics: https://www.aurontx.com/Merck: https://www.merck.com/Agios Pharmaceuticals: https://www.agios.com/UCLA: https://www.ucla.edu/Princeton University: https://www.princeton.edu/Biotech Startup Fundraising: https://www.excedr.com/resources/biotech-startup-funding-optionsBiotech Accelerators: https://www.excedr.com/resources/biotech-acceleratorsBiotech Incubators: https://www.excedr.com/resources/biotech-incubatorsTop VC Firms for Biotech: https://www.excedr.com/blog/top-vc-firms-for-biotech50 Biotech Seed & Angel Investors: https://www.excedr.com/blog/biotech-seed-and-angel-investorsGuide to Choosing a CRO: https://www.excedr.com/blog/contract-research-organizationsGuide to Choosing a CMO: https://www.excedr.com/blog/contract-manufacturing-organizationsPeople Mentioned:Charles Sawyers: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charles_SawyersLew Cantley: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lewis_C._CantleyDavid Schenkein: https://www.linkedin.com/in/david-schenkein-md-45342476/Mike Carey: https://www.uclahealth.org/cancer/members/michael-careyTimestamps:00:00 Intro03:01 Kate Yen’s background and Auron Therapeutics’ mission04:40 Early influences and passion for research06:27 Choosing academia over medicine, attending UCLA grad school13:11 Postdoc with Charles Sawyers and translational research16:58 Transitioning to industry and joining Merck24:44 Learning drug discovery and pharma culture at Merck32:32 Taking the leap to Agios Pharmaceuticals37:42 Leading the IDH program and cancer research44:43 Collaborating with academic labs and CROs50:28 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, brought to you by Excedr—empowering life science startups with founder-friendly equipment leasing to fast-track R&D and drive commercialization success.🔬 Know someone in need of lab equipment? Join Excedr’s referral program: Give your friends $1,000 and earn $1,000 for every qualified referral! 💸🔗 Get your unique referral link here: refer.excedr.com/ZTHETY. Part 2 of 2: Our guest today is Oguzhan Atay, Co-founder & CEO of BillionToOne. BillionToOne is a precision diagnostics company that quantifies biology to create powerful molecular diagnostics. They work to improve disease detection by counting molecules with their proprietary molecular counting platform. They place patients at the forefront of everything they do and are currently applying their proprietary technology to non-invasive prenatal screening and liquid biopsy.Oguzhan holds a Ph.D. from Stanford in Systems Biology, where he implemented machine learning algorithms and mathematical models to solve specific problems in cellular biology and developed a data-driven mathematical framework to simplify the analysis of complex biological networks. He also has a degree in Molecular Biology from Princeton, as well as minors in Computer Science, Physics, and Applied Mathematics.Oguzhan not only combines deep technical expertise with visionary leadership, but he also has an incredibly inspirational immigrant journey, which makes this series a must-listen for first-time founders, scientists, and industry leaders alike.In this episode, you'll hear about:Oguzhan's journey from Turkey to StanfordBillionToOne's origin, including Y Combinator's role and initial funding challengesThe company's innovative prenatal testing approachExpansion into oncology with blood tests for therapy selection and monitoringOguzhan's personal struggles with immigration issues while starting the company and the support of his mentorsIf 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: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-biotech-startups-podcast/id1679591994https://open.spotify.com/show/2PSL162R2s0zOwU5913Zv4Find Our Guest, Oguzhan Atay, at these links: https://www.linkedin.com/in/oatay/ https://billiontoone.com/ Find Our Host, Jon Chee, at these links: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joncheehttps://www.excedr.comExcedr Socials & WebsiteLinkedIn: 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/ Enriched Notes: Topics Mentioned:BillionToOne https://billiontoone.com/ Y Combinator https://www.ycombinator.com/ Common Mistakes Biotechs Make & How to Avoid Them https://www.excedr.com/blog/common-business-mistakes How to Fund an R&D Startup https://www.excedr.com/resources/rd-startup-funding-first-steps Guide to the Venture Capitalist Decision https://www.excedr.com/resources/guide-to-the-venture-capitalist-decision-making-process People Mentioned:David Tsao https://www.linkedin.com/in/davidtsao/Jim Collins https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_C._Collins Timestamps: 00:00 - Intro02:28 - The origin of BillionToOne and