Excedr

"The big lesson from [the] Joint BioEnergy Institute (JBEI) is that you can do cool science, amazing science, impactful science, maybe even better science, in a private setting, in a company setting, in an industry setting. You do not have to be on a tenure track in a professor's lab to do heavy hitting science." In part 2 of The Biotech Startups Podcast conversation with Genialis CEO & Co-Founder Rafael Rosengarten, we explore the transformative power of embracing diverse career paths in science. In this episode, we cover: – Rafael's journey from marine biology to synthetic biology, showcasing the value of interdisciplinary expertise – The importance of mentorship in fostering independence and creativity in scientific careers – How the Joint BioEnergy Institute (JBEI) provided a unique environment for cutting-edge research and collaboration – The shift in perspective from pure academic research to more applied and commercially relevant work – The critical role of in-person interactions and networking in scientific and business success This episode offers invaluable insights into the evolving landscape of scientific careers and the opportunities that lie beyond traditional academic paths. Head over to Apple Podcasts or Spotify for this episode and more stories only a biotech exec can tell! #biotechnology #lifesciences #podcast

I would feel like an absolute hypocrite if I didn’t bet on young founders. So many people bet on me when I didn’t “deserve” it… When I had no track record, and was more of a liability than anything else. I’ve told the story about walking into a big client’s lab in the early days, and my main POC greeted me in the lobby thinking I was one of the highschool students who was coming on a school tour that day. Despite my best efforts, I didn’t even LOOK the part. And yet, in spite of all the reasons there could be for people to say “no” (which many did) – there were also the people that gave me a chance, and made it possible for Excedr to get off the ground. If I didn’t find ways to repay that back to the community… I wouldn’t be able to sleep at night. As we have more and more opportunities to go up-market with Excedr’s leasing programs, that stays front and center in my mind. Our mission is to support the life sciences in drastically improving health outcomes – and to do that, it’s a requirement to back audacious initiatives versus sticking to the “safe bets.” And those big bets are most often coming from the up and comers – because they have the least to lose by taking a moonshot. Excedr may be a business, and not a purely altruistic endeavor (we need ya’ll to pay your leases 😉) – but it’s also part of our DNA to find ways to help the next generation take even more of those big bets. (Even when I’m fighting my growing, curmudgeonly, risk-off tendencies) Because that’s what solving Big Hairy Problems requires. #lifesciences #biotechnology #startups

Immersing in the beauty of biology through hands-on learning and art—sometimes the best lessons come from a microscope and a sketchpad! 🐚🎨 #ScienceArt #MicroscopyMagic #TheBiotechStartupsPodcast

You’ve gotta give someone the chance to get some experience in order for them to become experienced. That’s why the pay-it-forward mentality is so important in startup culture. You pay it forward to the future generation so they can then become experienced. Because if you only bet on the sure bets… You eventually run out of people to bet ON. And that’s a surefire way to stall innovation and progress. If you can’t invest capital, maybe you can invest time. Or your expertise. Or open your rolodex. All of those things count as taking a bet on the next generation. I say it often, and I’ll keep saying it: Nucleate is a great place to start. You will not regret it. #lifesciences #biotechnology #founders

From cooking in a Michelin-star kitchen to diving back into science—life is all about embracing the detours! 🍽️🔬 #LifeJourney #ScienceAndPassion #TheBiotechStartupsPodcast

The biggest return on my personal involvement with Nucleate is the opportunity to have conversations with people who don’t have the entrepreneurial baggage I do. It brings me out of my curmudgeonly funk, and gets the fires stoking again. Young founder enthusiasm is contagious! When they’re sharing their ideas and vision I find my own starry-eyed sense of wonder again, and find myself feeling a major, “Hell yea! THAT’S a world that I want to live in!” It’s not only fuel for the soul… It helps calibrate my own vision and gives me ideas for delivering on our own North Star. So, for my fellow founders of a certain cohort and age… Find a way to get involved with the up and comers. It is the definition of a virtuous cycle, and the return on it is nothing short of profound. #lifesciences #biotechnology #nucleate

I've always believed that the sound of scientific discovery is not "Eureka!," rather "hey, that's funny..." So many groundbreaking and sea changing innovations come about when we're not looking for them: restriction enzymes, GFP, CRISPR, the list goes on. A deep curiosity in the natural world has been the one constant in my trajectory from childhood to techbio entrepreneur. Thank you Jon Chee for the chance to go way way back and tell this story, from the salt marshes of the Cape Romain Wildlife Refuge and sea walls of Ville-Franche Sur Mer, to today's work on the most advanced #artificialintelligence models for #precisiononcology at Genialis. Have a listen!

"I'm not a scuba diver. When you go out on a scuba trip, everyone else is looking for the sharks and the groupers and the big fish. And I've got my nose against the reef looking at the smallest little invertebrates." In Part 1 of The Biotech Startups Podcast, we meet Rafael Rosengarten, CEO & Co-Founder of Genialis, whose unique perspective on scientific discovery and attention to overlooked details has shaped his journey from marine biology to biotech entrepreneurship. In this episode, we dive deep into Rafael's fascinating journey: – Growing up in South Carolina's salt marshes and how early exposure to nature sparked his scientific curiosity 🌊 – The influence of his French cell biologist uncle and learning to snorkel off laboratory jetties at age seven 🤿 – His unconventional path through Dartmouth College, balancing science with a parallel career as a professional chef 🧑🍳 🔪 – The pivotal decision between pursuing marine biology and haute cuisine, including his time at a Michelin-starred restaurant ⭐️ - How his "dilettante" approach to science ultimately led to groundbreaking work with the simplest known animal species 🧬 Rafael shows how embracing diverse interests and paying attention to life's smallest details can lead to extraordinary scientific achievements. Don't sleep on this series- it's jam packed with insights. Apple Podcasts & Spotify links in the comments below! 👇 #biotechnology #lifesciences #podcast

"I consider myself a rather accidental entrepreneur. I didn't set out to be a business person, for sure." In Part 1 of The Biotech Startups Podcast conversation with Genialis CEO & Co-Founder Rafael Rosengarten, we explore the unexpected twists and turns that can lead to entrepreneurship in biotech. In this episode, we cover: – Rafael's upbringing in rural South Carolina and how it fostered his love for nature and science – His journey from studying evolutionary biology to working as a chef in high-end restaurants – The pivotal decision to pursue a PhD instead of continuing his culinary career – How a background in marine biology and molecular genetics led to founding a biotech company – The importance of embracing diverse experiences and following one's passions This episode offers valuable insights into the non-linear path that can lead to biotech entrepreneurship, highlighting the importance of curiosity and adaptability. Head over to Apple Podcasts or Spotify for this episode and more stories only a biotech exec can tell! #biotechnology #lifesciences #podcast

From idealism in science to accidental entrepreneurship—sometimes the best journeys are the ones we never planned! 🌱💡 #AccidentalEntrepreneur #ScienceAndBusiness #TheBiotechStartupsPodcast