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.“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.

🧬 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 Parag Shah, CEO and Founding Managing Director of K2 HealthVentures. K2 HealthVentures is an alternative investment firm that provides flexible, long-term financing solutions to innovative private and public companies in the life sciences and healthcare industries. Committed to making a broader impact, K2 also donates a percentage of its profits to support underserved areas in healthcare.Before founding K2, Parag was Senior Managing Director & Group Head of the Life Sciences practice at Hercules Capital, where he led the fund’s public offering and managed over $2 billion in investments. His deep expertise in life science and healthcare financing was further shaped through key leadership roles at Comerica, Imperial Bank, and BankBoston.Parag’s academic background includes a Masters in Environmental Policy & Planning and a Bachelors in Molecular Biology from MIT, where he conducted research at the Whitehead Institute. With 25+ years of experience at the intersection of science and finance, Parag brings invaluable insights for first-time founders, investors, scientists, and industry leaders navigating the complexities of biotech funding.In this episode, you'll hear about:How Parag scaled Hercules Capital into a multi-billion-dollar life sciences fundThe challenges of building a strong company culture in investment firmsWhy evergreen capital structures can be a game-changer for biotech startupsThe founding story of K2 HealthVentures and its mission-driven approachHow balancing work, family, and entrepreneurship leads to long-term 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: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-biotech-startups-podcast/id1679591994https://open.spotify.com/show/2PSL162R2s0zOwU5913Zv4Find Our Guest, Parag Shah, at these links: https://www.linkedin.com/in/paragshah333/https://k2hv.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:K2 HealthVentures: https://www.k2healthventures.com/Hercules Capital: https://www.htgc.com/Cooley LLP: https://www.cooley.com/Life Science Cares: https://lifesciencecares.org/Debt vs. Equity Financing for Biotech Startups: https://www.excedr.com/resources/debt-equity-options-funding-startupBiotech Startup Fundraising: https://www.excedr.com/resources/biotech-startup-funding-optionsBiotech Startup Support: https://www.excedr.com/resources-category/biotech-startup-supportPeople Mentioned:Roy Liu: https://www.linkedin.com/in/roy-liu-36a35/Anup Arora: https://www.linkedin.com/in/anup-arora-368ba81/Meghan FitzGerald: https://www.linkedin.com/in/meghanmfitzgerald/John Hale: https://www.linkedin.com/in/john-hale-770158b/Timestamps:00:00 Intro01:54 Early days at Hercules and the challenge of biotech debt06:14 Scaling Hercules, taking it public, and leadership lessons11:34 Public vs. private investment funds: Key trade-offs and pressures19:18 Leaving Hercules, taking a break, and redefining priorities25:35 Avoiding burnout: Balancing work, family, and entrepreneurship29:04 How time and capital constraints drive better decision-making33:52 Founding K2 HealthVentures and reshaping biotech venture debt39:01 Evergreen investment structure and why it benefits startups46:59 The importance of co-founders, team culture, and shared vision53:32 Scaling K2, launching a foundation, and investing with purpose01:02:24 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, 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 Parag Shah, CEO and Founding Managing Director of K2 HealthVentures. K2 HealthVentures is an alternative investment firm that provides flexible, long-term financing solutions to innovative private and public companies in the life sciences and healthcare industries. Committed to making a broader impact, K2 also donates a percentage of its profits to support underserved areas in healthcare.Before founding K2, Parag was Senior Managing Director & Group Head of the Life Sciences practice at Hercules Capital, where he led the fund’s public offering and managed over $2 billion in investments. His deep expertise in life science and healthcare financing was further shaped through key leadership roles at Comerica, Imperial Bank, and BankBoston.Parag’s academic background includes a Masters in Environmental Policy & Planning and a Bachelors in Molecular Biology from MIT, where he conducted research at the Whitehead Institute. With 25+ years of experience at the intersection of science and finance, Parag brings invaluable insights for first-time founders, investors, scientists, and industry leaders navigating the complexities of biotech funding.In this episode, you'll hear about:How Parag’s NYC upbringing shaped his leadership and risk-taking mindsetHis transition from molecular biology to finance and investingKey lessons from his early career in credit and venture lendingHow he helped shape biotech venture credit and redefine startup financingWhen to use debt vs. equity in life sciences fundraisingIf 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, Parag Shah, at these links: https://www.linkedin.com/in/paragshah333/https://k2hv.