The Biotech Startups Podcast

Part 2 of 3.

My guest for this week’s episode is Mike Stadnisky, Managing Director of Thielsen Capital. Thielsen Capital is a seed-stage financing syndicate network bringing together life science investors, operators, and innovators to drive exceptional outcomes for founding teams, investors, and science. Before Thielsen, Mike was the CEO of Phitonex, which Thermo Fisher acquired. He was also VP & GM of Informatics at BD Life Sciences and was the CEO of FlowJo before its acquisition by BD. He has also taught at MIT Sloan, authored 10 patents, and won the 2019 International Society for the Advancement of Cytometry Innovation Award.

Join us as we sit down with Mike Stadnisky as he discusses his transition from academia to business and how he learned about business development. He also discusses the importance of your peer group, and how thoroughly you should do your research before meeting potential business partners. Lastly, Mike discusses the complexity of finding decision makers, and the importance of differentiating between decision makers and champions in business partnerships. Please enjoy my conversation with Mike Stadnisky.

Find Our Guest, Mike Stadnisky, at these links:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/mikestadnisky/
https://www.thielsencapital.com/

Find Our Host, Jon Chee, at these links:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/jonchee
https://www.excedr.com

Timestamps:
00:28 Intro
01:10 Transitioning from academia to FlowJo and the importance of networking
03:25 The usefulness of informational interviews, being pushy and following up
06:04 Interviewing with FlowJo, checking out Ashland, and meeting the team
08:43 How a significant others can provide the support and advice entrepreneurs need
10:40 Business partners, first-hires, mentors, and investors who create value will help you succeed
11:30 The importance of your peer group and who you surround yourself with
13:21 Joining FlowJo and wearing many hats on a small team
16:05 Defining business development and Mike’s advice for grad students interested in BD
22:04 Do your homework before you meet with potential business partners
25:05 The complexity of finding a decision-maker and the differences between technical champions
29:17 Bringing decision-makers and technical champions together
31:10 Mike’s additions to the recipe for successful business development
33:13 Outro

Social & Website
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/excedr/
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@excedr
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/excedr_inc
Twitter: https://twitter.com/ExcedrInc
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/excedr
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@excedr
Podcast Website: https://www.thebiotechstartupspodcast.com/

Enriched Notes:

Topics Mentioned:
What Is Patent Licensing & How Does It Work? https://www.excedr.com/resources/how-patent-licensing-works/
How Do Core Labs Support Life Science Research? https://www.excedr.com/blog/core-labs/
Multi-Omics https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Multiomics
Ultrarunning https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ultramarathon
Top Cities for Biotech https://www.excedr.com/blog/top-cities-for-biotech/
What Should Investors & Founders Expect From Each Other? https://www.excedr.com/resources/investor-founder-expectations/
Biotech Partnerships: Partnering with Big Pharma To Support R&D https://www.excedr.com/blog/how-biotech-partnerships-support-research/
Business Development https://www.investopedia.com/articles/personal-finance/090815/basics-business-development.asp
Go-to-Market Strategy https://www.cognism.com/blog/what-is-a-go-to-market-strategy
Decision-Makers vs. Technical Champions https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/champion-vs-decision-maker-whom-target-b2b-customer-frederik-vosberg/
Term sheets https://www.investopedia.com/terms/t/termsheet.asp
VC Term Sheets: What They Include & Why They Matter https://www.excedr.com/resources/venture-capital-term-sheets/ The 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.

Part 1 of 3. 

My guest for this week’s episode is Mike Stadnisky, Managing Director of Thielsen Capital. Thielsen Capital is a seed-stage financing syndicate network bringing together life science investors, operators, and innovators to drive exceptional outcomes for founding teams, investors, and science. Before Thielsen, Mike was the CEO of Phitonex, which Thermo Fisher acquired. He was also VP & GM of Informatics at BD Life Sciences and was the CEO of FlowJo before its acquisition by BD. He has also taught at MIT Sloan, authored 10 patents, and won the 2019 International Society for the Advancement of Cytometry Innovation Award.
Join us as we sit down with Mike Stadnisky as he discusses his early exposure to leadership in business and the obsession that drew him to science. How he acquired critical and transformative skills as a student brand manager at Red Bull, his experience in Michael Brown’s lab at UVA, and his thoughts on the importance of lab culture and team dynamics in research environments. Please enjoy my conversation with Mike Stadnisky.

Find Our Guest, Mike Stadnisky, at these links: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mikestadnisky/https://www.thielsencapital.com/
Find Our Host, Jon Chee, at these links: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joncheehttps://www.excedr.com

Timestamps:00:28 Intro02:03 Episode starts, Mike’s upbringing and early exposure to private enterprises and leadership skills07:46 How Mike’s early exposure to science sparked his obsession with it over business10:10 Mike attending Clemson for Biochem and his lab experience as an undergraduate15:14 Mike’s transformative experience working with Red Bull, learning the ability to interact with passionate people25:28 Mike’s realization that his time at Red Bull was ending and how he knew it was time to go back to the lab to finish his PhD31:07 Grad school at UVA and experiences in Michael Brown’s lab39:09 Mike’s decision to not go down the academic path42:28 Mike's advice on how to be successful in graduate school49:52 Outro
Social & WebsiteLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/excedr/ Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@excedr Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/excedr_inc Twitter: https://twitter.com/ExcedrInc Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/excedr TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@excedr Podcast Website: https://www.thebiotechstartupspodcast.com/ 

Enriched Notes:

Topics Mentioned:What Type of Equipment Is Used in Chemistry Research? https://www.excedr.com/blog/what-type-of-equipment-is-used-in-chemistry-researchLab Equipment https://www.excedr.com/category/lab-equipment?662a3058_page=2What Is Molecular Biology? https://www.excedr.com/blog/what-is-molecular-biologyLab Equipment List for Synthetic Biology Research https://www.excedr.com/blog/lab-equipment-list-for-synthetic-biology-researchBiology Lab Equipment List To Open Your New Lab in 2024 https://www.excedr.com/blog/biology-lab-equipment-listScience https://www.excedr.com/category/scienceWhat Is Flow Cytometry & How Do Flow Cytometers Work? https://www.excedr.com/blog/what-is-flow-cytometry-how-do-flow-cytometers-workHow Flow Cytometers Work & How We Save You Time & Money https://www.excedr.com/biotech-life-sciences/flow-cytometer17 Incubators for US-Based Biotech Startups in 2024 https://www.excedr.com/resources/biotech-incubatorsBiotech Startup Support https://www.excedr.com/resources-category/biotech-startup-supportA Guide to Grant Funding for Biotech Startups https://www.excedr.com/resources/grants-public-funding-biotech-startups
People Mentioned:Michael Brown https://www.linkedin.com/in/michael-brown-68843a10/The 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.

Part 3 of 3. 

My guest for this week’s episode is Martin Brenner, CEO and CSO of iBio. iBio uses its AI drug discovery platform to tackle complex and challenging drug targets to develop safer and more effective immunotherapies for difficult-to-treat cancers. Rather than leaving drug discovery to chance, iBio guides the process using artificial intelligence, making therapeutic development smarter, faster, and more precise. 
Martin is a seasoned executive and drug hunter with a unique journey spanning electrical engineering to veterinary medicine to scientific leadership roles. He has led drug discovery teams at several top global pharma companies, including Eli Lilly, Pfizer, AstraZeneca, and Merck. Prior to his current role at iBio, Martin was VP and head of R&D at Stoke Therapeutics, CSO at Recursion, and CSO at Phoenix, which was eventually acquired by Ligon Pharmaceuticals. 
In part 3 of our conversation with Martin, we chat about his journey from working at large pharmaceutical companies to joining biotech startups. He discusses the importance of mental flexibility, adaptability, and resilience in the biotech industry and reflects on his experiences at Stoke Therapeutics, Recursion, and Pfenex Inc., highlighting the challenges and triumphs of building innovative biotech solutions. He also talks about the significance and importance of strong team dynamics, runway management, and the need to challenge long-held beliefs in the ever-evolving biotech landscape. Please enjoy my conversation with Martin Brenner.

Find Our Guest, Martin Brenner, at these links: https://www.linkedin.com/in/martinbrenner/https://ibioinc.com/
Find Our Host, Jon Chee, at these links: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joncheehttps://www.excedr.com

Timestamps:00:00:29 Intro00:01:13 Transitioning from Big Pharma to the startup world; startup needs00:02:43 Joining the team at Stoke Therapeutics00:03:35 Resilience & adaptability playing a key role in startups00:04:34 Martin’s time working with Art Levin00:07:10 Asking for help & leveraging AppleTree’s family of companies00:10:45 Transitioning from Stoke Therapeutics to Recursion00:12:17 The challenges at Recursion & starting fresh00:13:33 Building a line-of-sight program00:15:52 The challenge of questioning established processes00:16:48 The idea & pitch behind Enveda Biosciences00:18:55 The differences & similarities between entrepreneurs00:20:16 Reflecting on processes & continuously learning00:24:04 Martins’ move from Recursion to Pfenex Inc. & building the team00:28:40 The importance of understanding personnel00:30:17 Martin’s team at Pfenex & the Merger with Ligand00:31:54 Going through the ups & downs of the M&A process00:33:47 Post-acquisition integration & cultural resonance00:35:05 Martin’s opportunity at iBio00:37:17 The challenges at iBio & their strategy shift00:41:17 iBio’s current technology & development of antibodies00:51:46 iBio’s new direction & search for strategic partnerships00:59:57 Martin’s experience running a publicly traded company01:03:35 The importance of development & succession plans01:05:56 Martin’s experience as CEO & learning how to speak finance01:09:46 Hitting major milestones on iBio’s horizon01:14:24 Martin thanks those who have supported him01:17:02 The things Martin would tell his younger self: get into biotech sooner01:19:02 Outro
Social & WebsiteLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/excedr/ Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@excedr Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/excedr_inc Twitter: https://twitter.com/ExcedrInc Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/excedr TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@excedr Podcast Website: https://www.thebiotechstartupspodcast.com/ 

