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."If you think you're above whatever-taking out the proverbial trash or doing the proverbial dishes or the laundry, whatever-that's when a company is cooked."In this episode, Bogdan Knezevic shares his journey from undergrad in Calgary to winning a Rhodes Scholarship and pursuing a PhD at Oxford, reflecting on the personal motivations, cultural shifts, and tough choices that shaped his path-including stepping away from elite swimming and ultimately realizing academia wasn’t for him. He opens up about the isolating yet magical environment of Oxford, the challenge of redefining his identity, and the gritty realities of working in early-stage biotech, emphasizing the importance of humility and hands-on work for startup founders. The conversation offers a candid look at how self-discovery, setbacks, and a willingness to “do the dishes” can shape a leader’s growth in biotech.Key topics covered:The Rhodes Scholarship decision: Chasing big dreams, family inspiration, and Oxford’s legendary pullLife at Oxford: A magical, isolating, and truly global grad experienceTransitioning from elite athletics: Letting go of swimming to discover a new sense of selfAcademia vs. industry: Swapping academic uncertainty for the fast pace of biotech startupsThe value of humility and grit: Rolling up your sleeves and doing the unglamorous work that makes startups thriveIf 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, Bogdan Knezevic, at these links: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bogdanknezevic/Website: https://www.kaleidoscope.bio/ 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:Biotech Fundraising Milestones Resource: https://blog.kaleidoscope.bio/biotech-milestones-for-effective-fundraising/Exhalation (book): https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/41160292-exhalationStories of Your Life and Other (book): https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/223380.Stories_of_Your_Life_and_OthersAndrew Ng’s Machine Learning Courses: https://www.coursera.org/collections/machine-learningCompanies, Universities, & People mentioned:Kaleidoscope Bio: https://www.kaleidoscope.bio/Frequency Therapeutics (Korro Bio): https://www.korrobio.com/Andrew Ng: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrewyng/Timestamps:00:00 Intro02:00 Early ambitions, family roots, and the Rhodes Scholarship spark04:12 Chasing Oxford: Inspired by books and family legacy07:01 Arriving at Oxford: Awe, isolation, and timelessness10:42 Oxford life: Constant change, global mix, and “town vs. gown”13:37 Adjusting to the UK: New ways to communicate and grow16:24 Leaving swimming: Letting go and finding a new identity19:43 Starting over at Oxford: Redefining success and self23:07 Grad school grind: Uncertainty and academic culture shock27:11 First taste of biotech: Startup life over academia29:09 Startup reality: Humility, grit, and doing the dirty work32:19 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."You have to do what you have to do to get to where you want to be, and work under the constraints you have. That means swallowing your ego and just realizing that's just the reality of it. You have to grind away if you're going to hit that success."In this episode of The Biotech Startups Podcast, Bogdan Knezevic, co-founder and CEO of Kaleidoscope, shares how his family’s escape from war-torn Serbia to Canada forged his relentless work ethic and sense of purpose. He recounts adapting to a new culture, the foundational support of family and mentors, and how his passion for science and math flourished in Canada’s diverse schools. As an elite swimmer and academic standout, Bogdan learned discipline and balance, skills that now drive his mission to make scientific research more collaborative and impactful. The conversation highlights his commitment to paying it forward by building supportive ecosystems in science and business for future generationsKey topics covered:The Immigrant Experience: Family’s move from Serbia to Canada fueled drive and determinationBuilding Resilience & Grit: Learned perseverance from parents’ sacrifices and adapting to changeEarly Academic Influences: Sparked love for science and math in a diverse settingDiscipline Through Athletics: Juggled elite swimming and studies, forging lasting disciplineThe Power of Mentorship & Paying It Forward: Mentors shaped his path; now he empowers othersIf 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, Bogdan Knezevic, at these links: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bogdanknezevic/Website: https://www.kaleidoscope.bio/ 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:Fundamentals of Human Neuropsychology by Bryan Kolb: https://students.aiu.edu/submissions/profiles/resources/onlineBook/d7t3G4_0716795868_Fundamentals.pdfThe University of Calgary Neuroscience Program: https://www.ucalgary.ca/future-students/undergraduate/explore-programs/neuroscienceRhodes Scholarship: https://www.rhodeshouse.ox.ac.uk/scholarships/the-rhodes-scholarship/Companies, Universities, & People mentioned:Kaleidoscope Bio: https://www.kaleidoscope.bio/Ken Lukowiak: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ken-lukowiak-2b9a689/?originalSubdomain=caTimestamps:00:00 Intro03:38 Bogdan's Upbringing in Serbia and Family's Immigration to Canada05:40 Parents' Sacrifices and Building Resilience10:30 Adapting to Canada: Culture Shock and Language Barriers16:19 Early Schooling in Canada and Discovering Science/Math21:24 Choosing Neuroscience and University Path24:20 Balancing Elite Swimming with Academics28:23 The Demanding Discipline of Competitive Swimming34:23 Undergraduate Lab Experiences and Foundational Research Skills38:31 The Power of Mentorship: Working with Ken Lukowiak40:10 Paying It Forward in Science and Entrepreneurship43:31 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 are that person, if you feel like you can't find your box and you're off doing these random things that no one else seems to find interesting, it's okay. Embrace it. It's who you are and it's going to be your superpower someday."In this episode of The Biotech Startups Podcast, host Jon Chee sits down with Rabia Khan, founder and CEO of Serna Bio, to discuss her journey from Sensyne Health to building a data-driven biotech company pioneering RNA-targeted drug discovery. Rabia shares how she overcame scientific and operational hurdles, navigated contract research limitations, and boldly moved Serna Bio from the UK to San Francisco. She also reveals her intentional approach to company culture, frugality, and long-term impact—emphasizing her vision to create a biotech business built for enduring innovation, not just acquisition.Key topics covered:Breaking Industry Molds: Serna Bio puts RNA at the center, challenging protein-focused norms.Data-First Biotech: Massive RNA datasets drive unique insights.Lean Operations & Frugality: Every dollar fuels innovation.Company Building for Endurance: Built for long-term value, not quick exits.Authentic Leadership: Bold, authentic leadership for lasting impact.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, Rabia Khan, at these links: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rabiatkhan/ Website: https://www.serna.bio/ 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:Principles by Ray Dalio: https://www.principles.com/Amazon’s Six-Page Memo & Culture of Frugality: https://www.larksuite.com/en_us/blog/amazon-6-pagerThe Druggable Genome: https://www.nature.com/articles/nrd892Antifragile by Nassim Nicholas Taleb: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/13530973-antifragileCompanies, Universities, & People mentioned:Serna Bio: https://www.serna.bio/Sensyne Health: https://www.sensynehealth.com/BenevolentAI: https://www.benevolent.com/Y Combinator: https://www.ycombinator.com/Bridgewater Associates: https://www.bridgewater.com/Genentech: https://www.gene.com/BioMarin: https://www.biomarin.com/Regeneron: https://www.regeneron.com/Jackie Hunter: https://www.linkedin.com/in/drjackiehunter/ Barry Ticho: https://www.linkedin.com/in/barrytichoRay Dalio: https://www.linkedin.com/in/raydalio/Howard Marks: https://www.linkedin.com/in/howardmarksbook/Nick Scott-Ram: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nick-scott-ram-637491b/?originalSubdomain=ukTimestamps:00:00 Intro02:01 Leaving Sensyne & Founding Serna Bio03:52 The Vision: Drugging RNA with Small Molecules09:46 Challenging the Status Quo of Protein-Centric Drug Discovery12:30 Building the Serna Toolkit: Data, Models, and Assays15:14 Operational Hurdles: Working with CROs & Building In-House Labs22:03 Leadership Philosophy: Frugality, Creativity & Building Culture28:35 Building Labs: UK vs. SF & Strategic Evolution36:56 Vision for Serna: Building an Enduring Biotech Company43:19 Advice to Founders: Embrace Discomfort & Authenticity45:53 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."You have to be curious. You have to enjoy the problems as opposed to view them as problems. You can view them as puzzle pieces that you get to put together, which is a lot of fun."In this episode of The Biotech Startups Podcast, Rabia Khan shares the pivotal experiences that shaped her approach to biotech innovation, from her time at BenevolentAI and Sensyne Health to building and leading high-performance teams at the intersection of biology, machine learning, and clinical data. Rabia discusses the challenges of aligning scientists and engineers around a shared language, the importance of integrating platform and program development, and the cultural shifts needed to drive real innovation in drug discovery. She also reflects on the value of curiosity, risk-taking, and the lessons learned from managing major pharma partnerships and scaling teams under intense pressure.Key topics covered:Bridging Biology & Machine Learning: Breaking barriers to spark drug discovery innovation.Platform vs. Program Development: Integrate or stagnate—unite teams to win in biotech.Building & Leading Teams: Scaling fast and thriving in high-stakes pharma.The Power of Curiosity & Risk-Taking: Question, risk, and grow—breakthroughs follow.Sales & Resilience in Biotech: Master selling and stay tough to succeed in science.