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:K2 HealthVentures: https://www.k2healthventures.com/Hercules Capital: https://www.htgc.com/BankBoston (now part of Bank of America): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BankBostonImperial Bank (acquired by Comerica):  https://www.comerica.com/Venture Debt in Biotech: https://www.fiercebiotech.com/biotech/rise-venture-debt-and-when-biotechs-should-and-shouldnt-use-itEquity vs. Debt Financing: https://www.excedr.com/resources/debt-equity-options-funding-startupBiotech Startup Fundraising: https://www.excedr.com/resources/biotech-startup-funding-optionsRisk-Taking & Leadership in Startups:Biotech Startup Support: https://www.excedr.com/resources-category/biotech-startup-supportScaling Biotech Companies: https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/scaling-up-overcoming-multifaceted-challenges-growing-rami-levin-njoqe/People Mentioned:Larry Suskind: https://dusp.mit.edu/people/lawrence-susskindJohn Ehrenfeld: https://www.linkedin.com/in/johnehrenfeld/Timestamps:00:00 Intro02:59 Parag’s background and early career in finance06:24 Growing up in NYC and how his parents influenced his mindset09:42 The impact of education and key mentors in shaping his path15:11 Transitioning from science to finance, why he left the lab19:56 Lessons from Bank Boston and entering the world of credit investing24:32 Moving to Argentina and unexpected entry into banking29:56 Joining Imperial Bank and the challenges of building biotech venture credit36:37 Understanding risk-taking and decision-making in biotech financing42:52 When startups should use debt vs. equity and how venture debt fits into biotech funding46:02 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: My guest today is Jason C. Foster, CEO and Executive Director of Ori Biotech. Ori is revolutionizing Cell and Gene Therapy manufacturing through the development of its proprietary platform, IRO®. By automating and standardizing Cell and Gene Therapy manufacturing, Ori and IRO® offer scientists the tools they need to streamline development and support widespread patient access to life-saving treatments.Jason's experience prior to Ori includes more than 20 years of life science leadership in operations, sales, marketing, technology, and investing, during which he developed deep expertise in commercial strategy and a thorough understanding of healthcare markets across the UK, US, and EU. In this episode, you'll hear about:Jason Foster's journey from Virginia to LondonThe critical role of culture in company successOri Biotech's mission to increase accessibility of cell therapies by developing scalable manufacturing solutionsChallenges in commercializing cell therapies and the need to consider commercial viability alongside safety and efficacyJason's leadership insights, including the concept of being a "trusted advisor" and the importance of transparency in team buildingIf 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/id1679591994Find Our Guest, Jason C. Foster, at these links: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasoncfoster/ https://oribiotech.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:Ori Biotech https://oribiotech.com/ How to Spin Out of Academia https://www.excedr.com/resources/how-to-spin-out-of-academia-and-into-a-startup How VC-Backed Startups Win When They Lease https://www.excedr.com/blog/how-vc-backed-startups-win-when-they-lease Marketing & Sales Strategies for Startups https://www.excedr.com/blog/marketing-sales-strategies-for-biotechs People Mentioned:Farlan Veraitch  https://www.linkedin.com/in/farlan-singh-veraitch-a677112/Reed Hastings https://www.linkedin.com/in/reedhastings/ Dan Pink https://www.linkedin.com/in/danielpink/ Timestamps:00:00 - Intro05:21 - Early days of expanding the business in Europe10:37 - Reflections on entrepreneurship within a large organization15:44 - The importance of culture in building a successful company20:35 - Jason's journey to founding Ori Biotech27:22 - Building Ori Biotech from the ground up33:35 - The challenges and potential of cell therapy39:51 - Ori Biotech's approach to go-to-market strategy46:09 - The importance of being a trusted advisor to clients51:10 - Hiring for cultural fit and building a strong team55:17 - Future plans for Ori Biotech57:59 - Shoutouts to mentors and supporters1:00:05 - Advice to his 21-year-old self1:02:48 - 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: My guest today is Jason C. Foster, CEO and Executive Director of Ori Biotech. Ori is revolutionizing Cell and Gene Therapy manufacturing through the development of its proprietary platform, IRO®. By automating and standardizing Cell and Gene Therapy