Grow Everything Biotech Podcast

Kevin Webb, Managing Director of Superorganism, joins Erum and Karl to discuss why biodiversity is the next frontier for venture capital. After 15 years backing SaaS unicorns and marketplaces, Kevin made a radical pivot to launch a $25M fund focused exclusively on biodiversity-driven startups. In this conversation, Kevin breaks down why nature has been catastrophically undervalued in our economic systems, how his fund identifies venture-scale opportunities in everything from invasive species leather to AI-powered ecosystem monitoring, and why measuring biodiversity is infinitely harder than tracking carbon emissions. He shares portfolio highlights including companies turning Burmese pythons into luxury goods, explains why sea otters would make ideal board members, and reveals the cultural, technological, and regulatory shifts that could transform biodiversity from a conservation concern into a mainstream asset class within the next decade. This episode is essential listening for founders, investors, and anyone interested in the intersection of nature, technology, and capital.

Grow Everything brings the bioeconomy to life. Hosts Karl Schmieder and Erum Azeez Khan share stories and interview the leaders and influencers changing the world by growing everything. Biology is the oldest technology. And it can be engineered. What are we growing?

Learn more at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.messaginglab.com/groweverything⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Chapters:

• (00:00:00) - Nature as Undervalued Infrastructure
• (00:01:00) - AI, Intelligence Premium, and Economic Disruption
• (00:05:00) - Animation, Uploaded Intelligence, and Biotech Narratives
• (00:09:00) - Color, Bio-Dyes, and Experiencing the World
• (00:12:00) - Kevin Webb's Journey from SaaS to Biodiversity VC
• (00:17:00) - Why Biodiversity Is Harder to Quantify Than Carbon
• (00:21:00) - Superorganism's Investment Thesis and Portfolio
• (00:26:00) - Invasive Species as Business Opportunity: Python Leather
• (00:32:00) - Biodiversity, Human Health, and Disease Spillover
• (00:36:00) - Misconceptions About Building in Biodiversity
• (00:40:00) - Fund Raising, LPs, and Long-Term Capital
• (00:45:00) - Quick Fire Round: Sea Otters, Octopi, and Redwoods
• (00:50:00) - eDNA, Measurement, and the Future of Nature Tech

Links and Resources:

• Superorganism
• 131. Leaf It to Science: How Foray Bioscience's Ashley Beckwith is Reforesting the Future
• 64. Swaying Away from Plastics: Julia Marsh's Seaweed Solutions
• 159. The Future Is Fungi Awards: From Mushroom Dreams to Real-World Things

• The Color Factory
• The 2028 Global Intelligence Crisis - Citrini Research 
• Atoms vs.Bits - Citrini Research

Topics Covered:

biodiversity investing, biodiversity venture capital, Superorganism VC, Kevin Webb Superorganism, nature based solutions startups, invasive species business model, climate and biodiversity tech, impact investing in nature, biodiversity as an asset class

Have a question or comment? Message us here:

Text or Call (804) 505-5553

⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠ / ⁠⁠⁠⁠Twitter⁠⁠⁠⁠ / ⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠ / ⁠⁠⁠⁠Youtube⁠⁠⁠⁠ / ⁠⁠⁠⁠Grow Everything⁠⁠⁠⁠

Music by: Nihilore 

Production by: Amplafy Media

Sophia Xu, cofounder of Carbon Bridge, joins us to discuss how her company is revolutionizing gas fermentation with notebook-sized modular bioreactors that convert waste gases into valuable fuels and chemicals. From rejecting medical school to focus on climate biotech, to developing reactors 80% more energy efficient than traditional methods, Sophia shares how Carbon Bridge's platform enables wild-type methanotrophs to perform 500% better than genetically modified microbes. The conversation explores distributed manufacturing, the company's vision for an "app store" of microbial pathways, partnerships with Norwegian Cruise Lines, and why Sophia believes biology—not electrification—is key to decarbonizing heavy industry. We discuss deployment scenarios from dairy farms to breweries, the misconceptions about gas fermentation, and how Carbon Bridge is creating a new business model by selling bioreactors rather than end products.

