The Climate Biotech Podcast

Cryptocurrency and climate biotechnology might seem like an unusual pairing, but Albert Anis, founding steward of ValleyDAO, is showing this combination has remarkable potential. Decentralized autonomous organizations (DAOs) are creating entirely new funding mechanisms for scientists working on our planet's most critical challenges.

At the heart of ValleyDAO's approach is a radical rethinking of how intellectual property can be governed and commercialized. Through "IP NFTs" (non-fungible tokens representing intellectual property), communities of token holders can collectively participate in funding research, making governance decisions, and advancing technologies from lab to marketplace. By creating aligned communities around specific scientific innovations, ValleyDAO provides more than just funding – it delivers expertise, connections, and sustained support through the challenging commercialization process.

While traditional science funding faces significant cuts and challenges, new tools like AI and crypto could help create opportunities for bottom-up innovation. This tension is precisely where transformative new approaches can emerge.

Send us Fan Mail

What if we could harness nature's most precise chemical tools and make them work in industrial settings? James Weltz, co-founder and CSO of Cascade Bio, reveals how enzyme immobilization technology is transforming chemical manufacturing by stabilizing delicate biological catalysts.

From his childhood exploring chemical plants with his industrial hygienist father to his groundbreaking PhD research, Weltz shares the journey that led to Cascade Bio's revolutionary polymer brush technology. This innovation allows enzymes to maintain their remarkable catalytic properties while anchored to solid surfaces – converting them from fragile biological molecules into robust industrial catalysts that can operate in continuous flow processes.

The implications are profound. While enzymes have long promised atomic precision in chemical transformations, their instability has limited industrial adoption. Cascade's technology preserves nearly 100% of enzyme activity during immobilization (compared to just 1% with conventional methods), allowing these biocatalysts to withstand higher temperatures, function in organic solvents, and operate continuously for much longer periods.

Weltz walks us through real-world applications already making an impact – from nitrile hydratase producing acrylamide for rubber manufacturing to penicillin G-acylase creating antibiotics at massive scale. More exciting possibilities await, including true recycling of plastics and remediation of "forever chemicals" like PFAS. The conversation extends to multi-enzyme cascades that perform complex chemical transformations outside cells, potentially recreating cellular pathways in industrial settings.

The melding of computational protein design with robust immobilization technologies may finally deliver on biotech's promise of "infinitely scalable, atomically precise" chemical manufacturing. As Welts puts it, these innovations could transform how we produce the materials our modern world depends on – making them compatible with human and planetary health.

Join this deep dive into the cutting edge of industrial biocatalysis, where nature's chemical tools are being reimagined for a more sustainable future.

(00:00) Introduction to Enzyme Immobilization
(00:18) Welcome to the Climate Biotech Podcast
(01:09) Meet James Weltz: A Leader in Enzyme Immobilization
(01:43) The Potential of Enzyme Immobilization in Climate Biotech
(02:21) James Weltz's Background and Early Influences
(08:31) Understanding Enzyme Immobilization
(10:03) The Importance and Benefits of Enzyme Immobilization
(19:41) Challenges and Innovations in Enzyme Immobilization
(24:10) Case Study: Lipase Enzymes
(25:25) Dramatic Improvements in Enzyme Technology
(25:45) Enzyme Stability and Industrial Applications
(27:22) The GPT Moment for Enzyme Work
(28:09) Exciting Examples of Enzyme Applications
(30:48) Community Questions: AI and Enzyme Design
(39:18) Challenges and Opportunities in the Enzyme Industry
(41:38) Future of Enzyme Technology and Rapid Fire Questions

Send us Fan Mail

What happens when brilliant scientific innovation meets masterful storytelling? 

Marketing rarely tops the priority list for scientists and biotech founders who are deep in the technical challenges of making their innovations work. Yet without effective communication, even groundbreaking discoveries risk languishing in obscurity, unable to attract the talent, funding, and partnerships necessary to scale their impact.

In this illuminating conversation, Dan Goodwin welcomes marketing experts Erum Azeez Khan and Karl Schmieder — from Messaginglab and the Grow Everything Biotech Podcast — who work with science-driven companies to elevate their stories and impact. With their unique backgrounds spanning biochemistry, creative writing, and entrepreneurship, they share insights on transforming complex scientific concepts into compelling narratives that resonate with investors, partners, and the public.

