Grow Everything Biotech Podcast

What does it take to turn industrial carbon dioxide into useful chemicals at a price the market will accept? On Grow Everything, Karl Schmieder and Erum Azeez Khan speak with Max Kufner, cofounder and CEO of Again, about using gas fermentation to make acetate and other products from industrial emissions. Max explains why feedstock economics and locating production close to customers matter, what the acquisition of Genomatica brings to Again, and why real production data is essential for predicting whether a bioprocess can work at industrial scale. He also shares how customer demand, licensing, project finance, and partnerships can help move biotechnology from the lab into the real world. Before the interview, the hosts explore an AI assisted biomanufacturing class and the latest discussion around deextinction.
Grow Everything brings the bioeconomy to life. Hosts Karl Schmieder and Erum Azeez Khan share stories and speak with the leaders and innovators using biology to change the world. Biology is the world’s oldest technology, and it can be engineered. So, what are we growing?
Learn more at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.messaginglab.com/groweverything
Chapters:
(00:00:00) - Biology, public engagement, and biomanufacturing education
(00:05:00) - AI agents and cell free protein experiments
(00:10:00) - Deextinction, the moa, and biotechnology
(00:15:00) - Max Kufner on turning carbon dioxide into chemicals
(00:20:00) - From venture capital to building Again
(00:26:00) - Industrial bioreactors and manufacturing at the source
(00:32:00) - Financing biotechnology scale with customer partnerships
(00:38:00) - Building biomanufacturing facilities in the US and Europe
(00:44:00) - Climate tech quick fire: engineers, finance, and teamwork
(00:50:00) - Founder takeaways: customer demand and cost parity
Links and Resources:
Again Bio.
Max Kufner LinkedIn
Startup, Again: Turning CO₂ Emissions into Carbon-negative Chemicals
Again acquires Geno to combine AI-driven discovery with industrial biomanufacturing
Colossal, who de-extincted the dire wolf, now hatches chicks from artificial egg to help de-extinct moa
113. Microbe Mission Possible: Noah Helman Discusses iMicrobes' Quest to Turn Waste into Wealth
170. There's a Bug for That: Sophia Xu on CarbonBridge's Notebook Bioreactors
102. Waste into WOW! Cemvita's Moji Karimi on Turning Carbon Problems into Golden Opportunities
Grow everything LinkedIn 
Topics Covered:
biomanufacturing, AI x bio, climate tech, green chemicals, sustainable manufacturing, industrial biotechnology, biotech scale-up, deep tech financing, carbon-negative products, alternative chemicals
Have a question or comment? Message us here:
Text or Call (804) 505-5553
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Music by: Nihilore
Production by: Amplafy Media

Michael Wright, founder of Biomimetics International, joins Grow Everything to explain how learning from nature can reshape the way we design products, build businesses, and scale emerging industries. Drawing on decades in semiconductors and high technology, he describes biomimetics as learning from nature’s tested systems, from burr inspired Velcro to shark skin that reduces drag, while emphasizing that copying a biological function is not enough if a product cannot return safely to the biosphere. He introduces the Biosverse, nature’s third number, and generational cost of ownership as ways to account for environmental liabilities that traditional business models may overlook. The conversation explores how digital and biological systems converge, why biotech can learn from semiconductor standards and roadmaps, how AI might benefit from a more nurturing and accountable design approach, and why leaders should ask, “Do you know what you do does?” Michael’s vision is a mindset shift that brings nature into the design process before we build, then measures whether innovations can serve communities and remain compatible with the living world.
Grow Everything brings the bioeconomy to life. Hosts Karl Schmieder and Erum Azeez Khan share stories and speak with the leaders and innovators using biology to change the world. Biology is the world’s oldest technology, and it can be engineered. So, what are we growing?
Learn more at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.messaginglab.com/groweverything⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
Chapters:
(00:00:00) Grow Everything opening and biotech headlines, from fall foliage to food systems for Mars
(00:07:00) FDA inspections, peptide manufacturing, and the importance of knowing where products come from
(00:14:00) Michael Wright’s semiconductor career and the path to biomimetics
(00:21:00) How digital and biological systems converge, from precision agriculture to digital water
(00:28:00) The Biosverse, biosphere compatibility, and nature’s third number
(00:35:00) Generational impact, executive decisions, and long term costs
(00:42:00) What biotech can learn from semiconductor roadmaps, standards, and shared infrastructure
(00:49:00) AI as a mom, biological sensing, and symbiotic decision making
(00:56:00) Michael’s dream project: a mindset shift toward looking at nature first
(01:03:00) Quick fire questions, the episode debrief, and designing data centers with nature in mind
Episode Links:
Biomimetics International
Michael Wright
The Exponential Era by David Espindola and Michael Wright
NASA Mars to Table Challenge
Fall foliage tracker in NY
Black mold, bugs found at Chinese plants making GLP-1 compounding agents
Cemvita and Roebling Partner to Accelerate Industrial BioSolutions From Discovery to Deployment
199. Space, the Final Fermenter: Mario Maggio Brews Biology in Orbit with Ambrosia Space
156. When Matter Makes Decisions: Michael Levin on the Intelligence of Form
133. Funding, Frameworks & Frenemies: Dr. Angela Belcher of NSCEB Gets Real on the $15B Biotech Boost Plan
71. Squid Pro Quo: Tandem Repeat's Melik Demirel Reinvents Clothing with Squitex
Grow everything LinkedIn 
Topics Covered:
biomimetics, bio-inspired design, biosphere compatibility, generational cost of ownership, nature-inspired materials, biomimicry in engineering, sustainable data centers, AI and biomimicry, biomimetics industry standards, circular materials
Have a question or comment? Message us here:
Text or Call (804) 505-5553
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Music by: Nihilore
Production by: Amplafy Media

