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.
"Hard things are hard. But we gotta go do them, or we gotta go try."
In this episode of The Biotech Startups Podcast, Michael Newton shares his journey from private equity and finance to launching a pay-per-mile auto insurance startup, leading groundbreaking innovation at Nike, and taking on the CEO role at Qorium, a biotech venture in the Netherlands. 
He reflects on building Nike Innovation, driving sustainable initiatives like Flyknit, and navigating the leap from corporate life to startup challenges—offering sharp insights into scaling big ideas, evolving as a leader, and staying true to mission-driven work across every stage of his career.
Key topics covered:

• Taking Career Risks: From Wall Street to startup to biotech CEO.
• Launching Nike Innovation: Transforming a small team into a global innovation force.
• Scaling Major Initiatives: Turning breakthrough ideas into reality, like Flyknit.
• Leadership & Company Culture: Real lessons in leadership, values, and transitions.
• Biology as the Future of Manufacturing: Building the future in synthetic biology.

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 Newton, at these links: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michaelanewton/Website: http://www.qorium.com/ Find our host, Jon Chee, at these links: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jonchee
Learn more about Excedr:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/excedr/ Website: https://www.excedr.com
Intro & Outro Songs Created by OkKyojin, Owned by Excedr:Website: https://flow.page/kyojin 
Resources & Articles:Shoe Dog by Phil Knight: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shoe_DogThe Acquired Podcast: https://www.acquired.fm/episodes/hermesAir (Movie): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Air_(2023_American_film)HBS New Venture Competition: https://www.hbs.edu/newventurecompetition
Companies, Universities, & People mentioned:Nike: https://www.nike.com/Cloudflare: https://www.cloudflare.com/Qorium: https://qorium.com/On: https://www.on.com/Starbucks: https://www.starbucks.com/American Express: https://www.americanexpress.com/Hermès: https://www.hermes.com/
Matt Prince: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mprince/Michelle Zatlyn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michellezatlynSteve Wright: https://www.linkedin.com/in/steve-p-wright/Hannah Jones:https://uk.linkedin.com/in/joneshannahEric Sprunk: https://www.linkedin.com/in/eric-sprunk-9519511a3Tom Clarke: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tom-clarke-b77b043John Donahoe: https://www.linkedin.com/in/john-donahoe-8b591452Howard Schultz: https://www.linkedin.com/in/howardschultz
Timestamps:00:00 Intro01:27 From Finance to Entrepreneurship: Michael’s Journey Starts at Stanford02:37 Early Startup Experience: Pay-Per-Mile Auto Insurance05:20 The Oregon Gamble: Moving for the Insurance Venture07:01 Unexpected Shift: Nike, Portland, and a New Career Path08:53 Launching Nike Innovation: Building from the Shoelace Room13:20 Inside Nike’s Innovation Culture: Global Scale and Flyknit18:26 Leadership Lessons from Nike: Consumer Focus and Culture20:51 Founder-Led to Professional Management: Nike’s Transition23:51 Leadership Succession in Iconic Companies28:16 When to Stay, When to Leave: Michael’s Exit from Nike32:53 Biotech Leap: Becoming CEO of Qorium36:19 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.
"A true superpower is being able to ask for help. Always... It amazes me how responsive people will be to that."
In this episode of The Biotech Startups Podcast, Michael Newton recounts his unconventional journey from Dartmouth to Wall Street, revealing how lessons learned in private equity—and the challenges of being a generalist—ultimately led him to pursue an MBA at Harvard Business School. 
He reflects on bold career decisions, the power of mentorship, and the importance of continuous learning, offering listeners an inside perspective on early ambition in New York City and how authentic, context-driven leadership shapes successful teams in biotech and beyond.
Key topics covered:

• Choosing the Road Less Traveled: Breaking into private equity without the usual path
• Mentorship & “Baptism by Fire”: Surviving and thriving under high-pressure guidance
• Breadth vs. Depth: Navigating careers as a generalist or specialist
• Contextual Leadership: Adapting your leadership style for each person
• The Power of Community: Building networks that fuel personal and professional growth

