AI, Amino Acids, and Aging: Inside Retro Biosciences | Joe Betts-Lacroix

In this episode we welcome Ann DeWitt, General Partner at Engine Ventures. She introduces Engine Ventures and how it grew out of MIT to back tough tech companies that work across disciplines, beyond the biology and computer science startups that usually draw investors. Ann also explains the programs and resources offered by Engine Ventures to help founders transform their ideas into successful businesses. With her VC perspective, Ann covers the importance of clear checkpoints and staged funding for companies with long timelines and heavy capital needs. She discusses why impact has to come first if a financial return is going to follow, offering plenty of advice for founders and early career scientists. Ann shares what it takes to catch an investor's eye when they are deciding which startups to back. Time Stamps0:55 Introduction to Ann Dewitt and her transition from scientific research to venture capital 6:38 Introduction to Engine Ventures 10:00 What is tough tech and what makes it different from other startups 16:13 Why investor prioritize “impact”24:06 Future growth opportunities within the neurology field 28:47 Common challenges founders face and how to overcome them33:22 Advice for scientists on building a business perspective 38:46 Women in biotech 45:52 Quick fire questions  

The Nucleate Podcast welcomes Matias Serebrinsky, co-founder of Psymed Ventures. Raised in Argentina by a physician father and an economist mother, he shares how his early life influenced his comfort with risk and his drive to do work that helps others. Matias shares his path from Sony marketing to starting CookUnity, and eventually to building a venture fund focused on brain and mental health.The conversation provides a look into the latest trends in neurotech and brain health investing, from psychedelic therapeutics to precision psychiatry and RNA therapies. Matias offers plenty of advice for entrepreneurs on pitching their startup ideas and how to pair technical knowledge with business acumen. Be sure to also check out his podcast, Business Trip, to learn more about the intersection of neuroscience and technology.Time Stamps0:38 Introduction to Matias and his early career8:17 Why he pivoted into the neuroscience industry and medtech10:06 The investment approach that led to a $1.2B psychedelics deal18:21 Psymed's lens for evaluating new technologies27:08 The latest trends across neurology and brain health34:54 What qualities to look for in a strong scientific founder 37:58 The Psymed elevator pitch42:40 Advice for entrepreneurs on how to pitch effectively 48:07 Introduction to the Business Trip podcast hosted by Matias Serebrinsky and Greg Kubin50:14 Quick fire questions 

In this episode of the Nucleate Podcast, Dr. Jo Viney, co-founder, president, and CEO of Seismic Therapeutic, shares her trajectory from academic immunology training in London to major biotech companies and startup leadership. She discusses how early clinical lab exposure to autoimmune patients sparked her passion for translational science and highlights why the Boston ecosystem is an ideal place to launch biotech startups due to its unparalleled funding, incubator space, and collaborative peer networks. She also reflects on the lessons learned from co-funding Pandion Therapeutics—including how following surprising data led to a major asset acquisition by Merck—and describes the bittersweet feeling of handing off a company she helped build.The conversation then explores Seismic Therapeutic's approach to tackling autoimmune diseases by integrating machine learning into protein drug discovery. Jo details how combining structural biology, machine learning, protein engineering, and immunology allows Seismic to accelerate drug design cycles, optimize enzyme therapeutics, and tackle complex agonist and cell-selective antibody design. She emphasizes that machine learning serves as a powerful tool guided by human hypothesis-driven research rather than a standalone cure-all. Jo closes with practical advice for emerging scientific founders, encouraging them to seek out diverse viewpoints, pressure-test their ideas with critics, and keep patient impact as their true North Star.Here's a segment breakdown with timestamps:00:27 – Academic beginnings to Startups02:05 – International experience shaping perspective03:03 – Location and choosing Boston03:53 – Influences, mentors, & successful mentorship04:54 – Biotech CEO Sisterhood05:08 – Leading other scientists now05:78 – Larger pharma versus the smaller biotechs07:28 – Co-founder at Pandion, drug development, & inspiration to start the company08:62 – Acquisition of company: success and navigation10:12 – Initial Conversations10:86 – Emotionally Tied Science & Company11:28 – Seismic Therapeutic focus on autoimmune disease12:73 – Structural biology & prediction technologies emerging12:58 – Data & Technology 15:47 – Experiences with AI15:77 – AI drug discovery engines16:04 – Founding a company out of a venture creation firm 17:11 – The Founding Process17:88 – Fundraising conversations with investors for an academic labs 18:43 – When to move on from an idea or keep investing19:24 – Biggest mistakes from lab to startup19:52 – Rapid Fire Questions 

Here's a segment breakdown with timestamps:[0:58 – 1:43] Introduction & Career Background[1:44 – 7:04] Regulation & the "Daughter Test"[7:05 – 13:15] From Tech to Biotech: The Pivot[13:16 – 21:35] AI at Retro & the OpenAI Partnership[21:36 – 25:20] The 10-Year Lifespan Mission Explained[25:21 – 33:20] Lead Program: Alzheimer's & Autophagy[33:21 – 40:00] Broader Pipeline & Company Philosophy[40:01 – 45:50] Cell Replacement vs. Cell Rejuvenation[45:51 – 51:55] AI-Designed Transcription Factors & Partial Reprogramming[51:56 – 54:03] On Biohackers & the DTC Longevity Industry[54:04 – 56:02] "Whose Lives Are We Extending?" & Closing Thoughts 