Enriched Notes:
Topics Mentioned:SCN1A on Dravet syndrome: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8739186/In Vitro screening: https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/chemistry/in-vitro-screeningUnderstanding IND applications: https://www.excedr.com/blog/ind-application-processBiotech Funding Options: https://www.excedr.com/resources/biotech-startup-funding-optionsUnderstanding Debt & Equity Options for Your Funding: https://www.excedr.com/resources/debt-equity-options-funding-startupGuide to CMOs & CDMOs: https://www.excedr.com/blog/contract-manufacturing-organizationsGuide to Cash Runway: https://www.excedr.com/blog/what-is-cash-runwayMonoclonal Antibodies: https://www.excedr.com/blog/monoclonal-antibody-research-and-productionPrimary Antibody Overview: https://www.excedr.com/resources/primary-antibodySecondary Antibody Overview: https://www.excedr.com/resources/secondary-antibodyAntibody Drug Conjugates: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41392-022-00947-7Phage Display Overview: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3656071/Licensing in Biotech: https://www.excedr.com/blog/life-sciences-licensing-agreements-guide
People Mentioned:Isabel Aznares: https://www.linkedin.com/in/isabel-aznarez-aaa21417/Art Levin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/art-levin-5889034/Paul DaSilva-Jardine: https://www.linkedin.com/in/paul-dasilva-jardine-9a791b65/Viswa Colluru: https://www.linkedin.com/in/viswacolluru/Eef Schimmelpennink: https://www.linkedin.com/in/eef-schimmelpennink-03b4a45/Shawn Scranton: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shawn-scranton-pharmd-15046ab3/Diane Retallack: https://www.linkedin.com/in/diane-retallack-b311392/Jeff Allen: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeff-allen-8128585/Matt Foehr: https://www.linkedin.com/in/matt-foehr-3a47312/Rob Lutz: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rob-lutz-bb587414/Lisa Middlebrook: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lisamiddleb/Matt Greving: https://www.linkedin.com/in/matthewgreving/Saswata Talukdar: https://www.linkedin.com/in/saswata-talukdar-3b20942a/The 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.

As a podcast listener, you can redeem exclusive discounts with a growing list of biotech vendors and get $500 off your first equipment lease by using promo code “TBSP” on https://www.excedr.com/rewards.

Part 2 of 3.

My guest for this week’s episode is Martin Brenner, CEO and CSO of iBio. iBio uses its AI drug discovery platform to tackle complex and challenging drug targets to develop safer and more effective immunotherapies for difficult-to-treat cancers. Rather than leaving drug discovery to chance, iBio guides the process using artificial intelligence, making therapeutic development smarter, faster, and more precise. Martin is a seasoned executive and drug hunter with a unique journey spanning electrical engineering to veterinary medicine to scientific leadership roles. He has led drug discovery teams at several top global pharma companies, including Eli Lilly, Pfizer, AstraZeneca, and Merck. Prior to his current role at iBio, Martin was VP and head of R&D at Stoke Therapeutics, CSO at Recursion, and CSO at Pfenex, which was eventually acquired by Ligand Pharmaceuticals. Over the next three episodes, we cover a wide range of topics, including Martin's upbringing in Germany, his decision to pursue a DVM and a PhD in pharmacology, and his deep expertise with cardiovascular and metabolic diseases and diabetic complications. Martin will also discuss his experience leading a modified mRNA therapeutics collaboration with Moderna.

Join us as we sit down with Martin Brenner as he talks about his transition from Eli Lilly to Boston where he rebuilt part of Pfizer, his move back overseas to Sweden with AstraZeneca, and his fascination with Moderna’s speedy biotech approach to pharmaceuticals. Martin discusses his vision of building a biotech within a large pharmaceutical company at Merck and how he ultimately decided to leave big pharma. Please enjoy my conversation with Martin Brenner.

Find Our Guest, Martin Brenner, at these links:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/martinbrenner/
https://ibioinc.com/

Find Our Host, Jon Chee, at these links:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/jonchee
https://www.excedr.com

Timestamps:
00:28 Intro
01:27 Episode starts, opportunities at Eli Lilly shrinking, Martin relocating to the US, the decision to rebuild in Massachusetts with Pfizer
08:11 The difference between Pfizer and Eli Lilly’s approaches
12:08 The process of rebuilding at Pfizer
16:09 Martin’s transition to AstraZeneca, a misalignment for big pharma employees
18:28 Martin's move to Sweden and his opportunity at AstraZeneca
22:28 The fascination with Moderna’s ability to develop, the personal decision to transition from AstraZeneca, moving back to the US
25:36 How the opportunity at Merck started, another move from New Jersey back to Boston, ultimately getting out of big pharma and going into industry
32:11 Changing the company environment and culture for the better, how to allow scientists freedom while staying on course
35:48 Outro

Social & Website
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/excedr/
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@excedr
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/excedr_inc
Twitter: https://twitter.com/ExcedrInc
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/excedr
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@excedr
Podcast Website: https://www.thebiotechstartupspodcast.com/

Enriched Notes:

Topics Mentioned:
Biotech Startup Support https://www.excedr.com/resources-category/biotech-startup-support
Biotechnology Lab Essentials https://www.excedr.com/blog/biotechnology-lab-essentials
How to Fund an R&D Startup https://www.excedr.com/resources/rd-startup-funding-first-steps
How Partnering with Big Pharma Can Support R&D https://www.excedr.com/blog/how-biotech-partnerships-support-research
What Is Guide RNA (gRNA)? https://www.excedr.com/resources/grna
What Is DNA Extraction? https://www.excedr.com/blog/what-is-dna-extraction
A Guide to Grant Funding for Biotech Startups https://www.excedr.com/resources/grants-public-funding-biotech-startups
Understanding the IND Application Process https://www.excedr.com/blog/ind-application-process

People Mentioned:
Saswata Talukdar https://www.linkedin.com/in/saswata-talukdar-3b20942a/
Marcus Schindler https://www.linkedin.com/in/marcus-schindler-a9b843a/
Carina Ämmälä https://www.linkedin.com/in/ceammala/
Stéphane Bancel https://www.linkedin.com/in/st%C3%A9phane-bancel-8185251/
Ying Zhang https://www.linkedin.com/in/ying-zhang-22b7988/
Roger M. Perlmutter https://www.linkedin.com/in/roger-m-perlmutter-73033920a/The 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.