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 Newton, at these links: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michaelanewton/Website: http://www.qorium.com/ Find our host, Jon Chee, at these links: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jonchee
Learn more about Excedr:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/excedr/ Website: https://www.excedr.com
Intro & Outro Songs Created by OkKyojin, Owned by Excedr:Website: https://flow.page/kyojin 
Resources & Articles:Poor Charlie’s Almanack by Charlie Munger: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Poor_Charlie%27s_Almanack(HBS) case on SodaStream: https://www.hbs.edu/faculty/Pages/item.aspx?num=64768HBS case on Cranberry Manufacturing: https://www.hbs.edu/faculty/Pages/item.aspx?num=54704
Companies, Universities, & People mentioned:Thomas H. Lee Partners: https://thl.com/JPMorgan: https://www.jpmorganchase.com/American Express: https://www.americanexpress.com/
Mike Foote: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mdfoote/
Timestamps:00:00 Intro01:40 Bypassing Traditional Recruiting for Private Equity03:12 Decision Point: Nonprofit vs. Finance Career03:55 Moving Back to NYC and Starting Finance Career05:42 First Private Equity Role: Challenges and Learning08:04 Working with Harvey Golub at TH Lee10:25 Joining Kubera Partners: Fund Spin-out and Industry Lessons13:28 The Power of Asking for Help in Early Career15:52 Generalist vs. Specialist: Leadership and Team Management21:57 Deciding to Pursue an MBA at HBS25:06 HBS Highlights: Classes, Professors, and Case Method31:29 Mentorship, Environment, and Capitalizing on Unique Opportunities35:06 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.
"Attitude is by far number one… because you just aren’t gonna achieve anything in life if you don’t bring the right energy." 
In this episode of The Biotech Startups Podcast, Jon Chee sits down with Michael Newton, CEO of Qorium, to explore the early influences that shaped his perspective on leadership, resilience, and innovation. From growing up in a gritty yet vibrant Chelsea in the 1980s, to helping in his father’s tech-focused publishing business, to finding his academic spark at Saint Ann’s and Dartmouth, Michael reflects on how his upbringing and mentors shaped his belief in the power of attitude as the foundation of success.
Key topics covered:

• Chelsea Roots: Childhood in 1980s Manhattan and lessons in grit and diversity
• Entrepreneurial Influence: Hands-on exposure to publishing, tech, and business from his parents
• Benign Neglect Parenting: Building independence, resilience, and accountability from a young age
• Educational Turning Point: Discovering curiosity and self-expression at Saint Ann’s in Brooklyn
• The Diamond of Success: How Dartmouth mentors instilled a lifelong framework for achievement

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 Newton, at these links: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michaelanewton/Website: http://www.qorium.com/ Find our host, Jon Chee, at these links: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jonchee
Learn more about Excedr:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/excedr/ Website: https://www.excedr.com
Intro & Outro Songs Created by OkKyojin, Owned by Excedr:Website: https://flow.page/kyojin 
Resources & Articles:Benign Neglect Parenting https://www.parents.com/benign-neglect-8758970 
Companies, Universities, & People mentioned:Qorium: http://www.qorium.com/Saint Ann’s School https://saintannsny.org/ Dartmouth College https://home.dartmouth.edu/ 
Allan Stam https://www.linkedin.com/in/allanstam/ Gene Garthwaite https://history.dartmouth.edu/people/gene-r-garthwaite 
Timestamps:00:00 Intro04:32 Growing Up in 1980s Manhattan – Chelsea Roots06:31 Neighborhood Diversity & Childhood Community08:06 Parental Influence: Entrepreneurship & Early Tech Exposure10:38 “Benign Neglect” Parenting and Building Independence12:59 The Australian Community in New York15:11 Learning Grit from a “School of Hard Knocks” Childhood19:02 Applying Childhood Lessons to Leadership & Team Building21:41 Educational Turning Point: Grace Church to Saint Ann’s26:25 College Choices & Why Dartmouth Stood Out28:07 Life at Dartmouth and Impactful Mentors29:09 Professor Allan Stam & The Triangle (Diamond) of Success34:38 Influence of Professor Gene Garthwaite40:03 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.
"The whole environment of the company is about discovery and innovation, so it's really buzzing with energy."
In this episode of The Biotech Startups Podcast, Samir Khleif reveals how he took Georgiamune from vision to reality—building a top-tier team, advancing a pipeline of novel drugs, and keeping innovation at the company’s core. 
Host Jon Chee explores what sets Georgiamune apart, as Samir opens up about navigating the pitfalls of fundraising, the shift from academia to entrepreneurship, and why transparency and self-awareness are crucial for success in biotech leadership.
Key topics covered:

