Business Trip

Greg and Matias interview Dana Watt, a Partner at Breakout Ventures, about genetic medicine for brain and mental health.

In this episode, we discuss:

• How genetic therapies work: addressing underlying causes, not just symptoms
• The opportunities and challenges for genetic therapies for brain health
• Exploring effective delivery of genetic payloads
• Commercial viability and insurance considerations

Credits:

Created by Greg Kubin and Matias Serebrinsky
Host: Matias Serebrinsky & Greg Kubin
Produced by Jonathan A. Davis,  Nico V. Rey & Caitlin Ner

Find us at businesstrip.fm and psymed.ventures
Follow us on Instagram and Twitter!
Theme music by Dorian Love
Additional Music: Distant Daze by Zack Frank

Greg and Matias interview Jay Sanguinetti, founder of Sanmai Technologies, a startup using transcranial focused ultrasound for the treatment of mental health conditions. 

Jay has a background in academia, having worked at the University of Arizona and started the SEMA Lab (Science Enhanced Mindful Awareness).

In this episode, we discuss:

• The science behind transcranial focused ultrasound and its therapeutic potential for mental health
• The risks and considerations involved in using focused ultrasound technology for mental health treatments
• Jay's experience transitioning from academia to founding a mental health technology startup
• The regulatory landscape that Sanmai Technologies will navigate as they bring this novel neurotechnology to market
  
  

Credits:

Created by Greg Kubin and Matias Serebrinsky
Host: Matias Serebrinsky & Greg Kubin
Produced by Jonathan A. Davis,  Nico V. Rey & Caitlin Ner

Find us at businesstrip.fm and psymed.ventures
Follow us on Instagram and Twitter!
Theme music by Dorian Love
Additional Music: Distant Daze by Zack Frank

Greg and Matias interview Tim Marjenin, a regulatory consultant at MCRA with 16 years of experience at the FDA, to discuss the regulatory landscape for neurotechnology devices.

Tim provides insights into the FDA approval process for neurotech devices, drawing from his extensive experience on the FDA's Neurostimulation-Neurology Devices Team. The episode explores the evolving field of neurotechnology and its regulatory challenges.

In this episode, we discuss:

• Different regulatory pathways for neurological devices (510(k), De Novo, PMA)
• FDA's approach to novel neurotechnologies like brain-computer interfaces (BCIs)
• Considerations for invasive vs. non-invasive neurotech devices
• The importance of cybersecurity in neurotechnology
• Common mistakes companies make in the regulatory process and how to avoid them
• The potential future of neurotechnology, including human augmentation and telepathy
  
  

Created by Greg Kubin and Matias Serebrinsky
Host: Matias Serebrinsky & Greg Kubin
Produced by Jonathan A. Davis,  Nico V. Rey & Caitlin Ner

Find us at businesstrip.fm and psymed.ventures
Follow us on Instagram and Twitter!
Theme music by Dorian Love
Additional Music: Distant Daze by Zack Frank and Krotoa by Makropulos

Greg and Matias interview Gurdane Bhutani, an investor at MBX Ventures, to discuss the impact of environmental toxins on health and the field of exposomics.

Gurdane is an expert in environmental health, with a background in Epidemiology and Environmental Health Sciences. He provided insights into the pervasive nature of environmental toxins and their implications for public health. This episode also has a guest appearance from Bruce Blumberg, a Professor of Developmental and Cell Biology at UC Davis.

In this episode, we discuss:

• The widespread presence of environmental toxins and their link to diseases like Parkinson's and autism
• The field of exposomics and lifetime environmental exposures
• Obesogens (chemicals whose exposure makes you fat)
• Startups building solutions for better diagnostics, green chemistry, and water treatment
• Practical lifestyle changes to reduce exposure to harmful chemicals and improve health

Credits:

Created by Greg Kubin and Matias Serebrinsky
Host: Matias Serebrinsky & Greg Kubin
Produced by Jonathan A. Davis,  Nico V. Rey & Caitlin Ner

Find us at businesstrip.fm and psymed.ventures
Follow us on Instagram and Twitter!
Theme music by Dorian Love
Additional Music: Distant Daze by Zack Frank and Temperance by Eltham House

Greg and Matias interview Josh Hardman, founder and editor of Psychedelic Alpha, to discuss the recent FDA advisory committee meeting on Lykos Therapeutics’ MDMA-assisted therapy for PTSD.

Josh is a leading writer covering the intersection of psychedelics and business. He provided live reporting and analysis of the AdComm meeting.

In this episode, we discuss:

• The FDA advisory committee process and its implications for drug approvals
• Functional unblinding and expectancy effects in psychedelic clinical trials
• Potential impacts on the broader psychedelic medicine industry
• The future of psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy protocols
• Neuroplastogen development and non-hallucinogenic approaches
• Challenges around therapy, safety, and regulatory pathways for psychedelic medicines

Credits:

Created by Greg Kubin and Matias Serebrinsky
Host: Matias Serebrinsky & Greg Kubin
Produced by Jonathan A. Davis,  Nico V. Rey & Caitlin Ner

Find us at businesstrip.fm and psymed.ventures
Follow us on Instagram and Twitter!
Theme music by Dorian Love
Additional Music: Distant Daze by Zack Frank

Software, hardware, and biotechnology are playing an increasingly transformative role in our mental health and wellness. Join us as we discuss what investors look for in these new companies and how they separate what’s real — and what’s near-term — from what’s hype. We’ll explore AI-powered tools for mental health, the new area of “enerceuticals” (energy replacing the “pharma”), psychedelics, and why what’s in your gut is so important to your mental state. Hear from investors who have a wide view of this growing startup landscape and better understand which new ventures are likely to succeed.