At Bio Innovations in Omaha and an adjacent investor gathering in Houston, Grow Everything hosts Karl Schmieder and Erum Azeez Khan unpack the shift reshaping the bioeconomy: scientific discovery is becoming faster and less expensive, while deployment, scale up, and durable partnerships have become the real competitive advantage. They share conversations from the conference floor on the missing middle between bench science and commercial production, the Midwest’s feedstock and infrastructure advantage, the need for early technoeconomic discipline, and how corporates can give innovators clearer demand and specification targets. From pilot facilities and downstream processing to waste to value opportunities and resilient domestic supply chains, this recap maps the practical work required to turn biological innovation into products that matter.
Grow Everything brings the bioeconomy to life. Hosts Karl Schmieder and Erum Azeez Khan share stories and speak with the leaders and innovators using biology to change the world. Biology is the world’s oldest technology, and it can be engineered. So, what are we growing?
Learn more at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.messaginglab.com/groweverything⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
Chapters:
(00:00:00) Halloween, food dyes, and a motel room microbiology discovery
(00:05:29) The fire microbe and the promise of extremophiles for manufacturing
(00:07:46) AI agents, scientific discovery, and physical laboratories
(00:14:43) Bio Innovations recap: Omaha infrastructure meets Houston capital
(00:18:00) Discovery is cheaper, but deployment is the whole game
(00:22:24) The missing middle: pilots, ecosystems, and the valley of do
(00:26:45) Business models, corporate demand clarity, and consumer framing
(00:34:40) Scale up lessons: feasibility, downstream processing, and tech transfer
(00:42:28) Waste to value, bioeconomic resilience, and what comes next
Links and Resources:
Bioinnovations
Steve Bray - TritenIAG
Phillip Crawford -Roebling
Mike Glasspool - Merrick
Kyle Pomraning - Pacific Northwest National Lab
Gatorade recall across 37 states in the U.S.
Scientist discovered two new species of bacteria from a motel room they converted into a lab
Incendiamoeba cascadensis. This 'fire amoeba' pushes the limit of what's possible for complex life
Claude discovers a novel enzyme system with CRISPR-like repeats
C5R Built a Research Lab Run by AI in 12 Weeks.
164. From Plasmids to Pallets: How Erin Marasco Scales Biology at Cargill
165. Biology Behind the Brands: Inside P&G’s Two-Century Story
166. The Great Reformulation: Joshua Lachter Rethinks How We Make Everything at Scale
102. Waste into WOW! Cemvita's Moji Karimi on Turning Carbon Problems into Golden Opportunities

Topics Covered:
autonomous labs, laboratory robotics, AI in biotechnology, synthetic biology, bioengineering, biological automation, data as a service, biotech infrastructure, cell engineering, programmable biology
Have a question or comment? Message us here:
Text or Call (804) 505-5553
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Music by: Nihilore 
Production by: Amplafy Media