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, Rabia Khan, at these links: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rabiatkhan/ Website: https://www.serna.bio/ 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:ICD-10 Codes and the Classification of Disease: https://icd.who.int/browse10/2019/enHubSpot CEO on 20VC: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/20vc-hubspot-ceo-on-where-value-accrues-in-saas-ai/id958230465?i=1000699464274The Economist’s Approach to Business Clarity and Value Creation: https://businesslibrary.uflib.ufl.edu/economicsbooksCompanies, Universities, & People mentioned:BenevolentAI: https://www.benevolent.com/Sensyne Health: https://www.sensynehealth.com/Serna Bio: https://www.serna.bio/Steven Hamblin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stevenrhamblin/?originalSubdomain=ukKate Yen, Ph.D.:https://www.linkedin.com/in/kate-yen-448b22108/Timestamps:00:00 Intro02:04 The Importance of Shared Language Across Disciplines03:02 Platform vs. Program Development in Biotech06:02 The Platform-Program Dichotomy and Capital Market Perspectives07:29 Aligning Machine Learning Engineers and Biologists09:30 Changing the Culture of Biology to Embrace Engineering Practices11:07 The Role of Curiosity and Naivety in Innovation12:18 Starting a Company: Risk-Taking and Support Systems17:11 Transition from BenevolentAI to Sensyne Health22:16 Challenges of Working with Clinical Data and ICD-10 Codes25:17 Building and Scaling a Machine Learning Team at Sensyne Health31:03 Leadership, Mentorship, and Hiring for Growth33:14 The Underrated Power of Sales Skills in Biotech36:57 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.“I wish someone had told me when I was starting my PhD to sit down and say, ‘what do I want out of this?’ and [then] write it down. Because, unlike the UK, where PhDs are three years and time bound, in Canada, they are neither time bound nor three years. And so you can meander."In this episode of The Biotech Startups Podcast, Rabia Khan, founder and CEO of Serna Bio, joins host Jon Chee to reflect on her unconventional journey through academia, business, and biotech innovation. Rabia shares how her curiosity, resilience, and embracing uncertainty shaped her journey through a PhD in genetics and an MBA. She discusses the emotional challenges of working with animal models, the benefits and limits of business school for scientists, and personal struggles, including her father’s illness.She recounts early setbacks, like rejected consulting jobs, and how a cold email landed her at Meta (now part of Chan Zuckerberg Biohub). Rabia emphasizes “manufacturing serendipity,” differences between founder and employee mindsets, and lessons from her work at BenevolentAI, highlighting the importance of cross-disciplinary communication and challenging industry norms.Key topics covered:PhD Realities: Tackling emotional and practical research challengesDual-Degree Insights: Balancing PhD and MBA, knowing business limitsPersonal Adversity: Turning family illness into resilienceCareer Breakthroughs: Creating and seizing biotech startup chancesBridging Disciplines: Fusing biology and ML to expand 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/@thebiotechstartupspodcast Website: https://www.thebiotechstartupspodcast.com/ Find our guest, Rabia Khan, at these links: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rabiatkhan/ Website: https://www.serna.bio/ 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:Case in Point (book): https://caseinterview.com/case-in-pointSWOT Analysis: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SWOT_analysisCRISPR Technology: https://www.genome.gov/genetics-glossary/CRISPRiPSC (Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Induced_pluripotent_stem_cellGWAS (Genome-Wide Association Studies): https://www.nature.com/articles/s43586-021-00056-9Ensembl: https://www.ensembl.org/index.html The concept of the “druggable genome”: https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/bioinformatics/articles/10.3389/fbinf.2022.958378/fullCompanies, Universities, & People mentioned:Francis Crick Institute: https://www.crick.ac.uk/BenevolentAI: https://www.benevolent.com/Meta (Acquired by Chan Zuckerberg Biohub): https://techcrunch.com/2017/01/23/chan-zuckerberg-initiative-meta/ GSK (GlaxoSmithKline): https://www.gsk.com/Thermo Fisher Scientific: https://www.thermofisher.com/Sensyne Health: https://www.sensyne.com/Sam Molyneux: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sammolyneuxAmy Molyneux: https://www.linkedin.com/in/amymolyneux/ Jackie Hunter: https://www.linkedin.com/in/drjackiehunter/ Timestamps:00:00 Intro00:49 Rabia’s PhD Experience and Challenges06:07 Comparing PhD Systems in Canada vs. UK08:21 MBA Insights and Frameworks14:28 Personal Adversity and Career Impact17:05 Coping with Family Illness and Career Decisions21:26 First Job at Meta and Serendipity30:00 Postdoc at Francis Crick Institute35:10 Joining BenevolentAI and Early Experiences39:24 Challenges in Drug Discovery and Druggable Genome43:41 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.