See the episode breakdown with time stamps below:0:00 – Cold open: the "unexpected collaboration" teaser0:35 – Growing up in Zimbabwe and an unplanned path into medicine5:41 – The "9-month detour" into pharma that turned into a 30-year career20:01 – Learning to lead: finance, business instincts, and the power of asking questions23:55 – Launching Gleevec — and the patients who make it all worth it31:21 – Taking the leap: becoming CEO of Millennium and betting big on Velcade39:41 – Layoffs done right: dignity, trust, and the "milk mustache" story49:57 – Inside the $8.8B Takeda acquisition and navigating a clash of cultures1:08:30 – Failure and resilience: Forum Therapeutics and a rocky start at Lundbeck1:22:48 – The $2.2B Alder bet, boardroom battles over share classes, and closing lessons on culture (plus the rapid-fire round) 

Time Stamps:(3:10) Phillip’s background and how it shaped his character(6:13) What first sparked his passion for science (9:15) What inspired his PhD journey (17:35) The discovery of restriction enzymes and DNA synthesis, concerns about DNA manipulation and how NIH guidelines came to be(25:00) How to communicate your science and translate that knowledge for public benefit(33:17 The discovery of RNA splicing(48:40) The founding of Alnylam(58:10) The creation of the biotech industry (1:03:30) How to keep up with the latest science and important trends to watch(1:12:55) Advice for founders looking to launch their own companies(1:16:47) Traits to look for in a  mentor and what makes a strong mentor-mentee relationship(1:19:53) Critical pieces of company culture that drive success(1:24:59) Quick fire questions 

Here is a segment breakdown of the episode: 0:00–1:42 — Intro and guest background: host frames the episode and introduces Nolan Townsend's career across Wall Street, Pfizer, and Lexeo.1:42–3:21 — From finance to healthcare: what drew Nolan into life sciences and the appeal of the industry's complexity.3:21–10:13 — Pfizer's international roles: P&L leadership in Korea, Ukraine, and beyond, and how working across health systems and cultures shaped him.10:14–19:00 — Rare disease leadership at Pfizer: the tafamidis/TTR amyloid cardiomyopathy story and its influence on Lexeo's founding thesis.19:00–24:16 — Founding Lexeo in January 2020: the decision to leave Pfizer, launching amid COVID, and building a team remotely.24:19–37:39 — Lexeo's scientific thesis: applying oncology's precision-medicine model to cardiac disease, the lead pipeline (Friedreich's ataxia, arrhythmogenic cardiomyopathy), and the Alzheimer's/APOE program and why it was deprioritized.37:39–47:20 — Fundraising strategy: de-risking the story, the cooled IPO market, tranche financing, and advice for founders raising seed/Series A rounds.47:20–50:00 — Mentors: Ron Crystal, Steve Altschuler, Ted Love, and the lessons drawn from each.50:23–56:04 — Rapid-fire questions: influential book (Clayton Christensen), views on what's holding back broader use of gene therapy, and the most underrated CEO skill.56:04–57:33 — Closing question (life outside biotech) and sign-off.

Time Stamps:0:45 Introduction to Dana Aftab and what sparked his passion for science6:39 His Ph.D. experience at Yale that led to a breakthrough in compound screening16:15 Why that soured him on biotech and what ultimately drew him back in24:33 Navigating the transition into industry by trusting his gut30:09 The Exelixis-MetaXen acquisition37:18 Taking the lead as a helping guide to younger scientist41:00 What does it take to be a good manager 48:45 Discovery and development of CABOMETYX® (cabozantinib)57:15 How differentiating clinical data changed the trajectory of Exelixis 1:00:34 Navigating the restructuring process1:07:13 Rebuilding the Exelixis team1:11:26 His return to science 1:13:30 Advice for founders on what makes a strong potential partner1:20:07 Quick fire questions 

(0:53) Introduction to Stephanie’s passion for science and her career transition from research to business (8:40) Key foundational business development skills  (13:06) What investors look for when evaluating early stage technology (14:37) The story behind Gleevec and its commercialization journey  (19:36) Long term planning for early career scientists  (24:39) Differences between U.S. and European ecosystems across pharma and biotech  (30:30) Introduction to the Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation  (36:23) How in vivo CAR-T and cell therapy are advancing  multiple myeloma care (42:08) Advice for entrepreneurs interested  in the Nucleate Activator program   (54:18) How can startup founders best position themselves in a competitive landscape (1:03:10) Quick fire questions

Time Stamps: (2:37) Introduction to Kendra’s professional journey and how she found her path into science  (7:30) Understanding the consumer mindset and patient perspectives (13:05) Key parameters that shape important decisions  (17:45) Core lessons on bridging the gap between science and business  (25:30) Introduction to Bayer and Kendra’s  role as Senior Vice President of Business Development and Licensing  (29:46) Latest trends shaping healthcare research,  education, and innovation  (38:59) How to establish credibility as an entrepreneur in a competitive market (41:28) Inside the Bayer Co.Lab incubator ecosystem and the support it offers (50:37) Tips for early-career scientists interested in making a pivot from the lab to business (57:09) Do you really need a Ph.D. to break into pharma? (1:00:01) Quick fire questions