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

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

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

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

🧬 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."We were a small team, just a handful of people, trying to solve problems that had stumped the industry for decades. Every day felt like we were building the future from scratch."In this episode, Co-Founder of Oculus and Founder & CEO of Deep Origin, Michael Antonov, shares the inside story of how he and a small, driven team transformed virtual reality from a niche dream into a billion-dollar industry. From his early days at Scaleform to the rapid growth of Oculus, Michael recounts overcoming daunting technical and business challenges, the thrill of their record-breaking Kickstarter campaign, and the relentless innovation that led to Oculus’s $2 billion acquisition by Facebook. Listeners get a rare look at the mindset and decision-making behind one of tech’s most remarkable startup journeys, packed with lessons for entrepreneurs everywhere.Key topics covered:The early days at Scaleform and the transition to founding Oculus: Game tools to VR visionariesOvercoming technical hurdles in VR hardware and software development: Solving tough VR challengesLaunching and scaling through the Oculus Rift Kickstarter campaign: Crowdfunding breakthroughNavigating rapid company growth and organizational challenges: Fast growth, big changesThe acquisition process with Facebook and the future of virtual reality: $2B deal, new horizonsIf you enjoy The Biotech Startups Podcast, please consider subscribing, leaving a review, or sharing it with your friends. Thanks for listening.Subscribe to the Podcast:Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-biotech-startups-podcast/id1679591994Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2PSL162R2s0zOwU5913Zv4Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@thebiotechstartupspodcast Website: https://www.thebiotechstartupspodcast.com/ Find our guest, Michael Antonov, at these links: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michaelantonov/Website: https://www.linkedin.com/company/deep-origin/ Find our host, Jon Chee, at these links: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joncheeLearn more about Excedr:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/excedr/ Website: https://www.excedr.comIntro & Outro Songs Created by OkKyojin, Owned by Excedr:Website: https://flow.page/kyojin Resources & Articles:The History of the Future by Blake Harris: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/34017056-the-history-of-the-futureConsole Wars by Blake Harris: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18505802-console-warsAcquired Podcast: https://www.acquired.fm/episodes/episode-35-oculusVoices of VR Podcast: https://voicesofvr.com/745-the-history-of-the-future-book-on-oculus-role-in-the-modern-resurgence-of-vr/Oculus Rift Kickstarter Campaign: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1523379957/oculus-rift-step-into-the-gameCompanies, Universities, & People mentioned:Deep Origin: https://deeporigin.com/Oculus (Meta Quest): https://www.meta.com/quest/Scaleform: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scaleform_GFxValve: https://www.valvesoftware.com/Brendan Iribe: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brendaniribe/John Carmack: https://x.com/id_aa_carmack?lang=enPalmer Luckey: https://www.linkedin.com/in/palmer-luckey-21a16959/Nate Mitchell: https://www.linkedin.com/in/natemitchell/Gabe Newell: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gabe-newell-0721752bb/Timestamps:00:00 Intro02:08 Moving to Orange County & Joining Autodesk04:23 The Oculus Origin Story: Meeting Palmer Luckey11:46 Early Prototypes and the Power of Kickstarter16:31 Fulfilling Orders and Building the Team20:06 Funding Realities and Internal Seed Round23:08 Technical Breakthroughs: Tracking and Blurriness28:33 Collaboration and Competition with Valve29:43 Deciding to Build vs. Buy VR Tech32:10 Raising Capital & Facebook’s Interest34:01 First Acquisition Offer from Facebook35:15 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.