early challenges06:48 - Y Combinator's role and initial funding struggles12:24 - Meeting co-founders and pivoting based on market needs17:17 - Realizing the importance of the problem in the United States24:11 - Building physical infrastructure and scaling operations32:04 - Company culture, hiring philosophy, and growth strategy38:55 - Expanding into oncology and future product lines46:40 - Plans for going public and becoming a generational company53:42 - Shoutouts to supporters and overcoming immigration challenges59:34 - Advice to his 21-year-old self: keeping an open mind01:02:51 - 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, brought to you by Excedr—empowering life science startups with founder-friendly equipment leasing to fast-track R&D and drive commercialization success.🔬 Know someone in need of lab equipment? Join Excedr’s referral program: Give your friends $1,000 and earn $1,000 for every qualified referral! 💸🔗 Get your unique referral link here: refer.excedr.com/ZTHETY. Part 1 of 2: Our guest today is Oguzhan Atay, Co-founder & CEO of BillionToOne. BillionToOne is a precision diagnostics company that quantifies biology to create powerful molecular diagnostics. They work to improve disease detection by counting molecules with their proprietary molecular counting platform. They place patients at the forefront of everything they do and are currently applying their proprietary technology to non-invasive prenatal screening and liquid biopsy.Oguzhan holds a Ph.D. from Stanford in Systems Biology, where he implemented machine learning algorithms and mathematical models to solve specific problems in cellular biology and developed a data-driven mathematical framework to simplify the analysis of complex biological networks. He also has a degree in Molecular Biology from Princeton, as well as minors in Computer Science, Physics, and Applied Mathematics.Oguzhan not only combines deep technical expertise with visionary leadership, but he also has an incredibly inspirational immigrant journey, which makes this series a must-listen for first-time founders, scientists, and industry leaders alike.In this episode, you'll hear about:Oguzhan's upbringing in a small Turkish townHis early passion for science, deciding to become a scientist at just 10 years oldOguzhan's experience in Turkey's rigorous education systemHis transition to studying at PrincetonOguzhan's PhD journey at StanfordIf 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: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-biotech-startups-podcast/id1679591994https://open.spotify.com/show/2PSL162R2s0zOwU5913Zv4Find Our Guest, Oguzhan Atay, at these links: https://www.linkedin.com/in/oatay/ https://billiontoone.com/ Find Our Host, Jon Chee, at these links: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joncheehttps://www.excedr.comExcedr Socials & WebsiteLinkedIn: 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/Enriched Notes:Topics Mentioned:Princeton https://www.princeton.edu/Stanford https://www.stanford.edu/BillionToOne https://billiontoone.com/ Common Mistakes Biotechs Make & How to Avoid Them https://www.excedr.com/blog/common-business-mistakes How to Fund an R&D Startup https://www.excedr.com/resources/rd-startup-funding-first-steps Guide to the Venture Capitalist Decision https://www.excedr.com/resources/guide-to-the-venture-capitalist-decision-making-process People Mentioned:Jan Skotheim https://www.linkedin.com/in/jan-skotheim-5157a426a/ Daniel Fisher https://www.linkedin.com/in/daniel-fisher-5466812a/ Jacques Fresco https://www.asbmb.org/asbmb-today/people/082222/in-memoriam-jacques-fresco Max Delbruck https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Max_Delbr%C3%BCck Linus Pauling https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Linus_Pauling J. Robert Oppenheimer https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/J._Robert_OppenheimerTimestamps:00:00 - Intro05:41 - Oguzhan's upbringing in Turkey and his parents' emphasis on education10:22 - Competitive nature of the Turkish education system15:18 - Oguzhan's decision to attend Princeton for undergraduate studies21:28 - Integrated science program at Princeton and interdisciplinary approach26:57 - Oguzhan's experience at the University of Oxford32:20 - Choosing Stanford for PhD studies38:21 - Oguzhan's PhD research at Stanford in cell cycle control43:24 - The importance of resilience in scientific research and entrepreneurship48:54 - BillionToOne's challenges and creative solutions during the COVID-19 pandemic55:47 - How overcoming challenges led to unprecedented growth for BillionToOne59:41 - 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.