As a podcast listener, you can redeem exclusive discounts with a growing list of biotech vendors and get $500 off your first equipment lease by using promo code “TBSP” on https://www.excedr.com/rewards.

Part 1 of 3.

My guest for this week’s episode is Martin Brenner, CEO and CSO of iBio. iBio uses its AI drug discovery platform to tackle complex and challenging drug targets to develop safer and more effective immunotherapies for difficult-to-treat cancers. Rather than leaving drug discovery to chance, iBio guides the process using artificial intelligence, making therapeutic development smarter, faster, and more precise. Martin is a seasoned executive and drug hunter with a unique journey spanning electrical engineering to veterinary medicine to scientific leadership roles. He has led drug discovery teams at several top global pharma companies, including Eli Lilly, Pfizer, AstraZeneca, and Merck. Prior to his current role at iBio, Martin was VP and head of R&D at Stoke Therapeutics, CSO at Recursion, and CSO at Pfenex, which was eventually acquired by Ligand Pharmaceuticals.

Join us as we sit down with Martin Brenner as he discusses his early years and upbringing in Germany, his transition from electrical engineering at Ulm University to veterinarian medicine at LMU Munich, and the practical experience he gained from working in veterinary clinics. Martin discusses the discovery of his passion for pharmacology, the pursuit of his Ph.D. at Hanover, and his exciting time and professional development at Eli Lilly. Please enjoy my conversation with Martin Brenner.

Find Our Guest, Martin Brenner, at these links:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/martinbrenner/
https://ibioinc.com/

Find Our Host, Jon Chee, at these links:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/jonchee
https://www.excedr.com

Timestamps:
00:28 Intro
02:14 Episode starts, Martin’s upbringing in Germany and how it influenced his leadership style and business philosophy
06:23 Going to Ulm University for electrical engineering, then pivoting towards veterinarian medicine
10:34 Experiences while in veterinary school at LMU Munich
14:43 The difficulties of veterinarian school, his experiences with vet clinic work, Martin’s light-bulb inspiration about wanting to make medicine
18:58 Jumping right into his Ph.D. at Hanover, his decision to pursue pharmacology and a job opportunity with Eli Lilly
20:55 Jumping into practical work at Eli Lilly while still finishing coursework at Hanover
23:53 Deciding to stay with Eli Lilly instead of going toward academia
26:01 The comparative unusualness of a grad student finding mentors and resources easily
29:02 His evolution in professional development managing 20 people, how to be a great VP/CEO
34:32 Outro
Long-Form Video Timestamps:
00:00 Intro
01:46 Episode starts, Martin’s upbringing in Germany and how it influenced his leadership style and business philosophy
07:25 Going to Ulm University for electrical engineering, then pivoting towards veterinarian medicine
13:50 Experiences while in veterinary school at LMU Munich
18:47 The difficulties of veterinarian school, his experiences with vet clinic work, Martin’s light-bulb inspiration about wanting to make medicine
23:11 Jumping right into his Ph.D. at Hanover, his decision to pursue pharmacology and a job opportunity with Eli Lilly
25:34 Jumping into practical work at Eli Lilly while still finishing coursework at Hanover
29:11 Deciding to stay with Eli Lilly instead of going toward academia
31:42 The comparative unusualness of a grad student finding mentors and resources easily
35:16 His evolution in professional development managing 20 people, how to be a great VP/CEO
40:31 Outro

Social & Website
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/excedr/
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@excedr
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/excedr_inc
Twitter: https://twitter.com/ExcedrInc
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/excedr
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@excedr
Podcast Website: https://www.thebiotechstartupspodcast.com/
 
Enriched Notes:

Topics Mentioned:
LMU Munich https://www.lmu.de/en/
Biotech Startup Support https://www.excedr.com/resources-category/biotech-startup-support
Biotechnology Lab Essentials https://www.excedr.com/blog/biotechnology-lab-essentials
How to Fund an R&D Startup https://www.excedr.com/resources/rd-startup-funding-first-steps
How Partnering with Big Pharma Can Support R&D https://www.excedr.com/blog/how-biotech-partnerships-support-research
Understanding Tissue Culture https://www.excedr.com/blog/tissue-culture
Top Cities for Biotech https://www.excedr.com/blog/top-cities-for-biotech
Guide to the FDA Drug Approval Process https://www.excedr.com/blog/fda-drug-approval-process-guide
Understanding the NDA Process https://www.excedr.com/blog/new-drug-application-process
Understanding the Abbreviated New Drug Application https://www.excedr.com/blog/what-is-abbreviated-new-drug-application
Lab Equipment Leasing https://www.excedr.com/leasing

People Mentioned:
Rohit Kulkarni https://www.linkedin.com/in/rohit-kulkarni-5a0a4b24/
Mike Coghlan https://www.linkedin.com/in/mike-coghlan-1a64a146/The 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.

As a podcast listener, you can redeem exclusive discounts with a growing list of biotech vendors and get $500 off your first equipment lease by using promo code “TBSP” on https://www.excedr.com/rewards.

Part 3 of 3.

My guest for this week’s episode is Jeff Kim, co-founder and CEO of Slingshot Biosciences. Slingshot designs and manufactures synthetic cells for R&D, clinical diagnostics, and engineered cell therapies, aiming to overcome supply chain and cost barriers that restrict access to advanced diagnostics and therapeutics. Jeff is a serial entrepreneur, having co-founded and run multiple successful companies, including Radiant Genomics, which was eventually acquired by Zymergen, and Pattern Ag, a company mapping soil microbes to help farmers grow their bottom line. Before Radiant, Jeff was a scientist at the Lawrence Berkeley National Lab and was the project lead for jet fuel development at Amyris Biotechnologies.