“There was this moment when I was 13 where a family friend brought a computer and I really liked games. It was just so fascinating. And then I could learn and write simple statements and logic. So that was like a little precursor, anything electronics, anything computers excited me. And biology was something I would hear about, but not really pay a lot of attention to.”In this episode of The Biotech Startups Podcast, we dive into the remarkable journey of Michael Antonov, Co-Founder of Oculus and Founder & CEO of Deep Origin, as he shares how growing up in post-Soviet Russia, surrounded by scarcity and a family of biologists, shaped his resourcefulness and ambition. A chance encounter with a borrowed computer sparked his lifelong passion for programming, steering him away from biology and into the world of software innovation. Michael recounts building foundational technologies in gaming and VR, co-founding Scaleform and Oculus, and navigating the challenges of scaling startups, forging pivotal partnerships, and eventually being acquired by Autodesk. His story is a testament to curiosity, resilience, and the power of seizing unexpected opportunities on the path from immigrant to influential entrepreneur in biotech and beyond.Key topics covered:Growing up in post-Soviet Russia: Scarcity, grit, and a family of biologistsDiscovering computers and programming: A creative escape and new directionBuilding and pivoting Scaleform: Dorm-room startup to game industry stapleSecuring major clients and networking: Landing deals through conferences and connectionsNavigating acquisition by Autodesk: Startup freedom meets corporate realityIf you enjoy The Biotech Startups Podcast, please consider subscribing, leaving a review, or sharing it with your friends. Thanks for listening.Subscribe to the Podcast:Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-biotech-startups-podcast/id1679591994Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2PSL162R2s0zOwU5913Zv4Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@thebiotechstartupspodcast Website: https://www.thebiotechstartupspodcast.com/ Find our guest, Michael Antonov, at these links: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michaelantonov/Website: https://www.linkedin.com/company/deep-origin/ Find our host, Jon Chee, at these links: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joncheeLearn more about Excedr:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/excedr/ Website: https://www.excedr.comIntro & Outro Songs Created by OkKyojin, Owned by Excedr:Website: https://flow.page/kyojin Resources & Articles:Civilization IV: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Civilization_IVAdobe Flash: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adobe_FlashGame Developers Conference: https://gdconf.com/Crysis: https://www.crytek.com/games/crysisMaya: https://www.autodesk.com/asean/products/maya/overviewScaleform GFX: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scaleform_GFxCompanies, Universities, & People mentioned:Deep Origin: https://deeporigin.com/Oculus (Meta Quest): https://www.meta.com/quest/BioWare: https://www.bioware.com/Autodesk: https://www.autodesk.com/Nintendo: https://www.nintendo.com/Brendan Iribe: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brendaniribe/Timestamps:00:00 Intro02:47 Growing Up in Post-Soviet Russia04:33 Family’s Background in Biology06:56 First Encounter with Computers and Programming09:45 High School in Maryland and Early Programming Projects11:49 Choosing Computer Science and College Experience15:32 Meeting Cofounder and Starting Scaleform20:54 Building and Pivoting the Scaleform Product23:31 Landing First Customers and Early Growth28:16 Securing Big Clients and Gaining Industry Momentum32:23 Deciding to Sell and the Autodesk Acquisition36:35 Navigating Corporate Culture Post-Acquisition40:29 OutroThe Biotech Startups Podcast gives you a front-row seat to the business and science of building a biotech. Hosted by Jon Chee, CEO of Excedr, the show features honest conversations with founders, execs, and investors about their work, their companies, and how they got there. From scientific breakthroughs to startup lessons, each episode explores what it really takes to grow a life science company—from pre-seed to IPO.

