The NextGen VC Podcast

Nandita Shangari didn’t plan to end up in venture capital. She was a toxicologist at Novartis, and said yes to one unplanned opportunity after another, until she’d worked on Kymriah (the first FDA-approved CAR T therapy), ran the Novartis Venture Fund, and ultimately landed at RA Capital Management, where she’s now Managing Director.In this episode, Jen and Mike trace that path with her and get into what she’s learned along the way about the “performance equity” that opens doors, how RA’s incubator builds companies fast, and the real story behind Capstan Therapeutics’ pivot from oncology to autoimmune disease. They also ask her what separates scientists who thrive in venture from the ones who struggle.Find it wherever you listen to podcasts.

What does neuroscience have to do with venture capital? Quite a bit, according to Jason Pitts.In this episode of the NextGen VC podcast, Mike Hostetler and Jen Fang sit down with Jason, Principal at General Atlantic, to talk about the winding path that took him from studying the brain at Cornell to evaluating some of the most promising companies in biotech.Jason shares how a series of unexpected opportunities led him from the lab at Regeneron to McKinsey and ultimately into venture investing. Along the way, he reflects on the mentors, relationships, and career pivots that shaped his journey.The conversation also explores what separates great biotech companies from the rest, why clinical rigor often makes the difference between success and failure, and how investors develop conviction in an industry where uncertainty is part of the territory. Jason also discusses his work with companies like Karuna Therapeutics and explains why advances in neuroscience and brain-shuttle technology could help unlock the next wave of innovation in biotech.Whether you're exploring a career in life sciences, breaking into venture capital, or simply curious about where biotech is headed next, this episode offers an inside look at the science, strategy, and decision-making behind today's most exciting healthcare investments.

Jen and Mike sit down with Dr. Suman Rao, Principal at Lumira Ventures, to discuss her path from academic science to healthcare venture capital and why she believes the best investors lead with mission before money.Rao shares Lumira’s approach to investing beyond traditional biotech hubs, the firm’s sidecar fund model with partners like Merck and the Terry Fox Foundation, and the story behind Histosonics, a Midwest medtech company that grew into a $2.25B exit and helped shape Lumira’s next investment thesis. She also offers candid advice for aspiring VCs: don’t follow the prescribed path. Build your own. 

What does it actually take to turn an idea into a biotech company?Aimee Raleigh, PhD, Principal at Atlas Venture, joins Mike and Jen as she walks through how companies get built before they’re even companies. From evaluating early science to forming a real point of view, Aimee shares how investors build conviction at the earliest stages.We get into the pace of early-stage venture, how to juggle multiple opportunities, make decisions with imperfect data, figure out what’s worth leaning into, and more. Aimee discusses her path into venture and what she’s learned along the way in an industry that doesn’t slow down.Listen and be prepared to walk away seeing early-stage ventures a little differently.

What does it take to go from performing reconstructive plastic surgeries at Harvard to becoming a managing partner at one of biotech's most focused venture firms? Rich Gaster, Managing Partner at venBio Partners, joins Mike and Jen to trace a career path that runs through Stanford MD-PhD training, two grad school startups, the company-building engine at Third Rock Ventures, and the founding team of Pliant Therapeutics — before landing at venBio, where he helped engineer three back-to-back acquisitions in a single quarter.Rich breaks down what makes venBio's small-team, high-conviction model so effective, how asset-focused investing differs from platform company builds, and what he looks for when deciding to pull the trigger on a deal. He also shares hard-won advice for the next generation of biotech investors — including why thinking like an investor during your training matters more than your degree.The conversation closes with Rich sharing the deeply personal story of his daughter Claire's diagnosis with ATRT, an ultra-rare pediatric brain cancer with a 30% two-year survival rate — and how his medical training, network, and willingness to fight the system helped save her life. He also discusses his work with the Pediatric Brain Tumor Foundation and how others in the VC and biotech community can get involved.Join Team Claire by donating here: https://curethekids.org/teamclaire_wsgr