Join us as we sit down with Jeff as he discusses how he assembled his team at Slingshot in the early days, what it was like raising venture capital during the peak of COVID-19, and how as a team, they came up with their company culture and found their North Star. Jeff talks about his experiences working with distributors as part of their global expansion, and how the idea of picking distributors relies on forming a solid partnership. Lastly, Jeff discusses the exciting future in store for Slingshot and gives us a sneak peek into the growth of the business. Please enjoy my conversation with Jeff Kim.

Find Our Guest, Jeff Kim, at these links:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/kimjeff/
https://slingshotbio.com/

Find Our Host, Jon Chee, at these links:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/jonchee
https://www.excedr.com

Timestamps:
00:28 Intro
01:20 How the team at Slingshot came to be, early days and the state of the market - how Slingshot bucked the status quo
06:19 Raising venture capital and fundraising during peak COVID
08:11 Slingshot’s company culture, finding/maintaining great talent
13:26 Expanding globally and this expansion coinciding with peak COVID
15:53 Picking distributors and cultivating partnerships, biggest challenges and triumphs of Slingshot
21:37 A sneak peek of the future of Slingshot
23:52 Shoutouts to supporters across his journey
27:29 Outro
Long-Form Video Timestamps:
00:00 Intro
00:52 How the team at Slingshot came to be, early days and the state of the market - how Slingshot bucked the status quo
06:35 Raising venture capital and fundraising during peak COVID
09:13 Slingshot’s company culture, finding/maintaining great talent
15:28 Expanding globally and this expansion coinciding with peak COVID
18:14 Picking distributors and cultivating partnerships, biggest challenges and triumphs of Slingshot
24:47 A sneak peek of the future of Slingshot
27:28 Shoutouts to supporters across his journey
31:38 Outro

Social & Website
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/excedr/
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@excedr
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/excedr_inc
Twitter: https://twitter.com/ExcedrInc
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/excedr
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@excedr
Podcast Website: https://www.thebiotechstartupspodcast.com/

Enriched Notes:

Topics Mentioned:
How to Start a Lab in 2024 https://www.excedr.com/blog/how-to-start-a-lab
Biotech Startup Support https://www.excedr.com/resources-category/biotech-startup-support
Guide to Reducing Startup Costs & Expenses https://www.excedr.com/blog/startup-costs-and-expenses
What Should Investors & Founders Expect From Each Other? https://www.excedr.com/resources/investor-founder-expectations
First Steps a Founder Can Take https://www.excedr.com/resources/rd-startup-funding-first-steps
Funding https://www.excedr.com/category/funding
Series Funding Explained https://www.excedr.com/resources/series-funding-explained
How to Bootstrap Your Biotech Startup & Scale https://www.excedr.com/resources/how-to-bootstrap-biotech-startup
VC Firms for Biotech in 2024 https://www.excedr.com/blog/top-vc-firms-for-biotech
Need a Co-founder? https://www.excedr.com/resources/do-you-need-a-co-founder-for-your-startup
How to Spin Out of Academia & Into a Startup in 2024 https://www.excedr.com/resources/how-to-spin-out-of-academia-and-into-a-startup
Biotech Funding for Startups https://www.excedr.com/resources/biotech-startup-funding-options
What Is Startup Valuation & Why Is It Important? https://www.excedr.com/resources/startup-valuations
Staffing Your Startup: Hiring Slowly & Intentionally https://www.excedr.com/blog/staffing-your-startup
How VC-Backed Startups Win When They Lease https://www.excedr.com/blog/how-vc-backed-startups-win-when-they-lease
Cost of Capital: Definition, Significance, & Formula https://www.excedr.com/blog/cost-of-capital

People Mentioned:
Brian Shoichet https://www.linkedin.com/in/brian-shoichet-0024061/
Andrej Sali https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrej-sali-113470273/
Tarun Kapoor https://www.rockefeller.edu/our-scientists/heads-of-laboratories/1187-tarun-kapoor/The 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.

As a podcast listener, you can redeem exclusive discounts with a growing list of biotech vendors and get $500 off your first equipment lease by using promo code “TBSP” on https://www.excedr.com/rewards.

Part 2 of 3.

My guest for this week’s episode is Jeff Kim, co-founder and CEO of Slingshot Biosciences. Slingshot designs and manufactures synthetic cells for R&D, clinical diagnostics, and engineered cell therapies, aiming to overcome supply chain and cost barriers that restrict access to advanced diagnostics and therapeutics. Jeff is a serial entrepreneur, having co-founded and run multiple successful companies, including Radiant Genomics, which was eventually acquired by Zymergen, and Pattern Ag, a company mapping soil microbes to help farmers grow their bottom line. Before Radiant, Jeff was a scientist at the Lawrence Berkeley National Lab and was the project lead for jet fuel development at Amyris Biotechnologies.

Join us as we sit down with Jeff as he discusses his transition to the West Coast to work for Amyris and his pivot from academia to industry. Jeff brings up how a personal loss pushed him to start not one, but two startups from his basement, including Radiant Genomics. He speaks to the acquisition discussions he had with Zymergen about merging Radiant Genomics into their portfolio. Jeff also discusses the slow growth and learning curve with his current company, Slingshot Biosciences. Please enjoy my conversation with Jeff Kim.