• Building a Discovery-Driven Team: Assembling top talent to fuel innovation
• Going Beyond the Surface: Focusing on breakthrough science, not recycled ideas
• Market Realities & Fundraising: Navigating tough markets and finding the right investors
• Internal vs External Development: Doubling down on in-house strengths
• Leadership in Biotech: Leading with self-awareness, curiosity, and collaboration

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, Samir Khleif, at these links: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/samir-khleif-4280b29/Website: http://www.georgiamune.com/ Find our host, Jon Chee, at these links: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jonchee
Learn more about Excedr:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/excedr/ Website: https://www.excedr.com
Intro & Outro Songs Created by OkKyojin, Owned by Excedr:Website: https://flow.page/kyojin 
Resources & Articles:Autoimmune Disease and Immune System Modulation: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27312159/What Corporate Investors Look for in Life Sciences Startups https://www.excedr.com/blog/what-corporate-investors-look-for-in-life-sciences-startups How to Prepare for Pre-Seed & Seed Funding https://www.excedr.com/resources/how-to-prepare-for-pre-seed-seed-funding 
Companies, Universities, & People mentioned:Georgiamune: https://www.georgiamune.com/
Timestamps:00:00 Intro01:42 Building the Early Team & IP Portfolio04:16 Why 85% of Cancer Patients Still Don’t Respond to Immunotherapy06:01 Internal VS External Drug Development: Key Considerations07:24 Surprising Lessons Moving from Academia & FDA to Startup CEO09:29 “Phone-a-Friend” Mentorship Strategy for Tough Decisions10:11 Fundraising Philosophy in a Volatile Market12:56 Aligning Investors Through Openness and Transparency15:41 Georgiamune’s Culture of Discovery and Innovation19:08 Advancing 11 Drugs in 5 Years—3 Already in the Clinic26:12 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.
"I always kept my lab at NCI, so I was always doing my research. But I was asked by him to lead the oncology critical path at the FDA, and I did that. I was doing that while also helping the King of Jordan develop the biotechnology strategy of Jordan and what it would take to move it forward."
In this episode of The Biotech Startups Podcast, Samir Khleif shares pivotal moments from his career at the crossroads of government, research, and entrepreneurship—reflecting on being chosen by FDA commissioner Andy von Eschenbach to lead oncology reform at the FDA, while simultaneously running his NCI research lab and advising Jordan’s national biotech strategy. 
He highlights the power of academic freedom, assembling a task force of over 120 top experts to advance regulatory change, and the leadership lessons gained building world-class teams—all culminating in a breakthrough that sparked the founding of Georgiamune.
Key topics covered:

• Leading National Reform: Spearheading FDA oncology reform with 120+ experts.
• Balancing Multiple Roles: Navigating government, research, and global biotech.
• The Value of Academic Freedom: Leveraging flexibility to drive innovation.
• Building Top-Performing Teams: Attracting and motivating elite talent.
• From Breakthrough to Startup: Turning discovery into Georgiamune.