This is a live panel from South by South West 2024 with panelists Matias Serebrinsky of PsyMed Ventures and Business Trip and Amy Kruse of Satori Capital, moderated by Christie Nicholson of Studio For Communicating Complexity and Dan Blumberg of Modern Product Minds and the CRAFTED. podcast.

For more on CRAFTED., Dan's Webby-honored podcast featuring founders and leaders discussing what it really takes to build incredible products and companies, listen here: crafted.fm 

Credits:

Created by Greg Kubin and Matias Serebrinsky
Host: Matias Serebrinsky & Greg Kubin
Produced by Jonathan A. Davis,  Nico V. Rey & Caitlin Ner

Find us at businesstrip.fm and psymed.ventures
Follow us on Instagram and Twitter!
Theme music by Dorian Love
Additional Music: Distant Daze by Zack Frank

Matias hosted a panel at The Battery SF with renowned psychedelics experts, Nolan Williams, Allison Feduccia, Matt Baggott.

Nolan is a Stanford professor currently researching ibogaine among other areas in psychiatry and radiology, and he's a founder of TMS company Magnus Medical. Allison is the founder of Psychedelic Support, a platform providing psychedelic education, community and a provider directory. And Matt is founder and CEO of Tactogen, a biotech company developing compounds similar to MDMA.

In this episode, we discuss…

• The effects and mechanisms of different psychedelics (MDMA, psilocybin, ibogaine)
• The role of therapy/support during psychedelic experiences
• Scalability, accessibility, and optimal therapeutic use
• Digital solutions, new care models, and policy changes 

Credits:

Created by Greg Kubin and Matias Serebrinsky
Host: Matias Serebrinsky & Greg Kubin
Produced by Jonathan A. Davis,  Nico V. Rey & Caitlin Ner

Find us at businesstrip.fm and psymed.ventures
Follow us on Instagram and Twitter!
Theme music by Dorian Love
Additional Music: Distant Daze by Zack Frank

Matias interviews Lili Brillstein about how to work collaboratively with healthcare payers (the ones that reimburse for medical expenses).

Lili is a pioneer in the field, having previously led one of the largest bundled payment initiatives at Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield. She currently is the founder of her own advisory firm, BCollaborative, where she helps startups and providers develop value propositions that resonate with payers and create models that can be successfully administered. 

In this episode, they discuss:

• What payers want and their key priorities
• Strategies to communicate startup value propositions to payers
• The role of interim successes for chronic conditions
• How to align payers, providers, and startups
• Fee-for-service vs. value-based care models

Credits:

Created by Greg Kubin and Matias Serebrinsky
Host: Matias Serebrinsky & Greg Kubin
Produced by Jonathan A. Davis,  Nico V. Rey & Caitlin Ner

Find us at businesstrip.fm and psymed.ventures
Follow us on Instagram and Twitter!
Theme music by Dorian Love
Additional Music: Distant Daze by Zack Frank

Greg and Matias interview Ed Boyden about neuroscience frontiers and its applications to mental health.

Ed is a pioneer in understanding the fundamental mechanisms of the brain. He runs a lab at MIT for Synthetic Neurobiology and is a professor across the departments of neurotechnology, biological engineering, and cognitive science at MIT’s McGovern Institute for Brain Research. His inventions include optogenetic tools and expansion microscopy. He is co-founder of Cognito Therapeutics, Elemind, TI Solutions, and Synlife, and scientific advisor to several other companies.

In this episode, we discuss…

• Academia vs. startups for neuroscience advancement
• Evaluating data vs intuition to assess new technologies
• Breakthroughs like optogenetics and expansion microscopy
• How to translate neurotech into companies/commercialization
• Approaches for clearly communicating and "storytelling" complex science.

Credits:

Created by Greg Kubin and Matias Serebrinsky
Host: Matias Serebrinsky & Greg Kubin
Produced by Jonathan A. Davis,  Nico V. Rey & Caitlin Ner

Find us at businesstrip.fm and psymed.ventures
Follow us on Instagram and Twitter!
Theme music by Dorian Love
Additional Music: Distant Daze by Zack Frank

Greg and Matias interview Steve Rio about 5-MeO-DMT and its potential role in mental healthcare. 

Steve is a social impact cofounder, transformational coach, and practitioner at the Enfold Institute, one of the most reputable aboveground retreat centers working with 5-MeO-DMT. He shared many insights from his hands-on experience guiding hundreds of people through the medicine.

In this episode, we discuss…

• 5-MeO-DMT’s distinct psychedelic experience
• Enfold’s protocol of screening, preparation and integration
• Why high doses may not fit into the mainstream medical model
• 5-MeO's intense somatic release and non-dual experience
• The future of 5-MeO research and drug development

More information on Enfold Institute here: enfold.org

Credits:

Created by Greg Kubin and Matias Serebrinsky
Host: Matias Serebrinsky & Greg Kubin
Produced by Jonathan A. Davis,  Nico V. Rey & Caitlin Ner

Find us at businesstrip.fm and psymed.ventures
Follow us on Instagram and Twitter!
Theme music by Dorian Love
Additional Music: Distant Daze by Zack Frank