Grow Everything brings the bioeconomy to life. Hosts Karl Schmieder and Erum Azeez Khan share stories and interview the leaders and influencers changing the world by growing everything. Biology is the oldest technology. And it can be engineered. What are we growing?

Learn more at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.messaginglab.com/groweverything⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Chapters:

• (00:00:00) - Sophia's Journey from Cancer Research to Climate Biotech
• (00:03:18) - AI in Biomanufacturing
• (00:06:00) - From Nanotechnology to Waste Gas Conversion
• (00:09:00) - Sophia's Path: Why Climate Over Medical School
• (00:11:00) - Biology as an Industrial Platform
• (00:11:48) - Visualizing Carbon Bridge: MacBook-Sized Bioreactors
• (00:14:00) - Navigating Unpredictability in Biological Systems
• (00:16:43) - Methanotrophs: The Wild-Type Microbes Behind the Tech
• (00:17:00) - Scaling by Stacking: From Lab to 80X Scale
• (00:18:00) - Sustainability Meets Economics: No Green Premium Required
• (00:21:00) - Performance Numbers: 80% More Efficient, 500% Better Than GMOs
• (00:23:00) - Distributed Manufacturing and the Server Farm Analogy
• (00:25:00) - Deployment Scenarios: Dairy Farms, Breweries, and Beyond
• (00:27:00) - Funding Insights: What ARPA-E, IndieBio, and SOSV Taught Them
• (00:28:53) - Business Model: Selling Bioreactors, Not End Products
• (00:30:00) - The App Store Vision for Microbial Pathways
• (00:32:00) - Carbon Conversion Over Carbon Removal
• (00:34:00) - Visioneering the Future: Reproducibility and the Biotech Revolution
• (00:36:00) - Quick Fire: Climate Myths, Hydrogen Skepticism, and More
• (00:39:00) - Post-Interview Reflections and Business Model Spin

Links and Resources:

• Links for Sophia's Xu

Topics Covered:

CarbonBridge, climate biotech, gas fermentation, methane to methanol, modular bioreactor, distributed biomanufacturing, waste gas conversion, renewable methanol, industrial biotechnology, biomanufacturing infrastructure

Have a question or comment? Message us here:

Text or Call (804) 505-5553

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Music by: Nihilore 

Production by: Amplafy Media

John Cumbers returns to the Grow Everything podcast for his fourth appearance to discuss the cutting edge of synthetic biology and the upcoming SynBioBeta 2026 conference. From a man who's been bitten by snakes over 200 times to create universal anti-venom, to the race between the US and China in bio-manufacturing, John reveals why the bioeconomy is reaching an inflection point. We explore how AI is transforming organism design, the $50 million deals being struck for AI models in pharma, and why Chinese bio-manufacturing firms are achieving profitability while Western companies struggle. John also shares his vision for cellular reprogramming and longevity, discusses the controversial rollback of US environmental policy, and explains why the "ChatGPT moment" for biology is closer than we think. Plus, learn about stem cell tissue banks that could revolutionize replacement therapy and why SynBioBeta 2030 will actually happen on the moon.

Grow Everything brings the bioeconomy to life. Hosts Karl Schmieder and Erum Azeez Khan share stories and interview the leaders and influencers changing the world by growing everything. Biology is the oldest technology. And it can be engineered. What are we growing?

Learn more at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.messaginglab.com/groweverything⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Chapters:

• (00:00:00) - Welcome Back: John Cumbers' Fourth Appearance on Grow Everything
• (00:01:00) - Death Becomes Her: Longevity on Broadway
• (00:03:00) - Listening Bars and Ambient Music Experience
• (00:04:00) - The Peptide Revolution: From Gray Market to Mainstream
• (00:07:00) - Trump Administration Revokes Clean Air Act: Impact on Biotech
• (00:12:00) - Biomanufacturing as Economic Development and Climate Solution
• (00:13:00) - AI, Space, and Solar Energy: Elon Musk at World Economic Forum
• (00:16:00) - Data Centers in Space: The Future of Energy
• (00:18:00) - Introducing John Cumbers and SynBioBeta 2026
• (00:19:00) - The Man Bitten by 200+ Snakes: Universal Anti-Venom Story
• (00:22:00) - The Schmidt Pain Index and Extreme Science
• (00:23:00) - History and Evolution of SynBioBeta Over 14 Years
• (00:25:00) - Bio 500: Big Companies Transforming with Biotech
• (00:27:00) - Plant-Based Sales Slowdown and Consumer Bio Trends
• (00:30:00) - Discovery vs. Commercialization: Why 80% of Startups Fail on Execution
• (00:34:00) - Default Alive Companies: Bootstrapping the Bioeconomy
• 00:36:00) - AI Meets Biology: When's the ChatGPT Moment?
• (00:39:00) - Sidewinder DNA Assembly: Revolutionary Build Technology
• (00:42:00) - Design-Build-Test-Learn: Closing the Loop with Self-Driving Labs
• (00:43:00) - China's Biomanufacturing Dominance: What the West Can Learn
• (00:49:00) - Free Market Capitalism vs. Centralized Planning
• (00:52:00) - Should SynBioBeta Take Political Stands?
• (00:55:00) - Longevity Revolution: Cellular Programming and Stem Cell Banks
• (00:59:00) - Death Becomes Her and the Market for Living Forever
• (01:01:00) - AI and Bio: The Singularity is Here
• (01:03:00) - Human Genome Engineering and the Meta Simulation
• (01:05:00) - Quick Fire Round: Lantern Bioworks, Moon Conference, and Awards
• (01:07:00) - Closing: SynBioBeta Discount Code and Final Thoughts

Links and Resources:

• Synbiobeta website. Join us! Use code: "Grow Everything" for a discount
• OneSkin
• Replacement theory of aging - Jean Hebert

Topics Covered:

synbio, synthetic biology, bioengineering, conferences, networks, biotech, biology, bioliteracy, Bio500, AI and Bio

Have a question or comment? Message us here:

Text or Call (804) 505-5553

⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠ / ⁠⁠Twitter⁠⁠ / ⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠ / ⁠⁠Youtube⁠⁠ / ⁠⁠Grow Everything⁠⁠

Music by: Nihilore 

Production by: Amplafy Media

Karl and Erum break down how biology is transforming the production of everything from cosmetics to construction materials. They explore why the petrochemical era is giving way to biological manufacturing, examining both the spectacular failures of early biofuels and the emerging success stories of companies like K18 and Mango Materials. Karl and Erum explain the fundamentals of fermentation, precision fermentation, and cell-free manufacturing, while introducing concepts like distributed biomanufacturing and "dirty biology." Drawing on insights from previous guests including Doug Friedman, Michelle Stansfield, Veronica Breckenridge, and Phil Morle, they reveal why 95% of executives are now pursuing bio-solutions and how three converging forces—falling technology costs, rising consumer expectations, and new infrastructure—are making this the moment for biomanufacturing to finally deliver on its promise.

Grow Everything brings the bioeconomy to life. Hosts Karl Schmieder and Erum Azeez Khan share stories and interview the leaders and influencers changing the world by growing everything. Biology is the oldest technology. And it can be engineered. What are we growing?

Learn more at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.messaginglab.com/groweverything⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ 

Chapters:

• (00:00:00) - Why AI might just become our CEO (plus haircuts, Pilates, and gene therapy for hearing loss)
• (00:02:05) - Eli Lilly's $1B gene therapy deal for hearing loss
• (00:05:00) - Long Now podcast recommendation and NASA astrobiologist Lynn Rothschild
• (00:07:00) - Discussion of Apple TV's Scion and Drops of God
• (00:11:00) - What is biomanufacturing and why does it matter?
• (00:13:00) - The history of petrochemicals as "green technology"
• (00:16:00) - The opportunity: removing gigatons of carbon and unlocking trillion-dollar markets
• (00:19:00) - Types of biomanufacturing: fermentation, precision fermentation, and continuous fermentation
• (00:22:00) - Cell-free manufacturing and plant cell bioreactors
• (00:26:00) - Growing products with mycelium and dirty biology approaches
• (00:29:00) - Why biomanufacturing has been hard: the valley of death
• (00:30:00) - The biofuels bust and lessons from 60 failed companies
• (00:34:00) - Infrastructure challenges and the capacity gap
• (00:36:00) - New solutions: performance over sustainability and the K18 example
• (00:40:00) - Orchestration beats invention: connecting the entire value chain
• (00:43:00) - Distributed biomanufacturing and making products from waste
• (00:48:00) - The bio-better reality: what consumers and CPG companies need
• (00:51:00) - Three forces converging to make biomanufacturing work now
• (00:53:00) - Quickfire questions: luxury vs. commodities, funding, and AI's role