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, Samir Khleif, at these links: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/samir-khleif-4280b29/Website: http://www.georgiamune.com/ Find our host, Jon Chee, at these links: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jonchee
Learn more about Excedr:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/excedr/ Website: https://www.excedr.com
Intro & Outro Songs Created by OkKyojin, Owned by Excedr:Website: https://flow.page/kyojin 
Resources & Articles:Oncology Critical Path Initiative at the FDA: https://www.fda.gov/science-research/science-and-research-special-topics/critical-path-initiativeBuilding a World-Class Cancer Center: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK584196/2025 Trends in Biotech Venture Capital Funding https://www.excedr.com/blog/trends-in-biotech-venture-capital-fundingImpact of Regulatory Environment on Life Sciences VC https://www.excedr.com/blog/impact-of-regulatory-environment-on-life-sciences-vc 
Companies, Universities, & People mentioned:NCI: https://www.cancer.gov/FDA: https://www.fda.gov/
Andy von Eschenbach, MD: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrew-von-eschenbach-m-d-9439ab10/
Timestamps:00:00 Intro01:43 Transition: From Building a Cancer Center to the Next Phase01:56 Leading National Reform at the FDA03:01 Balancing Research, Government, and Global Biotech Advisory03:36 Innovating Drug Development: The FDA’s Critical Path Initiative05:31 Identifying Challenges and Building Solutions07:11 Engaging the Community and Assembling Expert Teams09:11 Recruiting Talent: Bringing Experts Back to Jordan11:01 From Scientific Discovery to Entrepreneurial Action12:31 Launching Georgiamune: Taking Control of Innovation22:43 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.
Episode Description:

“The way I have grown up in the field is not only to discover basic science findings, but also to have in mind always… how can we translate this discovery into a potential drug or an approach that could be given to patients.”
In this episode of The Biotech Startups Podcast, Samir Khleif shares his inspiring journey from a formative fellowship at the National Cancer Institute—where he mastered bridging basic science and clinical care—to being handpicked to build the pioneering King Hussein Cancer Center in Jordan. 
Dr. Khleif’s story reveals how NCI’s culture of translating research into real-world impact shaped his vision for translational medicine and propelled him to bring world-class cancer care to new frontiers, overcoming formidable challenges along the way.
Key topics covered:

• Bridging Basic and Clinical Research: Uniting lab discoveries with real-world care
• The Call to Translational Medicine: Turning science into patient impact
• Early Leadership: Rising from fellow to faculty and learning to lead
• Innovation in Cancer Vaccines: Pioneering a new era in immunotherapy
• Building a Cancer Center Abroad: Launching Jordan’s King Hussein Cancer Center

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, Samir Khleif, at these links: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/samir-khleif-4280b29/Website: http://www.georgiamune.com/ Find our host, Jon Chee, at these links: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jonchee
Learn more about Excedr:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/excedr/ Website: https://www.excedr.com
Intro & Outro Songs Created by OkKyojin, Owned by Excedr:Website: https://flow.page/kyojin 
Resources & Articles:Strategies for Cancer Vaccine Development: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC2914453/Therapeutic Cancer Vaccines: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38086815/Recent Advances in the Development and Efficacy of Anti-Cancer Vaccines: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40266115/Cancer Vaccines: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11717780/Unlocking Cancer Vaccine Potential: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38564321/Translational Research Program: https://dctd.cancer.gov/programs/trpKing Hussein Cancer Foundation and Center: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/King_Hussein_Cancer_Foundation_and_CenterCase Study: Jordan’s King Hussein Cancer Center: https://globalizationandhealth.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/1744-8603-3-11NCATS: http://ncats.nih.gov/
Companies, Universities, & People mentioned:Georgiamune: https://www.georgiamune.com/NCI: https://www.cancer.gov/King Hussein Cancer Center: https://www.khcc.jo/en
Dr. Asem Mansour: https://www.linkedin.com/in/asem-mansour-md-5b0a1155/?originalSubdomain=jo
Timestamps:00:00 Intro01:38 Journey to the National Cancer Institute (NCI)01:46 Early Days at NCI: Breaking Down Research Silos05:44 Bridging Basic and Clinical Research at NIH06:02 Forming a Translational Medicine Mindset08:35 Transition from Fellowship to Faculty at NCI09:11 The Origins of the King Hussein Cancer Center10:41 The Invitation to Build a Cancer Center in Jordan13:31 Challenges and Vision for Translational Cancer Care Abroad19:01 Reflecting on Mentorship and Collaborative Leadership22:46 Lessons in Innovation and Cancer Vaccine Development27:12 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.