Find Our Guest, Jeff Kim, at these links:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/kimjeff/
https://slingshotbio.com/

Find Our Host, Jon Chee, at these links:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/jonchee
https://www.excedr.com

Timestamps:
00:28 Intro
01:20 Episode starts, a fascinating opportunity moved Jeff to the West Coast, working as a team toward one goal in industry rather than competing in academia
05:28 Amyris job offer, the opportunity to work autonomously, and meeting his wife while there
06:53 Personal loss pushed him to start two startups, Radiant merging with Zymergen, getting into venture funding
09:51 Slingshot growing slowly out of Jeff’s basement, meeting with the Arch venture fund
12:17 Advising at Lawrence Berkeley, early days and business model of Radiant Genomics
19:28 The reason why Slingshot became a 12-year business instead of a 6-month build and sell
21:51 How an anecdote about going from the basement to the lab helped shape company infrastructure
26:07 First major sale with Zymergen, learning from hard lessons
30:19 Outro
Long-Form Video Timestamps:
00:00 Intro
00:52 Episode starts, a fascinating opportunity moved Jeff to the West Coast, working as a team toward one goal in industry rather than competing in academia
05:34 Amyris job offer, the opportunity to work autonomously, and meeting his wife while there
07:10 Personal loss pushed him to start two startups, Radiant merging with Zymergen, getting into venture funding
10:40 Slingshot growing slowly out of Jeff’s basement, meeting with the Arch venture fund
13:53 Advising at Lawrence Berkeley, early days and business model of Radiant Genomics
22:30 The reason why Slingshot became a 12-year business instead of a 6-month build and sell
26:22 How an anecdote about going from the basement to the lab helped shape company infrastructure
32:10 First major sale with Zymergen, learning from hard lessons
29:51 Outro

Social & Website
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/excedr/
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@excedr
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/excedr_inc
Twitter: https://twitter.com/ExcedrInc
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/excedr
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@excedr
Podcast Website: https://www.thebiotechstartupspodcast.com/

Enriched Notes:

Topics Mentioned:
An Equipment Leasing Program for Scientists & Researchers https://www.excedr.com/leasing
Common Lab Equipment https://www.excedr.com/blog/common-lab-equipment
Types of Equipment Leases https://www.excedr.com/blog/types-of-equipment-leases
Purchasing Used Lab Equipment https://www.excedr.com/blog/used-lab-equipment-equipnet
How to Apply for an Equipment Lease https://www.excedr.com/blog/how-to-apply-for-an-equipment-lease
How to Start a Lab in 2024 https://www.excedr.com/blog/how-to-start-a-lab
Biotech Startup Support https://www.excedr.com/resources-category/biotech-startup-support
Guide to Reducing Startup Costs & Expenses https://www.excedr.com/blog/startup-costs-and-expenses
Delivery Methods to Maximize Genome https://www.excedr.com/resources/crispr-delivery-methods
Overview of Recombinase https://www.excedr.com/resources/recombinase-overview
What Is DNA Methylation? https://www.excedr.com/resources/what-is-dna-methylation
DNA Modification: Processes, Significance, & Implications https://www.excedr.com/resources/dna-modification-explained
What Should Investors & Founders Expect From Each Other? https://www.excedr.com/resources/investor-founder-expectations
First Steps a Founder Can Take https://www.excedr.com/resources/rd-startup-funding-first-steps
Funding https://www.excedr.com/category/funding
Series Funding Explained https://www.excedr.com/resources/series-funding-explained
How to Bootstrap Your Biotech Startup & Scale https://www.excedr.com/resources/how-to-bootstrap-biotech-startupThe 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.

As a podcast listener, you can redeem exclusive discounts with a growing list of biotech vendors and get $500 off your first equipment lease by using promo code “TBSP” on https://www.excedr.com/rewards.
Part 1 of 3.

My guest for this week’s episode is Jeff Kim, co-founder and CEO of Slingshot Biosciences. Slingshot designs and manufactures synthetic cells for R&D, clinical diagnostics, and engineered cell therapies, aiming to overcome supply chain and cost barriers that restrict access to advanced diagnostics and therapeutics. Jeff is a serial entrepreneur, having co-founded and run multiple successful companies, including Radiant Genomics, which was eventually acquired by Zymergen, and Pattern Ag, a company mapping soil microbes to help farmers grow their bottom line. Before Radiant, Jeff was a scientist at the Lawrence Berkeley National Lab and was the project lead for jet fuel development at Amyris Biotechnologies.

Join us as we sit down with Jeff as he discusses his upbringing as the child of Korean immigrants, and how their hands-off approach fostered his curiosity and self-teaching mentality that led to his current path. Jeff talks about how he pivoted from pre-med, instead choosing to attend Rockefeller University where he had great opportunities and experiences as an undergrad. He also discusses his involvement in the thriving artist community in New York City while at university, and the role that music and art played in balancing his research pursuits. Please enjoy my conversation with Jeff Kim.