manufacturing, Ori and IRO® offer scientists the tools they need to streamline development and support widespread patient access to life-saving treatments.Jason's experience prior to Ori includes more than 20 years of life science leadership in operations, sales, marketing, technology, and investing, during which he developed deep expertise in commercial strategy and a thorough understanding of healthcare markets across the UK, US, and EU. In this episode, you'll hear about:Jason Foster's early entrepreneurship, from paper routes to creative venturesHis transformative time at Columbia Business School, learning valuable lessons about decision-making and international perspectivesJason's entry into healthcare through Merck-MedcoHis experience growing a small pharmaceutical company from 5 to 400 employees, focusing on addiction medicineThe decision to move his family to London to start the European branch of the businessIf 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/id1679591994Find Our Guest, Jason Foster, at these links: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasoncfoster/ https://oribiotech.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:University of Virginia https://www.virginia.edu/ Columbia University https://www.columbia.edu/ Merck https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Merck_%26_Co. Medco https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Medco_Health_Solutions How to Spin Out of Academia https://www.excedr.com/resources/how-to-spin-out-of-academia-and-into-a-startup How VC-Backed Startups Win When They Lease https://www.excedr.com/blog/how-vc-backed-startups-win-when-they-lease Marketing & Sales Strategies for Startups https://www.excedr.com/blog/marketing-sales-strategies-for-biotechs People Mentioned:Larry Sabato https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Larry_Sabato Emma Walmsley https://www.linkedin.com/in/emmawalmsleygsk/?originalSubdomain=uk Timestamps:00:00 Intro04:51 Early years and entrepreneurial experiences10:10 College decision process and time at the University of Virginia18:05 Jason's experience in Washington D.C. and introduction to healthcare policy20:57 Jason's decision to pursue an MBA at Columbia University25:04 Memorable lessons from Columbia MBA program30:47 Jason's transition to the private sector and joining Merck Medco36:41 Insights on effective sales techniques in the pharmaceutical industry43:19 Jason's career progression after Columbia and joining Medco Health Solutions51:02 Jason's move to a small pharmaceutical company in Richmond, Virginia54:59 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 4 of 4: My guest today is Rafael Rosengarten, CEO and Co-Founder of Genialis, the RNA biomarker company. Genialis is reimagining biomarkers for every target, drug, and patient using a combination of precision oncology, RNA, and AI.Rafael, a biomedical research veteran, combines academic excellence with industry innovation. A Dartmouth graduate with a Yale doctorate, he conducted postdoctoral research at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, where he co-invented the j5 DNA assembly tool. As co-founder of the Alliance for AI in Healthcare, he advocates for responsible AI integration in medicine, drawing from his extensive background in evolution, immunology, bioengineering, and genetics.In this episode, you'll hear about:Scaling Genialis during COVID-19 and refining the company’s missionThe importance of company culture and building a motivated, cohesive teamDeveloping krasID and the Genialis supermodel to advance cancer diagnosticsRaising Series A funding amid biotech market challengesThe role of leadership and innovation in driving biotech success and shaping the future of precision oncology.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: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-biotech-startups-podcast/id1679591994Find Our Guest, Rafael Rosengarten, at these links: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rrosengarten/https://www.genialis.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:Genialis: https://www.genialis.com/Taiwania Capital: https://www.taiwaniacapital.com/Debiopharm Innovation Fund: https://www.debiopharm.com/innovation-fund/Genialis krasID: https://www.genialis.com/krasid/Genialis Supermodel: https://www.genialis.com/supermodel/How to Bootstrap a Biotech: https://www.excedr.com/resources/how-to-bootstrap-biotech-startupBiotech Funding Options: https://www.excedr.com/resources/biotech-startup-funding-optionsTop VCs in Biotech: https://www.excedr.com/blog/top-vc-firms-for-biotechAI in Cancer Diagnostics: https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fonc.2020.588221/fullPredictive Biomarkers in Oncology: https://oncologypro.esmo.org/education-library/esmo-books/esmo-handbooks/translational-research/predictive-biomarkersHow Biotech Partnerships Support Research: https://www.excedr.com/blog/how-biotech-partnerships-support-researchPeople