"Education was the highest value in our family. It was not even a question—it was the core."
In this episode of The Biotech Startups Podcast, Samir Khleif—Founder and CEO of Georgiamune—shares how his upbringing as a Middle Eastern refugee, in a family where education was everything, laid the foundation for his pioneering work in oncology and immunotherapy. 
Khleif recounts how formative experiences with his physicist father and the Boy Scouts instilled discipline, fairness, and a sense of adventure, shaping his leadership approach and fueling his journey from humble beginnings and early entry into medical school to spearheading innovative treatments that reprogram immune responses against cancer and autoimmune disease.
Key topics covered:

• Education as Liberation: Early inspiration from family values and education fueling lifelong ambition
• From Refuge to Purpose: Refugee experiences and a love for science transformed adversity into impact
• Leadership Through Action: Building leadership muscles for biotech by starting organizations from scratch
• Character Under Pressure: Childhood adversity and scouting forged core values of logic, discipline, and fairness
• The Healer's Evolution: A journey from clinical oncology to biotech pioneer and global health leadership

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, Samir Khleif, at these links: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/samir-khleif-4280b29/Website: http://www.georgiamune.com/ Find our host, Jon Chee, at these links: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jonchee
Learn more about Excedr:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/excedr/ Website: https://www.excedr.com
Intro & Outro Songs Created by OkKyojin, Owned by Excedr:Website: https://flow.page/kyojin 
Resources & Articles:Skeel's Handbook of Cancer Therapy: https://books.google.com/books/about/Skeel_s_Handbook_of_Cancer_Therapy.html?id=3ZjlsgEACAAJ(WHO) Global Cancer Statistics Report 2024: https://www.who.int/news/item/01-02-2024-global-cancer-burden-growing--amidst-mounting-need-for-servicesEntrepreneur Middle East article: https://www.entrepreneur.com/en-ae/leadership/healing-horizons-georgiamune-founder-dr-samir-khleif-aims/485491
Companies, Universities, & People mentioned:Boy Scouts: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boy_Scouts_of_America Georgiamune: https://www.georgiamune.com/National Cancer Institute: https://www.cancer.gov/Georgia Cancer Center: https://www.augusta.edu/cancer/Parker Institute for Cancer Immunotherapy: https://www.parkerici.org/Arab Global Scholars Program: https://www.qf.org.qa/arab-global-scholars
Timestamps:00:00 Intro04:18 Welcome and Introduction of Guest04:25 Early Family Life & Formative Influences07:43 Parental and Boy Scouts’ Impact on Character08:23 Lessons in Work Ethic and Fairness10:56 Growing Up as a Refugee: Perspective & Values13:45 Early Entry into Medical School16:09 Founding Student Organizations18:51 Transition from Clinical Practice to Leadership Roles25:21 Exploring Immunology and Cancer Research29:46 Founding Georgiamune: Motivation and Vision33:40 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.
“This isn't just one gene edit—this is multiple edits, working in concert. It’s a fundamentally different chassis.”
In this episode of The Biotech Startups Podcast, Aaron Edwards, co-founder of KiraGen Bio, shares how a Harvard Business School class project ignited the launch of a pioneering biotech taking on solid tumors with a bold, unconventional CAR T-cell therapy. 
He unpacks the real-world challenges of building KiraGen—navigating fundraising, assembling a strong team, and leveraging mentorship, partnerships, and machine learning—while highlighting how focus, discipline, and authentic leadership can set a startup apart, even when it means breaking from industry norms.
Key topics covered:

• The Origin of KiraGen: Born from an HBS pitch deck, KiraGen set out to tackle immune suppression in solid tumors.
• Contrarian CAR T-Cell Design: Bold multi-edit strategy to outsmart tumor microenvironments and hit glioblastoma.
• Focus and Discipline: Lean operations, every dollar counts, eyes on clinical milestones.
• Creative Fundraising and Partnerships: Unconventional funding, academic alliances, and patient-driven capital.
• Authenticity and Team Building: Realness, inclusivity, and mentorship at the core—paying it forward in biotech.