🧬 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."I was born and raised in a developing country. I was born and raised in Pakistan. And it's very interesting when you're born in a developing country. That's your world. Right? That's all you know."In this episode of The Biotech Startups Podcast, we delve into Rabia Khan's remarkable journey from her childhood in Pakistan to founding Serna Bio, an AI-enabled drug discovery company. Rabia shares how her early experiences in a developing country, her aunt's battle with schizophrenia, and the sequencing of the human genome in 2000 sparked her passion for genetics and healthcare. She recounts how her career options were either medicine or engineering, setting her on a path that would eventually lead to pioneering work at the intersection of AI and biotechnology.Rabia describes her transition to McGill University in Montreal, facing the shock of -40°C weather with only a leather jacket while navigating life as an international student with no support system. Despite these challenges, she pursued dual interests in biology and economics, finding her first research opportunity in a schizophrenia lab where she started by pipetting water and washing dishes. Key topics covered:Formative Influences: Shaped by Pakistan upbringing, aunt's schizophrenia, and genome sequencingEducational Journey: Balancing biology and economics at McGillFirst Research Experiences: From lab basics to discovering a disease-causing geneDecision-Making Frameworks: Applying economics principles to business decisionsFamily Influence: Mother's practicality and father's entrepreneurial drive guided her pathIf 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, Rabia Khan, at these links: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rabiatkhan/ Website: https://www.serna.bio/ 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 Human Genome Project https://www.genome.gov/human-genome-project Schizophrenia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Schizophrenia Opportunity Cost https://www.investopedia.com/terms/o/opportunitycost.asp Marginal Utility https://www.investopedia.com/terms/m/marginalutility.asp The Prisoner's Dilemma https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prisoner%27s_dilemma Ray Dalio's Decision Making Frameworks https://www.principles.com/principles/7df5502f-46e5-47d5-8fd7-8fc70843b726/ Nassim Taleb's Antifragility https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Antifragile_(book) Black Swan by Nassim Taleb https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Black_Swan:_The_Impact_of_the_Highly_Improbable McGill University's Human Genetics Program https://www.mcgill.ca/humangenetics/our-programs/program-information Hydatidiform Moles Research https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK459155/ Companies, Universities, & People mentioned:Benevolent AI: https://www.benevolent.com/ Meta: https://techcrunch.com/2017/01/23/chan-zuckerberg-initiative-meta/  Bayer: https://www.bayer.com/ BMS (Bristol Myers Squibb): https://www.bms.com/ Roche: https://www.roche.com/ Alexion: https://www.alexion.com/ Gustavo Turecki https://douglas.research.mcgill.ca/gustavo-turecki/ Rima Slim https://scholar.google.ca/citations?user=UwK8NS8AAAAJ&hl=en Danielle Malo https://www.linkedin.com/in/danielle-malo-a204a174/ Ray Dalio https://www.linkedin.com/in/raydalio/ Nassim Taleb https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nassim_Nicholas_Taleb Timestamps:00:00 Intro03:18 Upbringing in Pakistan and Early Influences07:27 Formative Experiences: Human Genome Sequencing and Aunt's Schizophrenia13:49 Educational Experience: British System and Academic Rigor17:21 Economics and Biology: Dual Interests and Decision Making Frameworks23:31 Decision Making: Opportunity Cost and Probabilistic Thinking28:51 International Education: Choosing McGill University34:09 First Lab Experience: Working in a Schizophrenia Research Lab40:43 