From the Lab to the Web

Episode description

In this episode of From the Lab to the Web, Sébastien Simoncelli explains why Substack can become a powerful growth engine for life sciences founders. He walks through how to turn complex science into trust, how to position your newsletter clearly, and how to launch with intention instead of improvisation.

You’ll learn how Substack helps you reach the right readers, investors, partners, and future hires, without relying on algorithms. Sébastien also shares a simple framework to start, avoid common mistakes, and build a publication that creates real opportunities for your company over time.

If you want to make your thinking visible, build authority in your field, and attract the right people around your work, this episode will give you a clear path to start.

In this episode of From the Lab to the Web, I’m joined by Christopher Caudle to unpack a question many life science founders struggle with: how do you attract investor attention on LinkedIn without sounding salesy or out of place?

We talk about why great science often fails to get funded, the communication gap between founders and investors, and how LinkedIn fits into the fundraising journey. Christopher shares practical advice on founder positioning, profile optimisation, content that builds trust, and smart ways to stay on investors’ radar over time.

If you’re a scientist, founder, or CEO trying to raise capital and wondering how visible you really need to be online, this episode will help you see LinkedIn as a long-term trust-building tool, not a shortcut or a pitch deck replacement.

What does it really take for a PhD to transition out of academia and build visibility on LinkedIn, without feeling fake, pushy, or uncomfortable?

In this episode of From the Lab to the Web, I sit down with Elena Hoffer, founder of Alma.me, who built a following of over 130,000 people by speaking directly to researchers navigating careers beyond academia.

We talk about what pushed her to start posting on LinkedIn, how she found her voice over time, and why perfection is often the biggest blocker for scientists online.

Elena shares practical advice for PhDs who want to use LinkedIn with intention:

• How to position your profile so it speaks to industry, not just academia

• How to translate academic experience into clear, credible industry value

• Why clarity beats breadth when defining your career direction

• How to start posting without overselling yourself

• Why commenting is often a better first step than posting

• How to build a strong network without awkward messages or forced outreach

• How LinkedIn can help you explore roles that actually match your skills

This conversation is for PhDs, postdocs, and researchers who want to move beyond academia and use LinkedIn as a tool, not a performance.

No hacks. No personal branding clichés. Just grounded advice from someone who’s done it.

These last months, people complained about LinkedIn because:

• The reach is lower than ever.
• The quality of the content is getting worse.

Many want to quit because it's not worth their time and energy. But is it true?

In this episode, Sébastien Simoncelli will explain the possible scenarios for LinkedIn and why it's still worth staying there. He will also explain the alternatives and why you should consider them too.

Shruti Bhide joins Sébastien to break down what ghostwriting really looks like for biotech founders and scientists.

She explains how to turn expertise into clear stories, why most leaders struggle to communicate their value, and how ghostwriters help them save time while standing out online.

If you want a sharper voice, better content, and a way to share your ideas without spending hours writing, this episode will help you get there.

In this episode of From the Lab to the Web, I sit down with Philipp Baaske, founder and CEO of Nanotemper Technologies and Vice President for Entrepreneurship at LMU Munich.

Philipp shares how he went from being a sceptical scientist to one of the most followed biotech founders on LinkedIn. He explains why storytelling is not marketing fluff, but a powerful way to make complex science understandable and relatable.

We discussed:

• How storytelling helped him grow Nanotemper and attract talent

• Why simplifying your science doesn’t make you less credible

• How to stay authentic without oversharing

• Using ChatGPT as a sparring partner, not a ghostwriter

• What every young biotech founder should know before posting online

A candid, practical conversation about science communication, leadership, and visibility in the life sciences world.

Can humour and science really mix?

In this episode, Martina Neuville joins Sébastien to talk about how she built a strong voice on LinkedIn by making people laugh, without losing credibility.

From her days in the lab to leading sales, Martina shares how humour helped her connect, grow her network, and make science more human.

If you’ve ever wondered how far you can go with humour in a serious industry, this one’s for you.

How can scientists cut through the noise of misinformation and make their work accessible to everyone?

In this episode of From the Lab to the Web, chemist and innovation leader Simon Maechling shares why he started posting during COVID, how he balances accuracy with attention on LinkedIn, and why he believes scientists have a responsibility to show up online.

If you’re a researcher, founder, or life science professional wondering how to build trust and share your expertise authentically, this conversation will give you the motivation and the practical tips to get started.

Follow Simon on LinkedIn and X.

What happens when a structural biochemist becomes a skincare founder and decides to take TikTok and Instagram by storm?

In this episode, Dr. Pragya Sharma shares how she built Grand Lab from her grandmother’s struggle with psoriasis, why she believes scientists (not influencers) should lead the conversation in skincare, and what she’s learned from posting hundreds of raw, unpolished videos online.

If you’re a founder wondering how to show up authentically on social media, or a scientist curious about turning research into impact, this conversation will inspire you.

Follow her on:

- LinkedIn

- Instagram

- Tiktok

In this episode of From the Lab to the Web, Sébastien Simoncelli welcomes Benjamin McLeod, a molecular biologist turned biotech communicator and ghostwriter for life science executives.

Benjamin shares his journey from working in cell and gene therapy production to helping executives translate their science into compelling content on LinkedIn. He explains why the old idea that “the science speaks for itself” no longer works, and how social platforms have become essential for visibility and trust in biotech.

• Benjamin’s path from the lab to ghostwriting for executives

• Why LinkedIn is the most effective platform for biotech leaders today

• How to build trust and credibility with customers, partners, and investors

• The importance of consistency and engagement in posting

• Practical advice for busy executives who want to start sharing content

• What types of posts resonate most, from paper digests to strategy breakdowns

• Common pitfalls to avoid when building your presence online

Benjamin emphasizes that success on LinkedIn comes down to being consistently useful, showing up in your authentic voice, and engaging meaningfully with your audience. For life science leaders, it’s not just about generating leads—it’s also about building trust, attracting talent, and staying top of mind in a very quiet but crowded digital space.

Key topics discussed

• Benjamin’s path from the lab to ghostwriting for executives

• Why LinkedIn is the most effective platform for biotech leaders today

• How to build trust and credibility with customers, partners, and investors

• The importance of consistency and engagement in posting

• Practical advice for busy executives who want to start sharing content

• What types of posts resonate most, from paper digests to strategy breakdowns

• Common pitfalls to avoid when building your presence online

Benjamin emphasises that success on LinkedIn comes down to being consistently useful, showing up in your authentic voice, and engaging meaningfully with your audience. For life science leaders, it’s not just about generating leads, it’s also about building trust, attracting talent, and staying top of mind in a very quiet but crowded digital space.