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, Aaron Edwards, at these links: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/aedwards02/ Website: https://www.kiragenbio.com/  Find our host, Jon Chee, at these links: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jonchee
Learn more about Excedr:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/excedr/ Website: https://www.excedr.com
Intro & Outro Songs Created by OkKyojin, Owned by Excedr:Website: https://flow.page/kyojin 
Resources & Articles:Base Editing & CRISPR 2.0: https://beamtx.com/science/base-editing/CAR T-Cell Therapy: https://investor.bluebirdbio.com/news-releases/news-release-details/bluebird-bio-announces-amended-bcma-car-t-collaborationActivator Program: https://nucleate.org/activator/Biotech Studio Program: https://www.2048.vc/blog/bio-studioThe Founder Mindset: https://www.hbs.edu/coursecatalog/1676.htmlTFS Programs: https://www.thermofisher.com/jp/ja/home/products-and-services/services/crdmo.html
Companies, Universities, & People mentioned:Bluebird Bio: https://www.bluebirdbio.com/Beam Therapeutics: https://www.beamtx.com/2048 Ventures: https://www.2048.vc/Nucleate: https://nucleate.xyz/Thermo Fisher Scientific: https://www.thermofisher.com/
George Church: https://www.linkedin.com/in/george-church-2b86301/David R. Liu: https://www.linkedin.com/in/david-r-liu-465394185/Reza Satchu: https://www.linkedin.com/in/reza-satchu/Terry-Ann Burrell: https://www.linkedin.com/in/terry-ann-burrell-10477424/Jen Nwankwo: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jenasherphd/
Timestamps:00:00 Intro01:39 The Origin Story of KiraGen07:15 From Bluebird to Beam: Learning Cell Therapy15:51 Finding Product-Market Fit in Glioblastoma20:59 The Importance of Focus and Discipline24:20 Early Company Building and Lab Setup28:16 Building the Team and Hiring Strategy38:27 Creative Fundraising and Partnership Strategies45:06 Two-Year Vision: IND Filing and Clinical Data51:22 Shoutouts to Mentors and Supporters55:50 Advice to 21-Year-Old Self: Authenticity as a Superpower01:00:09 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.
“This isn't just one gene edit—this is multiple edits, working in concert. It’s a fundamentally different chassis.”
In part three of The Biotech Startups Podcast, host Jon Chee and Aaron Edwards dive into the realities of biotech entrepreneurship, spotlighting the power of non-traditional career paths, self-awareness, and creative knowledge sharing. They unpack how embracing new tools, fostering open debate, and democratizing information through platforms like Notion, ELNs, and social media can drive both personal growth and startup success. 
The conversation highlights the importance of capital efficiency, authentic community engagement, and building a culture where diverse perspectives fuel innovation in today’s fast-evolving life sciences landscape.
Key topics covered:

• Non-Traditional Paths to Leadership: Diverse backgrounds spark fresh biotech innovation.
• Institutionalizing Knowledge: Notion, ELNs, and Loom keep team wisdom accessible.
• Capital Efficiency & Execution: Build lean, use what works, skip reinvention.
• Democratization of Information: Open platforms put insights within everyone’s reach.
• Authenticity & Community: Self-awareness and real talk drive growth and connection.

