Activation Energy

Casey Lippmeier of Checkerspot discusses precision fermentation. Adam Lawrence co-hosts. OUTLINE(00:00) Introduction(00:32) Education and career(04:25) Checkerspot - origin story and technology(07:05) Target market - infant nutrition(08:21) Partnerships(10:41) Precision fermentation(13:04) Bioeconomy(14:52) Advantages and disadvantages(17:28) Market sizing and segmentation(19:27) Success stories(22:26) Value ecosystem and manufacturing (24:50) Needed innovations(26:58) Continuous fermentation(28:16) Industry cycles(31:29) Policies(35:39) Vision of the future of bioeconomy

Jason Kakoyiannis and Brian Brazeau of Ferment discuss the state of bioeconomy and backing biotech startups. Adam Lawrence co-hosts.OUTLINE(00:00) Introduction(00:38) Education and careers(01:35) Ferment origin story(07:10) Fund vs. studio venture model(12:21) Technoeconomics(19:33) Value ecosystem(21:59) Advantages of bio(24:43) Tech push, Market pull(29:25) Market opportunities(31:25) Success stories(33:16) Financing mechanisms(36:55) Government funding(41:26) State of biotech and biomanufacturing

William Morris of NuMat talks about metal organic frameworks (MOFs) for filtration, separation, and storage of gases, as well as about his journey helping spin out a startup from Northwestern University. Bryce Meredig joins as co-host.OUTLINE(00:00) Introduction(00:53) Career path(05:29) NuMat’s origin(06:10) Metal organic frameworks (MOFs)(10:39) Market opportunity(12:16) Partnership models(14:35) Invention to commercialization(16:48) Partnership with Merck(17:32) Technoeconomics(20:39) Market pull(23:07) Market research and customer discovery process(27:08) Challenges(31:46) Culture and team dynamics(33:48) Vision for NuMat

Mark Warner of Liberation Bioindustries speaks about the importance of scaling biology and shifting focus from R&D to manufacturing. Adam Lawrence cohosts.OUTLINE(00:00) Introduction(00:39) Career (02:36) Definition of biomanufacturing(03:46) Comparison with chemical manufacturing (07:14) History and evolution of biomanufacturing (10:15) Current state of biomanufacturing(13:01) Role of government  (17:49) R&D vs manufacturing(20:10) Ramifications of only R&D focus (25:40) Financing and technoeconomics(27:27) Workforce development(30:48) Liberation Bioindustries(40:31) Vision of future of US biomanufacturing

Nádia Parachin of Integra discusses industrial biotechnology. Adam Lawrence co-hosts.OUTLINE(00:00) Introduction(00:49) Education and career(02:21) Tech transfer and innovation financing in Brazil vs. US(08:52) Industrial biotechnology - definition and advantages(14:33) Key drivers for industrial biotech(16:21) Platform vs Product business models(20:38) Current state of industry(25:59) Examples of success(28:18) Bottlenecks(30:25) Commercialization strategy (33:15) Lessons learned and advice

Robert Stoner of Kendall Square Project and previously of MIT Energy Initiative speaks about licensing as a way to bring academic and scientific research to the market.OUTLINE(00:00) Introduction(00:39) Education and career path(07:58) Financing mechanisms for deeptech ventures (12:45) Role of universities(15:34) Licensing (23:11) Role of government(31:03) Scientists turning entrepreneurs(34:31) Translating science into business(38:36) Energy technologies, demand and supply

David Heller of C16 Biosciences speaks about biomanufacturing technology and products and business strategy. Adam Lawrence co-hosts. OUTLINE (00:00) Introduction (00:32) Career path (03:13) Origin of C16 Biosciences (07:12) Palm oil agriculture (10:06) C16 Bio’s core technology (11:14) IP strategy (16:22) Products (18:50) Competitors (21:02) Value ecosystem  (24:05) Positioning  (25:32) Criticisms of precision fermentation  (28:56) Technoeconomics and cost drivers (33:25) Resources and inputs (35:27) Capital costs (38:31) Challenges (41:29) GMO (42:15) Regulatory landscape (45:08) Risks (51:17) Vision

Joško Bobanović of Sofinnova Partners speaks about bioeconomy, industrial biotech, and biomanufacturing. Adam Lawrence co-hosts. OUTLINE (00:00) Introduction (00:34) Education and career path (02:21) Sofinnova Partners (04:28) Investment strategy (06:34) Terminology (08:45) Industrial biotech history and evolution (14:06) Competitive strategies for bio startups (16:55) End applications – fuels, food, pharmaceuticals, materials (21:23) Value ecosystem and participants (24:57) Drivers (27:15) Business models, platforms, products (33:05) Success stories (36:17) Future of industrial biotech and bioeconomy

Lee Vinsel of Virginia Tech and Andrew Russell of SUNY Polytechnic Institute speak about innovation, hype, and the importance of investing in maintenance. OUTLINE (00:00) Introduction (00:29) Eduction and career paths (02:20) Origin of and motivation of writing The Innovation Delusion  (04:15) True innovation vs. “innovation speak” (08:42) Higher education and tech transfer/licensing offices (14:59) Clayton Christensen’s discredited research (22:07) True progress and impact (27:00) Pitfalls of disruption for disruption’s sake  (32:09) Importance of focusing on maintenance (37:16) Balancing innovation with maintenance (40:01) Impact of neglecting maintenance (45:54) Vision of the future

Adrien Côté of the Velocity discusses translating science and research into business ventures. OUTLINE (00:00) Introduction (00:43) Education and career (03:17) Velocity Incubator (07:50) Successfully incubated ventures  (09:30) Commercialization challenges (11:44) What distinguishes successful entrepreneurs from others (13:20) “Not all founders are entrepreneurs” (15:49) Challenges of transitioning from scientist to entrepreneur  (17:02) Communication  (18:57) Group dynamics (21:15) Leadership (23:15) Role of academia in training scientists to lead (24:48) Evolution of scientific leadership