🧬 The Biotech Startups Podcast is powered by Excedr—helping life science startups accelerate R&D and commercialization with founder-friendly equipment leasing. Skip the upfront costs, stay lean, and focus on breakthrough science.As a TBSP listener, you can get exclusive perks through Excedr’s partner network—special savings, promotions, and more. Explore these offers today: https://www.excedr.com/partners."It's not about avoiding failure. It's about avoiding every scenario where you look back and say, ‘I could have done this differently and we wouldn't be here.’"In this episode, host Jon Chee talks with Bogdan Knezevic, co-founder and CEO of Kaleidoscope, about how smart R&D infrastructure decisions can make or break biotech startups. Bogdan shares his journey from scientist to founder and explains how Kaleidoscope empowers teams to harness their data, streamline collaboration, and extend their runway. The conversation spotlights real-world examples of how operational efficiency and the right tools create compounding advantages, why time is the true currency in biotech, and how accelerating drug development can have a profound impact for patients. Bogdan also reflects on the importance of learning by doing and paying it forward in the entrepreneurial journey.Key topics covered:Building the “nerve center” for biotech R&D: Centralizing and streamlining operations.Why early infrastructure decisions are critical for biotech startups: Early choices shape growth.The compounding value of operational efficiency and smart tooling: Small gains drive big advantages.How saving time and capital can mean the difference between success and failure: Time and cash are everything.Personal lessons on mentorship, paying it forward, and learning by doing: Give back and take action.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, 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:Cash Runway 101 https://www.excedr.com/blog/what-is-cash-runway Tips for Managing Cash Runway After Seed or Series A Financing https://www.excedr.com/blog/managing-cash-runway-after-seed-or-series-a-financing Companies, Universities, & People mentioned:HubSpot: https://www.hubspot.com/Salesforce: https://www.salesforce.com/Notion: https://www.notion.com/AWS: https://aws.amazon.com/Kaleidoscope Bio: https://www.kaleidoscope.bio/Creative Destruction Lab: https://creativedestructionlab.com/Entrepreneur First: https://www.joinef.com/Timestamps:00:00 Intro02:02 Kaleidoscope’s mission and focus05:15 Real-world platform use and data management10:24 Early infrastructure decisions and tool adoption15:25 Incremental improvements and operational efficiency18:51 Time and capital as critical resources in biotech22:21 Extending runway with equipment leasing and software26:26 Kaleidoscope’s future and enterprise readiness32:21 Impact on patient outcomes and urgency38:15 Paying it forward and mentorship39:38 Advice to aspiring founders41:25 Closing remarks and 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."Until you experience a thing, you don’t know a thing. That’s something that bothers me a lot with the investor world-unless you’ve done it, you don’t really know what the grind feels like."In this episode, Bogdan Knezevic, co-founder and CEO of Kaleidoscope, unpacks how hands-on experience-from the grind at Frequency Therapeutics to launching the Rhodes Incubator-shaped his passion for biotech startups and team building. He shares the pivotal role of serendipity and authentic networking at Creative Destruction Lab and Entrepreneur First, which ultimately set the stage for founding Kaleidoscope. Bogdan dives into the challenges of innovating biotech R&D infrastructure, the importance of collaboration, and why tackling meaningful problems drives his mission in a rapidly evolving industry.Key topics covered:Experiential Learning: Nothing beats firsthand experience in understanding biotech’s real challenges.Building Teams: Founding the Rhodes Incubator showed what truly makes teams thrive.Serendipity and Networking: Authentic outreach and chance meetings unlock major opportunities.From Academia to Entrepreneurship: The leap means tackling real-world problems that matter.Innovating Biotech Infrastructure: Kaleidoscope is digitizing R&D to speed up breakthroughs.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, 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: Stories: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/41160292-exhalationStories of Your Life and Other: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/223380.Stories_of_Your_Life_and_OthersCompanies, Universities, & People mentioned:Kaleidoscope Bio: https://www.kaleidoscope.bio/Creative Destruction Lab: https://creativedestructionlab.com/Entrepreneur First: https://www.joinef.com/Ahmed Elnaiem: https://www.linkedin.com/in/aelnaiem/David Yen: https://www.linkedin.com/in/david-y-e-n/Matt Clifford: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mattcliffordef/?originalSubdomain=ukTimestamps:00:00 Intro02:00 Discovering a love for startups at Frequency Therapeutics06:13 Launching the Rhodes Incubator and learning what makes teams work08:01 Gaining startup know-how through student-run organizations10:51 Building strong co-founder bonds and the value of team chemistry13:38 Leading the AI stream at Creative Destruction Lab17:31 Embracing serendipity and authentic networking20:00 Helping launch Entrepreneur First’s Toronto program22:35 Committing to start Kaleidoscope with longtime friends25:41 Defining Kaleidoscope’s purpose and picking meaningful problems29:34 Tackling biotech’s digital transformation and leaving paper behind31:13 Shaping the future of biotech with next-gen product vision34:55 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 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.