Find Our Guest, Jeff Kim, at these links:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/kimjeff/
https://slingshotbio.com/

Find Our Host, Jon Chee, at these links:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/jonchee
https://www.excedr.com

Timestamps:
0:28 Intro
2:00 Episode starts, early days and upbringing, Korean immigrant parents teaching self-learning and curiosity
4:14 Music passion blooms and how it has helped in adult life, undergrad, and pre-med direction
7:41 Pivoting from med school to work in a lab in New York while pursuing music, Jeff’s independent research opportunity
10:28 Excellent undergraduate lab experiences, the ability to learn and explore like a grad student
12:50 RA opportunity at Rockefeller in New York, unstructured science experiences at Princeton
15:50 Natural progression to grad work and a Ph.D., his parents’ perspective on educational freedom
18:26 Determining med school wasn’t a fit, GRE, the last-minute decision between Rockefeller and UCSF
20:55 Joining Sean Brady’s lab, studying genes and DNA, experience as part of a startup lab
24:56 Finding a balance between non-profit passion for music and the grueling demand of grad research
27:33 Outro

Social & Website
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/excedr/
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@excedr
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/excedr_inc
Twitter: https://twitter.com/ExcedrInc
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/excedr
TikTok: khttps://www.tiktok.com/@excedr
Podcast Website: https://www.thebiotechstartupspodcast.com/

Enriched Notes:

Topics Mentioned:
An Equipment Leasing Program for Scientists & Researchers https://www.excedr.com/leasing
Common Lab Equipment https://www.excedr.com/blog/common-lab-equipment
Types of Equipment Leases https://www.excedr.com/blog/types-of-equipment-leases
Purchasing Used Lab Equipment https://www.excedr.com/blog/used-lab-equipment-equipnet
How to Apply for an Equipment Lease https://www.excedr.com/blog/how-to-apply-for-an-equipment-lease
How to Start a Lab in 2024 https://www.excedr.com/blog/how-to-start-a-lab
Biotech Startup Support https://www.excedr.com/resources-category/biotech-startup-support
Guide to Reducing Startup Costs & Expenses https://www.excedr.com/blog/startup-costs-and-expenses
Delivery Methods to Maximize Genome https://www.excedr.com/resources/crispr-delivery-methods
Overview of Recombinase https://www.excedr.com/resources/recombinase-overview
What Is DNA Methylation? https://www.excedr.com/resources/what-is-dna-methylation
DNA Modification: Processes, Significance, & Implications https://www.excedr.com/resources/dna-modification-explained

People Mentioned:
Tarun Kapoor https://www.rockefeller.edu/our-scientists/heads-of-laboratories/1187-tarun-kapoor/
Alison Gammie https://www.linkedin.com/in/alison-gammie-45072811/
George McLendon https://www.linkedin.com/in/george-mclendon-899a81150/
Brian Shoichet https://www.linkedin.com/in/brian-shoichet-0024061/
Andrej Sali https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrej-sali-113470273/
Sean Brady https://www.linkedin.com/in/sean-brady-4b365823a/ The 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.

Part 3 of 3.

My guest for this week’s episode is Stephanie Sirota, Partner, and Chief Business Officer at RTW Investments, a full lifecycle life sciences investment firm dedicated to solving the most challenging unmet patient needs. Stephanie is a seasoned expert and leader in business development, strategic partnerships, communications, and investor relations. Prior to joining RTW, she was a director at Valhalla Capital Advisors. She worked in the New York and London offices of Lehman Brothers, where she advised on various mergers and acquisitions, IPOs, and capital market financing transactions for the firm's global corporate clients. Her deep insights into investment banking, strategic partnerships, and business development, offer founders many lessons.

Join us as I sit down with Stephanie to discuss RTW’s interest and investments into gene therapy and the biotech industry. Steph also touches on company development, and specifically why working with biotech companies as an investor is so important. Steph talks about RTW's approach to building an investment thesis that is laid out for both the investors and the entrepreneurs. She also speaks to the importance of transparency and trust between investors and founders. Finally, we also touch on why the biotech industry is on the brink of something special right now. Please enjoy my conversation with Steph Sirota.

Find Our Guest, Stephanie Sirota, at these links:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/stephsirota
http://www.rtwfunds.com

Find Our Host, Jon Chee, at these links:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/jonchee
https://www.excedr.com

Timestamps:
00:28 Intro
01:24 Episode starts, RTW’s early development, growth, and the emergence of the crossover round
03:55 Investing heavily in gene therapy, despite many challenges, selling the company for nearly 9 billion
06:34 Focusing on building a single company, which would become Rocket Pharma
09:29 Developing companies at extremely early stages and how RTW did this in China
11:32 How to form and then gain conviction in your investment thesis
14:08 Building a 5 billion dollar fund, explaining your thesis and getting LPs to say “yes”
17:48 Having a .600 batting average fund, managing investors through bear and bull markets
20:03 Why we might be living in a Berkshire Hathaway or Warren Buffet moment, excitement for the next few years
24:18 Investing in resiliency and why Steph is optimistic about the biotech industry
26:03 Shout outs to old tennis coaches, parents, mentors, and colleagues
28:25 Advice to Steph’s younger self about not being afraid to think ahead
29:42 End

Social & Website
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/excedr/
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@excedr
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/excedr_inc
Twitter: https://twitter.com/ExcedrInc
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/excedr
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@excedr
Podcast Website: https://www.thebiotechstartupspodcast.com/

As a podcast listener, you can redeem exclusive discounts with a growing list of biotech vendors and get $500 off your first equipment lease by using promo code “TBSP” on www.excedr.com/rewards.