Links and Resources:

• Links and Resources DOC

Topics Covered: 

biomanufacturing 101, industrial biotechnology, precision fermentation, continuous fermentation, cell-free biomanufacturing, distributed biomanufacturing, dirty biology, bio-based materials, performance vs sustainability, CPG reformulation

Have a question or comment? Message us here:

Text or Call (804) 505-5553

⁠Instagram⁠  / ⁠Twitter⁠ / ⁠LinkedIn⁠ / ⁠Youtube⁠ / ⁠Grow Everything⁠

Music by: Nihilore 

Production by:  Amplafy Media

Daniel Scharff, founder of Startup CPG, joins the Grow Everything podcast to share how he built the world's largest community for emerging consumer brands. With 35,000 members in their Slack channel and over 75 in-person events annually, Startup CPG is democratizing access to retail buyers, investors, and industry resources that would typically cost founders thousands in consulting fees. Daniel discusses the harsh realities of CPG entrepreneurship—including why only 20-25% of brands survive beyond a few years—and shares his playbook for success: prioritize great branding and taste over health claims, build scrappy and resourceful, and delay fundraising until you can command a meaningful valuation. He reveals patterns he's observed across thousands of brands, from the danger of copycat products in oversaturated categories (looking at you, chili crisps and prebiotic sodas) to the power of in-person connections for discovering innovation. Daniel also explains why Startup CPG operates on a "do good, do well" model, offering free resources to brands while building a sustainable business through sponsorships and events—and why he believes this approach could transform other industries beyond CPG.

Grow Everything brings the bioeconomy to life. Hosts Karl Schmieder and Erum Azeez Khan share stories and interview the leaders and influencers changing the world by growing everything. Biology is the oldest technology. And it can be engineered. What are we growing?

Learn more at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.messaginglab.com/groweverything⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ 

Chapters:

• (00:00:00) - Fancy Weekends, Le Bernardin, and the Met
• (00:03:00) - Drops of God Season 2 and Art at the Met
• (00:06:00) - Automatic Noodle Book Discussion
• (00:09:00) - Claude Bot and AI Tools for Content Creation
• (00:13:00) - Introducing Daniel Scharff and Startup CPG
• (00:16:00) - Daniel's Journey from Mars to Just Egg to Startup CPG
• (00:21:00) - Building the World's Largest CPG Community
• (00:27:00) - Patterns of Success and Failure in CPG Brands
• (00:33:00) - What Makes Products Stand Out: Innovation vs. Copycats
• (00:38:00) - The Role of Biology and Health Claims in CPG
• (00:42:00) - Why In-Person Events Still Matter in a Digital World
• (00:50:00) - The Startup CPG Podcast and Media Platform
• (00:54:00) - Fundraising Strategies: When to Raise and How Much
• (01:00:00) - Quick Fire Questions with Daniel
• (01:03:00) - Final Thoughts and Wrap-Up

Links and Resources:

• Startup CPG
• Startup CPG Formulator Directory
• Startup CPG Resources
• Noguchi’s Waterstone at the MET
• Automatic Noodle by Annalee Newitz
• 166. The Great Reformulation: Joshua Lachter Rethinks How We Make Everything at Scale
• 165. Biology Behind the Brands: Inside P&G’s Two-Century Story
• 164. From Plasmids to Pallets: How Erin Marasco Scales Biology at Cargill

Topics Covered: 

CPG, consumer packaged goods, startups, community, Startup CPG, innovation

Have a question or comment? Message us here:

Text or Call (804) 505-5553

Instagram  / Twitter / LinkedIn / Youtube / Grow Everything

Music by: Nihilore 

Production by:  Amplafy Media

Joshua Lachter, co-founder of Synonym, joins us for an in-depth conversation about the future of biomanufacturing and what he calls "the great reformulation." We explore how biology is poised to replace petrochemicals across industries, the infrastructure challenges holding back commercial scale production, and why standardization is critical for mass adoption. Joshua shares insights from Synonym's work building commercial biomanufacturing facilities, including their groundbreaking project in Decatur, Illinois. From GLP-1s to microplastics, we discuss how bio-based products can deliver superior performance while addressing health and environmental concerns. This episode is essential listening for anyone interested in the commercialization of industrial biotech, the economics of biomanufacturing, and the path toward a reformulated supply chain built on biology.

(00:00:00) - Snowstorm updates from NYC

(00:03:00) - Tech Meets Pharma: The Data Revolution

(00:09:00) - Mr. Beast, Upside Foods, and Colossal Biosciences

(00:14:00) - Joshua's Background and Why He Founded Synonym

(00:18:00) - Financialization and Standardization of Biomanufacturing

(00:25:00) - Early Assumptions That Turned Out Wrong

(00:38:00) - The Great Reformulation: Biology vs. Petrochemicals

(00:48:00) - GLP-1s and Nature-Inspired Innovation

(00:54:00) - Better with Bio: Synonym's Partnership with Brentag

(00:59:00) - Quickfire Questions

(01:03:00) - Wrap-Up & Final Thoughts

Episode Links:

• Synonym

• BetterWith.Bio

• The Great Reformulation 

• Primient and Synonym Forge Strategic Partnership to Propel U.S. Bioproduct Innovation

• NYC Mayor Zohran Mamdani Snowstorm Prep Video

• Mr. Beast video: $1 vs $1,000,000,000 Futuristic Tech!

• Edward Shenderovich ep

• Amy Trejo and JC Garcia Garcia ep

• Suveen K18 ep 

Grow Everything brings the bioeconomy to life. Hosts Karl Schmieder and Erum Azeez Khan share stories and interview the leaders and influencers changing the world by growing everything. Biology is the oldest technology. And it can be engineered. What are we growing?

Learn more at www.messaginglab.com/groweverything

Topics Covered: 

biotech, industry, biomanufacturing, bioprocessing, industrial biotech, Great Reformulation, consumer packaged goods, CPG, biotech R&D, chemical engineering, bioengineering, AI in biomanufacturing

Have a question or comment? Message us here:

Text or Call (804) 505-5553

Instagram  / Twitter / LinkedIn / Youtube / Grow Everything

Karl and Erum sit down with Amy Trejo and Jose Carlos Garcia Garcia from Procter & Gamble to uncover how one of the world's largest consumer goods companies is leveraging biotechnology to innovate at unprecedented scale. Founded 189 years ago as a bio-waste upcycling partnership between a candle maker and a soap maker, P&G has always been rooted in biomaterials innovation—from pioneering laundry enzymes in the 1960s to developing cold water enzyme technologies that have saved billions in energy costs. Amy and JC reveal what makes biotech innovations stick in the marketplace (hint: it's all about performance), share candid advice for startups hoping to partner with P&G, and explain why the company views biotech as a critical enabler of both sustainability and superior consumer experiences. They discuss common misconceptions about working with large CPG companies, the importance of reducing ideas to practice, and how P&G's connect-and-develop model creates win-win partnerships that can impact billions of consumers worldwide. Whether you're a biotech founder, investor, or enthusiast curious about how innovative materials make it from lab to everyday products, this conversation offers rare insights into the intersection of consumer goods, biotechnology, and global scale manufacturing.

Grow Everything brings the bioeconomy to life. Hosts Karl Schmieder and Erum Azeez Khan share stories and interview the leaders and influencers changing the world by growing everything. Biology is the oldest technology. And it can be engineered. What are we growing?