Mentioned:Cheng Wu (Founding Partner, Taiwania Capital): https://www.linkedin.com/in/cheng-wu-4614a8a/Tiasha Stanković (COO, Head of People at Genialis): https://www.linkedin.com/in/tjasakk/?originalSubdomain=siLuka Ausec (Chief Discovery Officer at Genialis): https://www.linkedin.com/in/luka-ausec-378009150/Miha Štajdohar (Co-founder, CTO at Genialis): https://www.linkedin.com/in/mstajdohar/Marinka Zitnik (AI Researcher, Associate Professor of Bioinformatics): https://dbmi.hms.harvard.edu/people/marinka-zitnikTimestamps:00:00 Intro02:04 Scaling Genialis during COVID-19 and adapting as CEO04:27 How pivotal clients influence a startup’s growth path07:15 Addressing critical mistakes in clinical data pipelines09:43 Redefining Genialis’ mission and fostering strong culture12:19 Adapting to remote work while reinforcing team values14:57 Raising Series A funding amid challenging market conditions20:50 The importance of team culture and resilience25:37 The Genialis supermodel and its impact on oncology AI29:12 Two-year vision for Genialis and its three pillars32:59 Closing questions and advice for entrepreneurs38:59 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 3 of 4: My guest today is Rafael Rosengarten, CEO and Co-Founder of Genialis, the RNA biomarker company. Genialis is reimagining biomarkers for every target, drug, and patient using a combination of precision oncology, RNA, and AI.Rafael, a biomedical research veteran, combines academic excellence with industry innovation. A Dartmouth graduate with a Yale doctorate, he conducted postdoctoral research at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, where he co-invented the j5 DNA assembly tool. As co-founder of the Alliance for AI in Healthcare, he advocates for responsible AI integration in medicine, drawing from his extensive background in evolution, immunology, bioengineering, and genetics.In this episode, you'll hear about:Rafael’s move to Baylor College of Medicine and Houston’s vibrant medical communityInnovations in molecular cloning and synthetic biology tools at BaylorBridging biology and AI through collaborations with University of Ljubljana researchersFounding Genialis and shifting its focus to predictive biomarker developmentLessons from biotech pivots that shaped Genialis as a leader in precision oncologyIf 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/id1679591994Find Our Guest, Rafael Rosengarten, at these links: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rrosengarten/https://www.genialis.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:Baylor College of Medicine: https://www.bcm.edu/University of Ljubljana: https://www.uni-lj.si/en/universityGenialis: https://www.genialis.com/Lab Equipment List, Synthetic Biology Research: https://www.excedr.com/blog/lab-equipment-list-for-synthetic-biology-researchHow to Bootstrap Your Biotech Startup & Scale: https://www.excedr.com/resources/how-to-bootstrap-biotech-startupWhen & How to Pivot a Biotech Startup: https://www.excedr.com/blog/when-how-to-pivot-a-biotech-startupBiotech Startup Support Resources: https://www.excedr.com/resources-category/biotech-startup-supportThe Role of Machine Learning in Biotech: https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/machine-learning-biotech-fundamentals-divya-ramamoorthy-blhte/Predictive Biomarkers in Oncology: https://oncologypro.esmo.org/education-library/esmo-books/esmo-handbooks/translational-research/predictive-biomarkersAI and Omics Analysis in Cancer Research: https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/oncology/articles/10.3389/fonc.2020.588221/fullCollaborative Biotech Partnerships: https://www.excedr.com/blog/how-biotech-partnerships-support-researchPeople Mentioned:Gad Shaulsky: https://www.bcm.edu/people-search/gad-shaulsky-30425Adam Kuspa: https://www.linkedin.com/in/adam-kuspa-23bab836/Blaž Zupan: https://www.bcm.edu/people-search/blaz-zupan-33768Marinka Zitnik: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marinkaz/Miha Štajdohar: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mstajdohar/?originalSubdomain=siLaura Benjamin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/laura-e-benjamin-04299b34/Timestamps:00:00 Intro02:11 Rafael’s move to Houston and postdoc at Baylor College of Medicine04:09 Collaborating with mentors and early breakthroughs in molecular cloning07:01 Joining the Gulf Coast Consortium and blending bench science with computational tools09:44 Transformative partnership with AI pioneers from the University of Ljubljana13:30 How early machine learning tools shaped Rafael’s career and perspective17:04 Founding Genialis and the early challenges of pivoting its focus19:59 Learning from failures and how they shaped Genialis’ mission23:21 The role of predictive biomarkers in oncology and their real-world impact27:59 Lessons learned from biotech pivots and navigating the startup world31:16 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.