Through revealing case studies like K18 Hair (which sold to Unilever for nearly $1 billion after just three years) and Cultivarium, we explore how effective scientific storytelling creates tangible business results and exame how scientific innovators must adapt their messaging to emphasize performance advantages.

Whether you're a scientist, entrepreneur, investor, or simply curious about how ideas spread, this episode offers practical wisdom on making people care about innovations that could shape our collective future.

(00:00) Introduction to Climate Biotech Podcast
(00:35) Meet the Hosts: Dan Goodwin
(00:51) Special Guests: Erum Azeez and Karl Schmeider
(01:37) The Importance of Storytelling in Science
(02:26) Marketing Strategies for Scientists
(03:41) Getting to Know Karl and Erum
(05:03) Erum's Journey from Pharma to Marketing
(07:34) Karl's Path to Biotech Marketing
(09:58) The Role of a Fractional CMO
(14:26) Effective Storytelling Techniques
(21:09) The Value of Blogging and Content Creation
(24:20) The Attention Economy and Google's 7-11-4 Rule
(25:11) Maximizing Content Reach Across Platforms
(26:23) Case Study: K18 Hair's Science Storytelling Success
(29:08) Leveraging Experts for Market Differentiation
(29:57) Case Study: Verium's Strategic Growth
(31:39) Shifts in Climate Biotech Narratives
(37:25) The Importance of Language and Buzzwords
(40:18) Rapid Fire Questions and Closing Thoughts

Send us Fan Mail

In our latest episode of the Climate Biotech Podcast, we explore where science meets business with Jesse Lou, the CEO of Conductor Labs. 

Jesse shares his unique insights into the indispensable role of Techno-Economic Analysis (TEA) in guiding the commercialization of climate technologies. We then explore a particular use case — biomining — with  Jayme Feyhl-Buska of Homeworld Collective.

As innovators in biotech, it's paramount to understand that while groundbreaking ideas hold great promise, success hinges on solid economic foundations. Failure to integrate economic considerations early in the innovation process often leads to avoidable pitfalls. By adopting a proactive approach to TEAs, scientists can identify crucial economic factors, optimize resource allocation, and pivot when necessary, thus bridging the gap between technical advancement and market reality.

In this episode, we discuss how TEAs not only function as internal decision-making tools but also as compelling narratives used to engage investors and the wider community. A well-structured TEA can convincingly present a technology's real-world value, portraying its scientific merit and expected economic returns. 

Join us for this enlightening discussion to understand how embedding economic thinking into scientific endeavors is not just advisable but essential for driving impactful climate solutions. 

(00:00) Introduction to Climate Biotech Podcast
(00:48) Guest Introduction: Jesse Lou
(02:10) Jesse's Early Life and Education
(03:31) Career Journey: From Engineering to Climate Biotech
(04:48) The Importance of Techno-Economic Analysis (TEA)
(10:45) Challenges and Misconceptions in TEA
(18:34) Current Work and Future Directions
(23:35) Introducing Jayme Feyhl-Buska
(24:08) Introduction to Mining and Bioleaching
(24:30) Challenges in Mining Technology Adoption
(25:06) Learning and Implementing TEAs
(25:58) Importance of Process Flows and Communication
(27:37) Insights from Mining Conferences
(28:59) The Role of TEAs in Decision Making
(30:51) Focus on Copper Bioleaching
(32:03) Challenges in Copper Heap Leaching
(34:32) Modeling and Parameterizing TEAs
(37:06) Communicating Error and Risk in TEAs
(42:04) Rapid Fire Questions with Jesse
(45:33) Conclusion and Final Thoughts

Send us Fan Mail

How can biotechnology revolutionize heavy industries and convert carbon waste into a valuable resource?

In this special cross-posted episode—from our friends Erum and Karl at the Grow Everything Biotech Podcast and Messaginglab—we feature Moji Karimi, co-founder of Cemvita, a company leading the way in carbon conversion technology.

Moji shares Cemvita’s journey from a bold vision in industrial biotech to real-world solutions that repurpose carbon emissions into valuable products. From reshaping the energy and mining sectors to exploring applications in aerospace, he highlights the power of harnessing nature’s processes for sustainability.