Learn more at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.messaginglab.com/groweverything⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ 

Chapters:

• (00:00:00) - Introduction and Opening Remarks
• (00:01:00) - Erum's Article on Industrial Biomanufacturing for Lichen Ventures
• (00:04:00) - The Vision of Boom Towns and Interplanetary Innovation
• (00:07:00) - Introduction to Amy Trejo and JC Garcia Garcia from P&G
• (00:11:00) - Amy and JC's Backgrounds and Roles at P&G
• (00:13:00) - Biotech Innovations Throughout P&G's 189-Year History
• (00:19:00) - What Makes Biotech Innovations Stick: Performance Over Everything
• (00:22:00) - Biggest Misconceptions About Partnering with Large CPG Companies
• (00:29:00) - How to Approach P&G: Show Product, Generate Data, Demonstrate Performance
• (00:31:00) - The Power of Reapplication Across Product Categories
• (00:35:00) - Successful Biotech Partnerships: SK-II, Align, New Chapter, Base Camp Research
• (00:39:00) - What Catches P&G's Attention at Conferences and Trade Shows
• (00:42:00) - The Role of Storytelling in Biotech Innovation and Consumer Engagement
• (00:47:00) - Five-Year Vision: The Future of CPG and Biotech Partnerships
• (00:49:00) - One Piece of Advice for Biotech Innovators: Reduce Ideas to Practice
• (00:52:00) - Quickfire Questions with Amy and JC
• (00:53:00) - Closing Thoughts: Impacting Billions of Lives Through Partnership
• (00:54:00) - Karl and Erum's Recap and Key Takeaways

Links and Resources:

• Procter & Gamble (P&G)
• P&G Connect + Develop
• P&G Partnerships
• Stellar: A World Beyond Limits and How To Get There
• Industrial Biomanufacturing Needs Its Manhattan Project Moment by Erum Azeez Khan
• 107. Glow Big or Go Home: Andy Bass's Journey with Glowing Oceans
• 17. Beauty and the Biome with Jasmina Aganovic of Arcaea

Topics Covered: 

biotech, industry, biomanufacturing, bioprocessing, agriculture, agritech, strain engineering, biotech R&D, feedstocks, chemical engineering, bioengineering

Have a question or comment? Message us here:

Text or Call (804) 505-5553 

Music by: Nihilore 

Production by:  Amplafy Media

We kick off our CPG series with Dr. Erin Marasco, Senior Director of Global Biology at Cargill, who leads innovation in ingredient discovery, strain development, and biotech applications. Erin takes us on a fascinating journey from the fundamentals of fermentation to the complexities of scaling biotech products from lab bench to global supply chains. We explore Cargill's 30-year history in biomanufacturing, discuss why terms like "precision fermentation" might be doing more harm than good, and learn what it really takes for startups to partner with multinational companies. Erin shares insights on feedstock diversity across continents, the future of nutritional bioactives in everyday foods, and why success in biotech means moving from "novel" to "preferred." This conversation is essential listening for anyone interested in how biology is quietly transforming every aisle of the grocery store.

Grow Everything brings the bioeconomy to life. Hosts Karl Schmieder and Erum Azeez Khan share stories and interview the leaders and influencers changing the world by growing everything. Biology is the oldest technology. And it can be engineered. What are we growing?

Learn more at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.messaginglab.com/groweverything⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ 

Chapters:

• (00:00:00) - Introduction & New Year Kickoff — Welcome to 2026 and the start of our CPG series!
• (00:01:00) - JP Morgan Conference & South Africa Travel
• (00:05:00) - New Food Pyramid Controversy
• (00:10:00) - Introducing Erin Marasco & Cargill's Role in Biotech
• (00:17:00) - Where Biotech Creates Real Leverage at Cargill
• (00:21:00) - Demystifying Fermentation: Why Now?
• (00:26:00) - How Cargill Partners with Startups
• (00:30:00) - Biggest Misconceptions About Working with Big Companies
• (00:33:00) - What Product Readiness Means to Cargill
• (00:38:00) - Plasmids to Pallets: Successful Partnership Examples
• (00:47:00) - Feedstock Diversity Across Continents
• (00:53:00) - The Future: Nutrition as Everyday Food
• (00:58:00) - Quick Fire Questions & Retiring "Precision Fermentation"
• (01:03:00) - Wrap-Up & What's Next in the CPG Series