Enriched Notes:

Topics Mentioned:
Crossover Investing https://www.investopedia.com/terms/c/crossoverinvestor.asp
Rocket Pharma https://rocketpharma.com/
JiXing Pharmaceuticals https://www.jixing.com/
Top Biotech Seed and Angel Investors 2024 https://www.excedr.com/blog/biotech-seed-and-angel-investors
What is Molecular Biology https://www.excedr.com/blog/what-is-molecular-biology
Top Pharma New Sites https://www.excedr.com/blog/top-pharma-blogs-websites-for-biopharma
Top Medical News Sites https://www.excedr.com/blog/medical-news-sites
Biology Lab Equipment List https://www.excedr.com/blog/biology-lab-equipment-list
What Type of Equipment You Need for Molecular Biology Lab https://www.excedr.com/blog/what-type-of-equipment-is-used-in-molecular-biology-research
Importance of Preventative Maintenance https://www.excedr.com/blog/laboratory-equipment-maintenance-guide
Top VC Firms for Biotechs https://www.excedr.com/blog/top-vc-firms-for-biotech
VC Term Sheets https://www.excedr.com/resources/venture-capital-term-sheets
VC Term Sheet Clauses: A Glossary of Key Terms https://www.excedr.com/resources/vc-term-sheet-clauses-and-terms
What are Your Funding Options https://www.excedr.com/resources/biotech-startup-funding-options
Getting Funding for Lab Research https://www.excedr.com/blog/how-to-get-funding-for-lab-research
Post vs Pre Money Valuations https://www.excedr.com/resources/pre-money-vs-post-money
Marketing and Sales for Startups https://www.excedr.com/blog/marketing-sales-strategies-for-biotechs
What is Capital Outlay? https://www.excedr.com/blog/what-is-capital-outlay

People Mentioned:
Gaurav Shah  https://www.linkedin.com/in/gaurav-shah-md-a435baa
Ning Lin https://www.linkedin.com/in/ning-lin-31b5155/
Rod Wong https://www.linkedin.com/in/roderick-wong-543aa64/
Bryan Fiedler https://www.linkedin.com/in/bryan-fiedler-525485164/ The 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.

Part 2 of 3.

My guest for this week’s episode is Stephanie Sirota, Partner, and Chief Business Officer at RTW Investments, a full lifecycle life sciences investment firm dedicated to solving the most challenging unmet patient needs. Stephanie is a seasoned expert and leader in business development, strategic partnerships, communications, and investor relations. Prior to joining RTW, she was a director at Valhalla Capital Advisors. She worked in the New York and London offices of Lehman Brothers, where she advised on various mergers and acquisitions, IPOs, and capital market financing transactions for the firm's global corporate clients. Her deep insights into investment banking, strategic partnerships, and business development, offer founders many lessons.

Join us as we sit down with Stephanie as she discusses her career journey from investment banking to the buy side, leveraging her journalism background to highlight her unique skills. She also discusses her time at Lehman Brothers and her transition to Valhalla Capital. Steph also talks about her unexpected passion for biotech and her belief in the sector's fundamental importance to the future. She shares the importance of staying proactive, avoiding complacency, and embracing new opportunities while highlighting how to view your uniqueness as an asset and how your distinct point of view is a benefit to your team. Please enjoy my conversation with Stephanie Sirota.

Find Our Guest, Stephanie Sirota, at these links:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/stephsirota/
http://www.rtwfunds.com

Find Our Host, Jon Chee, at these links:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/jonchee
https://www.excedr.com

Timestamps:
00:28 Intro
01:27 Episode starts, how the opportunity at London Lehman Brothers came about
04:39 What is investment banking, and how it differs from the buy side
07:06 Experiences at Lehman Brothers, hard truths, and dealing with constructive criticism
09:46 How a rude awakening as a junior banker led to a senior banker position, pivoting back to New York, starting all over again
11:56 Moving to the buy side at a new company, “institutionalizing” processes and building a team dynamic amongst individual contributors
15:44 Using your uniqueness to your advantage, the benefits of being an unconventional thinker in your specific field
19:27 Moving on from Valhalla, dealing with a global financial crisis, and shifting to science with RTW
23:16 Evaluating the science sector from a business perspective, why it is the most important sector going into the future
26:20 Takeaways from volatile markets and the cycles of bioscience, post-global finance crisis
28:37 Advice on how to survive a bear market, being confident in what you are investing in
31:36 Outro

Social & Website
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/excedr/
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@excedr
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/excedr_inc
Twitter: https://twitter.com/ExcedrInc
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/excedr
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@excedr
Podcast Website: https://www.thebiotechstartupspodcast.com/

As a podcast listener, you can redeem exclusive discounts with a growing list of biotech vendors and get $500 off your first equipment lease by using promo code “TBSP” on excedr.com/rewards.

Enriched Notes:
Topics Mentioned:
Top VC Firms for Biotechs https://www.excedr.com/blog/top-vc-firms-for-biotech
VC Term Sheets https://www.excedr.com/resources/venture-capital-term-sheets
VC Term Sheet Clauses: A Glossary of Key Terms https://www.excedr.com/resources/vc-term-sheet-clauses-and-terms
What are Your Funding Options https://www.excedr.com/resources/biotech-startup-funding-options
Getting Funding for Lab Research https://www.excedr.com/blog/how-to-get-funding-for-lab-research
Top Biotech Seed and Angel Investors 2024 https://www.excedr.com/blog/biotech-seed-and-angel-investors
What Type of Equipment You Need for Molecular Biology Lab https://www.excedr.com/blog/what-type-of-equipment-is-used-in-molecular-biology-research
What is Molecular Biology https://www.excedr.com/blog/what-is-molecular-biology
Legacy (All Blacks) (Book) - https://a.co/d/gwBezDW
Operating Expenses 101 - https://www.excedr.com/blog/what-is-opex

People Mentioned:
Rod Wong https://www.linkedin.com/in/roderick-wong-543aa64/
Bryan Fiedler https://www.linkedin.com/in/bryan-fiedler-525485164/ The 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.