Dr. Anna French, Managing Partner at Qiming Venture Partners USA, joins the NextGen VC Podcast to trace her nonlinear path from an Oxford DPhil and BCG boardrooms to becoming employee #1 at one of biotech's most globally connected venture firms. Anna shares what it's really like to build a fund from the ground up, why she championed Umoja Biopharma's bold bet on in vivo CAR-T and in-house manufacturing, and how a global perspective — forged in UK labs, Korean hospitals, and Parisian roundtables — shapes the way she looks for innovation. She shares candidly about LP fundraising, the US-China biotech opportunity, and what work-life balance actually looks like when both you and your spouse are running full speed. 

Suan Tuang didn’t take a traditional path into biotech investing, and this journey shapes how he evaluates risk today. Now at TCG Crossover, and with prior experience at Foresite and Eventide, Suan brings a clinician-scientist lens to investing across private and public markets. In this episode, Suan shares how his immigrant journey and academic challenges at MIT and Harvard have shaped his unique approach to risk and resilience. Learn how he leverages clinical data over hype, balances scientific rigor with market realities, and more. Suan also offers practical advice for aspiring investors and entrepreneurs. Tune in for actionable insights and inspiration. This episode may feature current or former clients of Wilson Sonsini. This podcast is for general informational purposes and is not intended to provide and should not be relied on as legal advice. The information in this podcast is not tailored to a particularized situation or jurisdiction, may not reflect the current state of the law, and should not be considered a substitute for the advice of your own legal counsel. You should not consider this podcast an invitation to form an attorney-client relationship, and no attorney-client relationship is created by your use of this podcast. Wilson Sonsini disclaims all liability in respect to any actions taken or not taken based on the content of this podcast and notes that prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome. This podcast may be considered attorney advertising in certain jurisdictions.

What does it take to turn breakthrough science into a breakthrough company? In this episode of the NextGen VC Podcast, we sit down with Noreen Rizvi, Principal at Third Rock Ventures, whose journey from chemical engineering to venture creation offers a rare look inside the art and science of biotech investing. Noreen discusses how she bridges science and strategy, what she’s learned from building companies like Trace Neuro and Faze Medicine, and why Third Rock spends years incubating ideas before launch. She also shares how mentorship, collaboration, and a “take the call” mindset have shaped her path. Tune in for a grounded, inside look at company creation, risk-taking, and the evolving biotech landscape from RNA therapeutics to the next generation of life science innovation.This episode may feature current or former clients of Wilson Sonsini. This podcast is for general informational purposes and is not intended to provide and should not be relied on as legal advice. The information in this podcast is not tailored to a particularized situation or jurisdiction, may not reflect the current state of the law, and should not be considered a substitute for the advice of your own legal counsel. You should not consider this podcast an invitation to form an attorney-client relationship, and no attorney-client relationship is created by your use of this podcast. Wilson Sonsini disclaims all liability in respect to any actions taken or not taken based on the content of this podcast and notes that prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome. This podcast may be considered attorney advertising in certain jurisdictions.

Join us on the NextGenVC Podcast as we dive into the inspiring journey of Dr. Tia Lyles-Williams, a trailblazer in the biotech industry. Discover how mentorship shaped her path, the challenges she overcame, and her vision for inclusive biotech innovation through her accelerator, HiveBio. Dr. Tia shares insights on building a community-driven biotech ecosystem and the importance of perseverance in the face of obstacles. Tune in for an engaging conversation that highlights the dynamic world of venture capital and biotech in Philadelphia.

Hosts Mike Hostetler and Jen Fang are joined by Jon Chee, CEO of Excedr and host of The Biotech Startups Podcast. Jon shares insights from his work with early-stage life science companies, trends he's observing in biotech, and what he’s learned from interviewing founders and industry leaders on his own podcast. He also reflects on the importance of company culture, capital structure, and resilience in building successful biotech ventures. Tune in to hear how Jon is helping founders navigate startup challenges, scale smarter, and stay focused on science.