Undergraduate Research: Discovering the Gene for Hydatidiform Moles45:43 Father's Influence on PhD Decision48:31 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."Focus and commitment to niche ideas have huge payoffs."In part four of our conversation with Alfredo Andere, co-founder of LatchBio, we explore how the company evolved from a simple workflow orchestrator into a comprehensive platform serving biopharma companies and solution providers. Alfredo shares his approach to enterprise sales, emphasizing the importance of speed, focus, and building strong relationships with customers. He also delves into his philosophy on fundraising and the pivotal role of iterative development in creating impactful biotech solutions.Alfredo reflects on the challenges and rewards of working in niche markets, explaining why deep commitment and loyalty to specific problems are essential for long-term success. Whether you’re a first-time founder or an experienced entrepreneur, this episode is packed with actionable insights on building, selling, and scaling in the biotech space.Key topics covered:Iterative product development: Expanding LatchBio’s platform from workflows to data storage and analysisBiopharma vs. solution providers: How LatchBio serves these distinct customer groupsEnterprise sales best practices: Qualifying leads and acting as a consultant to customer problemsFundraising strategies: Why early-stage rounds focus on vision and team, while later rounds prioritize tractionThe power of focus: Avoiding the trap of optionality and scaling only when readyIf 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, Alfredo Andere, at these links: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alfredoandere/Website: https://www.linkedin.com/company/latchbio/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:Viktor Frankl's "Man’s Search for Meaning": https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/4069.Man_s_Search_for_MeaningLux Capital’s Article: Why High-Throughput Bio Research Needs Better Tools: Immediately: https://www.luxcapital.com/content/why-high-throughput-bio-research-needs-better-tools-immediatelyAlphaFold 2: https://alphafold.ebi.ac.uk/Bulk RNA-seq Analysis Tools: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_RNA-Seq_bioinformatics_toolsPaul Graham’s "How to Raise Money": https://www.paulgraham.com/fr.htmlCompanies, Universities, & People mentioned:Latch Bio: https://latch.bioIllumina: https://illumina.comOxford Nanopore Technologies: https://nanoporetech.com10x Genomics: https://10xgenomics.comFluent BioSciences: https://www.fluentbio.com/ Scale 10x: https://startupmission.kerala.gov.in/pages/scale10xComplete Genomics: https://www.completegenomics.comKenny Workman: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kennyworkmanKyle Giffin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kylegiffinAidan Abdulali: https://www.linkedin.com/in/aidanabdulaliNathan Manske: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nathan-manske-0232a192/Michael Paliotti: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michael-paliottiTimestamps:00:00 Intro01:56 LatchBio’s Evolution and Iterative Development08:20 Biopharma vs. Solution Providers14:01 Enterprise Sales Philosophy23:38 Fundraising Strategies and Team Building34:59 Future Vision for LatchBio39:36 Closing Thoughts and Shoutouts43:46 Advice to 21-Year-Old Self46:21 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.

In this conversation with Alfredo Andere, co-founder of LatchBio, we explore the inspiring journey of three friends who dropped out of college to tackle biotech's outdated data infrastructure. Alfredo shares how rigorous market research and user feedback fueled their successful $5 million seed round. He highlights the stark contrast between innovative tools at tech giants and the low-tech practices still prevalent in biotech, emphasizing the vast opportunities for revolutionizing life sciences.