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, Aaron Edwards, at these links: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/aedwards02/ Website: https://www.kiragenbio.com/  Find our host, Jon Chee, at these links: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jonchee
Learn more about Excedr:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/excedr/ Website: https://www.excedr.com
Intro & Outro Songs Created by OkKyojin, Owned by Excedr:Website: https://flow.page/kyojin 
Resources & Articles:Notion: https://www.notion.com/ELN: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electronic_lab_notebookLoom: https://www.loom.com/Pillar VC Startup Guide: https://www.pillar.vc/playlist/topics/getting-started/PLOS One: https://journals.plos.org/plosone/s/journal-information
Companies, Universities, & People mentioned:Kiragen Bio: https://www.kiragenbio.com/Benchling: https://www.benchling.com/Nucleate: https://nucleate.org/
Ryan Murray: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryan-murray-phd-7b488142/Sajith Wickramasekara: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sajithw/
Timestamps:00:00 Intro01:19 Non-Traditional Paths to Leadership: Aaron’s Journey02:31 The Value of Diverse Experiences in Biotech03:48 Creativity and First Principles Thinking05:53 Leadership, Self-Awareness, and Therapy08:09 Building a Safe Space for Debate and Growth12:37 Institutionalizing Knowledge: Tools and Practices14:05 Notion, ELNs, and Modern Documentation16:04 Democratization of Information and Community23:15 Capital Efficiency and Execution in Startups26:27 Authenticity, Community, and Digital Engagement38:07 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 might not have developed it. You might not know where that is. But you're finding what that North Star is."
In this episode of The Biotech Startups Podcast, Aaron Edwards shares how a bold cold email launched him from Kentucky to a cutting-edge mRNA vaccine lab in Boston, setting the stage for a dynamic biotech career. 
He explores the culture shock of city life, how curiosity fueled his leadership, and the key lessons learned navigating academia, big pharma, and nimble startups—ultimately revealing how market cycles, organizational models, and operational discipline drive innovation and resilience in biotech.
Key topics covered:

• The Power of Curiosity: Asking bold questions and staying curious drives growth and leadership.
• Academia vs. Industry: Adapting to the culture shock and pace of labs, pharma, and startups.
• Organizational Models: Big company structure vs. startup agility—what works, what doesn’t.
• Market Cycles & Resilience: Surviving booms and busts by staying lean and creative.
• Finding Your North Star: Embracing uncertainty to carve your own path in biotech.

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, Aaron Edwards, at these links: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/aedwards02/ Website: https://www.kiragenbio.com/  Find our host, Jon Chee, at these links: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jonchee
Learn more about Excedr:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/excedr/ Website: https://www.excedr.com
Intro & Outro Songs Created by OkKyojin, Owned by Excedr:Website: https://flow.page/kyojin 
Resources & Articles:DARPA and mRNA Vaccine Research: https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=4495566HBS Case Studies: https://hbsp.harvard.edu/cases/Novartis Vaccines and GSK Acquisition: https://www.gsk.com/en-gb/media/press-releases/gsk-completes-major-three-part-transaction-with-novartis/Moderna and mRNA Platform Companies: https://www.modernatx.com/power-of-mrna/modernas-mrna-platformEli Lilly’s Subsidiary Model: https://www.lilly.com/subsidiariesBeyond the Square Podcast: https://open.spotify.com/episode/2qUtBY69I5JkcePLLE7ZhS?si=763530aa44b74be2&nd=1&dlsi=8f4794eea21940a9
Companies, Universities, & People mentioned:Bluebird Bio https://www.bluebirdbio.com/ Beam Therapeutics https://beamtx.com/ Verve Therapeutics: https://www.vervetx.com/Novartis: https://www.novartis.comGSK: https://www.gsk.comModerna: https://www.modernatx.comEli Lilly: https://www.lilly.comGalit Alter: https://www.linkedin.com/in/galit-alter-398184252/Todd Suscovich: https://www.linkedin.com/in/todd-suscovich-65ba213/Neela Patel: https://www.linkedin.com/in/neela-patel-84b144/Jacob Glanville: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jacobglanville/
Timestamps:00:00 Intro02:36 Culture Shock: Moving from Kentucky to Boston05:40 Landing in an mRNA Vaccine Lab via Cold Email07:36 The Power of Passion and Finding Your “North Star”10:57 Lessons from Academia: Knowing What Doesn’t Fit14:44 Curiosity and the Disconnect Between Science and Business19:30 First Industry Role at Novartis Vaccines23:52 Big Pharma vs. Startups: Pros, Cons, and Organizational Models24:33 Subsidiaries, Integration, and the Eli Lilly Example27:43 Bluebird Bio and Beam Therapeutics: Platform vs. Focus29:32 Surviving Market Cycles and Building ResilienceThe 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.