Join us as we explore the evolving relationship between biotech and heavy industry—and a future where carbon waste is no longer a liability, but an opportunity.

(00:00) Introduction to Climate Biotech Podcast
(00:46) Special Episode Introduction
(03:22) Interview with Moji Karimi Begins
(04:02) Founding of Cemvita
(06:59) CO2 Utilization and Early Projects
(09:27) Navigating Platform vs. Product
(14:26) Spinning Out Subsidiaries
(25:29) Partnerships and Future Plans
(31:59) The Importance of Biodiversity in Climate Solutions
(32:28) Innovative Nature-Based Solutions
(33:49) The Role of Carbon Conversion in Biotech
(34:40) Cemvita's Unique Approach to Carbon Utilization
(36:47) Scaling Up: Challenges and Strategies
(44:17) Building a Company Culture
(49:18) Advice for Aspiring Entrepreneurs
(52:56) Working with Family: Pros and Cons
(54:59) Final Thoughts and Future Vision

Send us Fan Mail

(Recorded July 2024)

In this episode, Paul Reginato—co-founder of Homeworld Collective—turns the mic on Dan Goodwin, Homeworld’s co-founder and Executive Director, to explore his journey from near-failures in Boise, Idaho, to becoming a trailblazer in climate biotechnology.

Dan reflects on how his formative years at Harvey Mudd College and his time at Stanford under AI visionary Fei-Fei Li, coupled with his innovative stint at IDEO, ignited his passion for entrepreneurship and shaped his visionary approach. His story highlights the power of timing, collaboration, and resilience in transforming challenges into opportunities.

Together, they discuss the pressing hurdles facing climate biotech—from scalability issues to market forces that lag behind sectors like medical biotech and software development—and explore the critical need for centralized hubs of innovation. With a forward-thinking nonprofit approach, they discuss empowering practitioners to tackle the soluble problems at the intersection of climate and biotechnology. 

Tune in as Dan and Paul emphasize the importance of starting with well-defined problems and draw inspiration from initiatives like the COVID fast grants to accelerate high-quality research funding. Dan also shares invaluable advice for aspiring biotechnologists, sprinkling in insights from historical breakthroughs like Peter Mitchell’s ox-phosphorylation discovery. Through Homeworld Collective, they envision a future where collaboration and innovation drive exponential growth in climate biotech.

(00:00) Introduction to the Climate Biotech Podcast
(00:31) Meet the Founders: Dan Goodwin's Journey
(01:44) Dan's Early Life and Education
(03:29) Transition to Entrepreneurship and AI
(11:39) The Birth of Homeworld Collective
(14:23) Challenges in Climate Biotech
(17:33) Homeworld's Mission and Garden Grants
(29:33) Advice for Aspiring Biologists
(31:51) Dan's Favorite Science Factoids
(33:26) Future Vision for Homeworld Collective
(41:28) Closing Remarks and Thank You

Send us Fan Mail

Join us as we explore the innovative world of protein engineering with Samuel Thompson. Samuel's work focuses on engineering proteins to function in organic solvents, environments that would be hostile to traditional cell-based life. This approach has significant implications for bridging the gap between the enzymes market and the trillion-dollar specialty chemicals market, potentially leading to decentralized chemical production with a much lower environmental footprint.

In this episode, Samuel shares their personal journey, from growing up in West Texas to their current role as a postdoc at Stanford and the University of Washington. They discuss how their queerness informs their science and the long-term vision they have for their work — a commitment to solving complex problems often overlooked by mainstream science. With support from the Homeworld Collective, Samuel is pushing the boundaries of what is possible in protein engineering, aiming to create sustainable solutions for chemical production that could transform industries in the decades to come.

Send us Fan Mail

Join us as Sam Abernethy, Methane Removal Scientist from Spark Climate Solutions, and Paul Reginato of Homeworld Collective explore why tackling methane could be even more impactful than focusing on carbon dioxide in the near-term. Methane's potent warming potential and short-lived nature make it a high-leverage target for climate mitigation. 

We delve into nature’s own methane eaters—methanotrophs—and how they could help reduce atmospheric methane levels. From bioreactors to genetically engineered plants expressing methane monooxygenase, we highlight promising biological solutions that could reshape methane mitigation strategies.