"You will be surprised what you can achieve with thoughtful persistence."In part two of our conversation with Alfredo Andere, co-founder of LatchBio, we dive into his transformative journey at UC Berkeley, where he developed a passion for machine learning and neuroscience. Alfredo shares how his persistence and curiosity helped him join the highly competitive Machine Learning at Berkeley club, which became a pivotal moment in shaping his entrepreneurial mindset. He reflects on the lessons learned from internships at Facebook, UCSF, and Google Brain, and how these experiences clarified his desire to pursue startup life over a traditional tech career.Alfredo also recounts the early days of working with his co-founders on ambitious projects, including their first failed startup attempt, and how those challenges led them to explore opportunities in biotech. This episode offers valuable insights into navigating uncertainty, embracing trial and error, and building meaningful collaborations.Key topics covered:The power of thoughtful persistence: How Alfredo's determination led to joining a top-tier student organization at UC Berkeley.Lessons from internships: Insights gained from working at Facebook, UCSF, and Google Brain—and why he ultimately chose startups.The importance of community: How Machine Learning at Berkeley shaped Alfredo's leadership skills and introduced him to like-minded peers.Early startup lessons: The challenges of building a product without understanding the market and the value of user research.Transitioning to biotech: How Alfredo’s passion for neuroscience evolved into tackling critical problems in life sciences with his co-founders.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, Alfredo Andere, at these links: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alfredoandere/Website: https://www.linkedin.com/company/latchbio/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 and articles:Machine Learning at Berkeley (ML@B): https://ml.berkeley.edu/Viktor Frankl's "Man’s Search for Meaning": https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/4069.Man_s_Search_for_MeaningNeuralink Research Paper: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6914248/Berkeley NeuroDust Project: https://engineering.berkeley.edu/news/2016/11/neural-dust/TensorFlow by Google Brain: https://www.tensorflow.org/Bulk RNA-seq: https://www.scdiscoveries.com/support/what-is-bulk-rna-sequencing/AlphaFold 2: https://alphafold.ebi.ac.uk/Companies, universities, & people mentioned:Dyno Therapeutics: https://www.dynotx.com/ LatchBio: https://latch.bio/Facebook (Meta): https://www.facebook.comGoogle Brain (now part of Google DeepMind): https://research.google/brainNeuralink: https://neuralink.comUniversity of California, San Francisco (UCSF): https://www.ucsf.eduKenny Workman: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kennyworkmanKyle Giffin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kylegiffinTimestamps:00:00 Intro01:28 College Friendships and Early Seeds of LatchBio03:46 Joining Machine Learning at Berkeley: Challenges and Growth07:01 Transformational Impact of Student Organizations12:08 Running the Machine Learning Club at Berkeley: Leadership Lessons18:14 Introduction to Neuroscience and Life Sciences21:38 Internships at Facebook, UCSF, and Google Brain26:36 Lessons from Early Startup Attempts29:12 Dropping Out of Berkeley to Pursue Entrepreneurship Full-Time32:05 Balancing Academic and Entrepreneurial Pursuits33:11 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."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 culturesEarly tech inspiration: Impact of reading biographies and following Apple keynotesHigh school innovation: Creating a forum with 4,000 attendees and notable speakersTransition to US education: Challenges of applying to and choosing BerkeleyAcademic resilience: Overcoming initial struggles in EECS through intense dedicationIf 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, Alfredo Andere, at these links: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alfredoandere/Website: https://www.linkedin.com/company/latchbio/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 and articles:AWS (Amazon Web Services): https://aws.amazon.com/AstraZeneca: https://www.astrazeneca.com/GCP (Google Cloud Platform): https://cloud.google.com/ EVO https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6589126/AlphaFold 2: https://alphafold.ebi.ac.uk/Dyno Therapeutics: https://www.dynotx.com/Bulk RNA-seq: https://www.scdiscoveries.com/support/what-is-bulk-rna-sequencing/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-levineFelipe Calderon: https://www.linkedin.com/in/felipe-calderon-9b104a23/?originalSubdomain=mxVicente Fox: https://www.linkedin.com/in/vincente-fox-president/?originalSubdomain=mxTimestamps:00:00 Intro02:50 Alfredo's upbringing in Mexico and early influences05:24 Reading biographies of tech leaders and early inspirations08:09 Developing interest in technology and Apple11:51 High school experience in Mexico15:40 The importance of relationships in Mexican business culture20:10 Creating a forum that attracted high-profile speakers23:13 The power of persistence and networking27:10 Application process to US universities and choosing Berkeley31:22 First experiences at Berkeley and academic challenges35:14 Struggling with calculus and the pivotal decision to commit35:39 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.