Links and Resources:

• Cargill
• Cargill Fermentation Blog
• Fermentation: nature's original biotech by Cargill
• Cantabria Labs (sunscreen from plant extracts)
• Viro - Sugarcane Straws
• Sawubona Mycelium 
• Heliocare Cantabria Labs
•  Andreesen Horowitz, VC fund, raised a $15 billion 

Topics Covered: 

biotech, industry, biomanufacturing, bioprocessing, agriculture, agritech, strain engineering, biotech R&D, feedstocks, chemical engineering, bioengineering

Have a question or comment? Message us here:

Text or Call (804) 505-5553 

Music by: Nihilore 

Production by:  Amplafy Media

Karl and Erum kick off 2026 by reviewing their 2025 forecasts—celebrating the wins (DeSci's rise, waste as a resource, AI-biology convergence) and acknowledging the misses (no biotech M&A boom, no quantum biology breakthrough yet). Then they unveil their boldest predictions for the year ahead: the first functional AI-composed genome entering production, a major non-sterile biomanufacturing facility breaking ground, biological arbitrage creating competitive advantages against tariffs, consumer-held health records surpassing traditional medical data in clinical significance, space-manufactured drug crystals entering human trials, definitive proof of alien life, and AI-enabled communication with whales and other animals. They also welcome Lizette Couto, who joins the podcast to provide science definitions and explanations throughout episodes going forward. From dirty biology manifestos to peptide proliferation to interspecies communication, this episode maps the frontiers where synthetic biology, AI, space technology, and consumer adoption collide. 

Grow Everything brings the bioeconomy to life. Hosts Karl Schmieder and Erum Azeez Khan share stories and interview the leaders and influencers changing the world by growing everything. Biology is the oldest technology. And it can be engineered. What are we growing?

Learn more at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.messaginglab.com/groweverything⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ 

Chapters:

• (00:00:00) - 🎙️ Welcome to 2026: The Year Biology Gets Real

• (00:01:00) - Introducing Lizette Couto: Science Definitions and Podcast Updates

• (00:03:00) - 2025 Predictions Review: Using AI to Analyze Episodes

• (00:04:00) - What We Got Wrong: H5N1, Quantum Biology, and M&A Activity

• (00:10:00) - What We Got Right: DeSci's Rise and the BIO Token

• (00:12:00) - Waste as a High Value Resource: Agricultural to Urban Applications

• (00:14:00) - Onshoring and Government Funding: A Crushing Year for Science

• (00:18:00) - AI and Biology Convergence: From Reading to Composing Genomes

• (00:20:00) - Microbiome and Longevity in Mainstream Culture

• (00:23:00) - 2026 Prediction #1: The First AI-Composed Genome Goes Into Production

• (00:26:00) - 2026 Prediction #2: Major Non-Sterile "Dirty Biology" Manufacturing Facility

• (00:30:00) - 2026 Prediction #3: Biological Arbitrage Creates 15-20% Margin Advantage

• (00:34:00) - 2026 Prediction #4: Consumer Health Records Become More Significant Than Medical Records

• (00:36:00) - 2026 Prediction #5: Consumer Biotech Gains on Industrial Biotech (The Bathroom Shelf Wins)

• (00:41:00) - 2026 Prediction #6: Space-Manufactured Drug Crystals Enter Human Clinical Trials

• (00:44:00) - 2026 Prediction #7: We'll See Proof of Alien Life

• (00:48:00) - 2026 Prediction #8: AI Enables Clear Communication with Whales and Other Animals

• (00:51:00) - Closing Thoughts and Upcoming CPG Series Preview

Links and Resources:

• H5N1 bird flu
• Novo Nordisk Quantum Computing Program
• 145. Decentralized Science 101: Defining DeSci with the Experts
• 146. Pump It Up: Benji Leibowitz on DAO-ing Science Differently
• bio.xyz
• HairDAO
• Mango Materials
• 123. From Gas to Glam: Molly Morse Discusses Mango Materials' Biodegradable Innovations
• Industrial Microbes
• 113. Microbe Mission Possible: Noah Helman Discusses iMicrobes' Quest to Turn Waste into Wealth
• Symmetry Wood
• 154. No Trees Were Harmed: Symmetry Wood's Gabe Tavas on Growing Wood from Waste
• NIH and NSF alarming funding cuts
• OneSkin
• EVO 2
• 122. Ecohacking the Planet: Daniel Goodwin of Homeworld Collective Brews Up Planetary-Scale Solutions
• The Future of Science: Modernizing the U.S. Scientific Enterprise
• 152. Crystals in the Cosmos: Varda Rewrites Drug Formulation in Microgravity

Topics Covered: 

biotech, industry, predictions, biomanufacturing, consumer biotech

Have a question or comment? Message us here:

Text or Call (804) 505-5553 

Music by: Nihilore 

Production by:  Amplafy Media

Karl and Erum kick off 2026 with deep reflections on prosperity, consciousness, and the idea that we might be living in a simulation. But the real focus is on a concept that could make or break biotech companies: orchestration. They dive into why most biotech innovations outside of pharma struggle to commercialize and introduce the idea of value chain syndication—bringing together innovators, manufacturers, investors, and big incumbents to create entire ecosystems rather than just individual deals. Using examples like K18 Hair's marketing orchestration and the urgent need to replace Red Dye 40, they break down how founders can architect strategic "seed deals" that build toward transformative industry shifts. This isn't about traditional sales or business development—it's about becoming the center of an ecosystem that includes everyone from ingredient suppliers to end customers. With tailwinds from geopolitical changes, supply chain concerns, and increasing demand for bio-based solutions, the time for orchestration is now. Whether you're a founder trying to scale or a big company looking to innovate, this episode shows you how to think bigger than your own company and build the infrastructure for a bio-based future.

Grow Everything brings the bioeconomy to life. Hosts Karl Schmieder and Erum Azeez Khan share stories and interview the leaders and influencers changing the world by growing everything. Biology is the oldest technology. And it can be engineered. What are we growing?

Learn more at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.messaginglab.com/groweverything⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ 

Chapters:

• (00:00:00) - Welcome and New Year reflections from California and Cape Town
• (00:01:00) - Prosperity, money circulation, and building a better society
• (00:04:23) - Consciousness, simulation theory, and the philosophy of everything
• (00:09:00) - Why we're replaying the orchestration episode
• (00:10:00) - What is orchestration and why it's not just sales or business development
• (00:15:00) - Why biotech companies struggle to commercialize outside pharma
• (00:18:00) - Value chain syndication and manufacturing orchestration explained
• (00:20:00) - Seed deals: How to start small and build toward the big picture
• (00:22:00) - The Red Dye 40 case study: Architecting an ecosystem for change
• (00:27:00) - Why founders need to think differently and become deal architects
• (00:31:00) - Why now? Geopolitical and economic tailwinds for biomanufacturing
• (00:34:00) - Risks, rewards, and the 5-10 year arc of ecosystem building
• (00:37:00) - Final reflections and how to get started with orchestration

Links and Resources:

• Messaginglab
• National Security Commission on Emerging Biotechnology's Report: Charting the Future of Biotechnology
• Red Dye ban
• 153. Ghosts of Biotech Past: Veronica Breckenridge’s Playbook for Smarter Scaling
• 149. Beyond Capital: Phil Morle of Main Sequence Ventures on Collaboration as the New Competitive Edge
• 120. Busting Biotech's Bottlenecks: Veronica Breckenridge on the Path to Industrial Scale
• 26. Breaking Bad Hair Habits with Biology: Suveen Sahib's K18 Rescues Your Strands
• Star Talk Neil deGrasse Tyson

Topics Covered: 

biotech, CPG, business models, industry, bacterial cellulose, fermentation

Have a question or comment? Message us here:

Text or Call (804) 505-5553 

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠  / ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Twitter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ / ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ / ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Youtube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ / ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Grow Everything⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Email: [email protected]

Music by: Nihilore

Production by: Amplafy Media