However, innovation comes with challenges. Sam and Paul discuss the complexities of engineering enzymes for methane breakdown, the hurdles of accurate methane measurement, and the importance of scientific collaboration. These challenges underscore the need for continued research and development in the field.

From agricultural lands to Arctic permafrost, we explore the ethical and technological questions surrounding methane interventions—and the efforts to shape the future of the field, positioning it as a key strategy in the fight against climate change.

(00:00) Introduction to the Climate Biotech Podcast
(01:49) Meet Sam Abernethy
(03:01) Understanding Methane and Its Impact
(06:59) Methane Removal: Challenges and Opportunities
(11:35) Biological Atmospheric Methane Removal
(24:30) Workshop Insights and Future Directions
(39:20) Rapid Fire Questions and Closing Remarks

Send us Fan Mail

How can protein science shape the future of food and climate solutions? Meet Anum Glasgow, a leading researcher at Columbia University, whose journey—rooted in her Pakistani heritage and a childhood of curiosity on the Jersey Shore—led her to the cutting edge of protein engineering.

Anum shares how her fascination with protein folding evolved into groundbreaking research on designing multifunctional proteins and therapeutics. We explore the hidden elegance of nature’s self-folding systems and how they inspire innovations in climate biotech.

We also dive into the work of Team Yeast Feast, a group pioneering a sustainable approach to flavor. By engineering proteins that enhance sweetness and umami naturally, they’re rethinking how we experience taste—tackling food sustainability with creativity and science. From blind taste tests to leveraging AlphaFold, their work blends playfulness with real-world impact.

Finally, we look at how hydrogen exchange mass spectrometry is unlocking the secrets of protein structure and its role in taste perception. What makes some sugar substitutes fall flat? How do protein conformations shape flavor? We connect the dots between sequence, structure, and sensory experience.

Tune in for a closer look at the Glasgow Lab’s work and the latest in climate biotech, brought to you by the Homeworld Collective.

(00:00) Introduction to the Climate Biotech Podcast
(00:32) Guest Introduction: Anum Glasgow
(02:03) Anum's Background and Journey into Science
(02:40) The Fascination with Protein Folding
(05:35) From Physical to Biological Folding
(08:05) Computational and Experimental Approaches in Protein Research
(13:12) Exploring Taste Perception and Climate Solutions
(14:43) Engineering Sweet and Umami Yeast
(26:06) Technical Insights: Hydrogen Exchange Mass Spectrometry
(33:30) Rapid Fire Questions and Conclusion

Send us Fan Mail

What role does biotechnology play in solving the climate crisis? Join us as we spotlight Ahmed Badran, assistant professor at the Scripps Research Institute and a leader in climate biotech innovation. Ahmed is a recipient of Homeworld Collective's Garden Grants for Protein Engineering. 

Ahmed shares his journey, from growing up in Egypt in a family of scientists to becoming a pioneer in engineering enzymes for climate solutions. 

We dive into the fascinating intersection of machine learning, synthetic biology, and climate innovation, spotlighting Rubisco, a key enzyme in photosynthesis with untapped potential. Ahmed unpacks his research on enhancing Rubisco’s efficiency and its revolutionary implications for carbon capture and climate sustainability.

Ahmed also offers insights for aspiring biotechnologists, sharing advice on bridging computational and chemical expertise and the value of tackling bold, ambitious projects. Tune in for a closer look at the work happening at Scripps Research and the future of climate biotech.

(00:00) Introduction to the Climate Biotech Podcast
(00:50) Meet Ahmed Bajran: A Rising Star in Climate Biotech
(01:49) Ahmed's Unique Background and Early Influences
(03:29) Academic Journey and Early Research
(05:33) Synthetic Biology and Bioengineering Insights
(07:30) David Liu's Lab and Complex Problem Solving
(11:54) Garden Grant Proposal: Tackling Climate Change
(16:04) Rubisco and Carbon Capture Innovations
(22:51) Advanced Genetic Engineering Techniques
(31:08) Future of Synthetic Biology and Final Thoughts
(34:04) Rapid Fire Questions and Closing Remarks

Send us Fan Mail