Genoa Ventures founder and managing director Jenny Rooke joins Karl Schmieder and Erum Azeez to explore bioconvergence, the expanding frontier where biology meets AI, automation, materials science, and real world business building. Drawing on her journey from physics and genetics to venture capital, Jenny explains why durable bio based companies must pair novel science with clear customer demand, disciplined scale up, and a path to meaningful commercial value. The conversation examines lessons from early synthetic biology, the realities of biomanufacturing at scale, next generation clinical assessment tools, and why founders working between traditional tech and biotech categories need investors who understand both.
Grow Everything brings the bioeconomy to life. Hosts Karl Schmieder and Erum Azeez Khan share stories and speak with the leaders and innovators using biology to change the world. Biology is the world’s oldest technology, and it can be engineered. So, what are we growing?
Learn more at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.messaginglab.com/groweverything⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
Chapters:
(00:00:00) Climate Week, bioliteracy, and biology as a climate solution
(00:03:00) America’s Living Library Act and the case for sampling public lands
(00:07:00) State microbes, public engagement, and the future of bioliteracy
(00:10:00) Erum’s biomanufacturing course and designing food safe colors
(00:15:00) Introducing Jenny Rooke and Genoa Ventures
(00:17:00) From physics and genetics to investing in science based companies
(00:20:00) The Genoa sail: founder autonomy, trust, and avoiding fatal mistakes
(00:22:00) What defines a bioconvergence company
(00:24:00) Why biotechnology needs a broader frame than pharma
(00:26:00) Lessons from synthetic biology’s first wave and the impact of AI
(00:28:00) Matching company timelines to biology, markets, and venture returns
(00:29:00) The future of clinical assessment tools and actionable health data
(00:32:00) Diagnostics, consumer data, and the difference between insight and infotainment
(00:34:00) Why bio based businesses can offer investors a different risk profile
(00:37:00) Why industrial biotechnology companies fail and what scale up requires
(00:40:00) Biomanufacturing, commercial readiness, and Genoa’s newest investment
(00:42:00) What Genoa is watching across tools, biology, and manufacturing
(00:45:00) Jenny’s four word credo and the founder mindset
(00:48:00) Closing reflections on bioconvergence and building the bioeconomy
Links and Resources:
Genoa Ventures
Jenny Rooke LinkedIn
Genoa Ventures LinkedIn
JPM 2026: Genoa Ventures’ Jenny Rooke on Next-Gen Clinical Assessment Tools
Graveyard report - First Bite Ventures
3 States Have Official State Microbes 
National Security Commission of Emerging Biotech
Topics Covered:
bioconvergence, deep tech venture capital, synthetic biology investing, biomanufacturing, life science tools, clinical diagnostics, industrial biotech, bioeconomy
Have a question or comment? Message us here:
Text or Call (804) 505-5553
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Music by: Nihilore 
Production by: Amplafy Media

Michael Heltzen, CEO of Exozymes, joins Grow Everything to explain how cell free biomanufacturing is opening new possibilities for natural products, nutraceuticals, and medicines. Michael shares why engineered enzymes can make high purity molecules without relying on living cells, how Exozymes moved its NCT program from discovery toward commercial manufacturing in less than two years, and why its capital light partnership model is central to scaling impact. The conversation also explores AI guided enzyme design, digital twins for manufacturing, rare cannabinoids, downstream processing, and the disciplined focus required to turn a broad biotechnology platform into real products.
Grow Everything brings the bioeconomy to life. Hosts Karl Schmieder and Erum Azeez Khan share stories and speak with the leaders and innovators using biology to change the world. Biology is the world’s oldest technology, and it can be engineered. So, what are we growing?
Learn more at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.messaginglab.com/groweverything⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
Chapters:
(00:00:00) Michael Heltzen and the Exozymes mission
(00:05:00) Why cell free manufacturing can unlock inaccessible natural products
(00:10:00) Combining molecular biology, computation, and AI guided enzyme design
(00:15:00) From laboratory platform to industrial scale production
(00:20:00) Commercial partnerships and the NCT market opportunity
(00:25:00) Rare cannabinoids and a new toolkit for medicinal chemistry
(00:30:00) The capital light licensing model for biomanufacturing
(00:35:00) Downstream processing, purity, and investor skepticism
(00:40:00) The future of sustainable enzyme driven chemical manufacturing
(00:45:00) Key takeaways on focus, partnerships, and platform innovation
Links and Resources:
eXoZymes⁠
eXoZymes Awarded $2 Million NIH Grant to Advance Cannabinoid Analogs for Drug Discovery
⁠eXoZymes’ Cell-Free Biomanufacturing Platform Gets Positive Feedback from Cayman Chemical⁠
Michael Heltzen LinkedIn
⁠eXoZymes on LinkedIn⁠
129. No Cells? No Problem! eXoZymes' Michael Heltzen on the Future of Microbe-Free Biotech
176. Dare to Commercialize: Damien Perriman’s eXoZymes Playbook
51. Cell-Free, Problem-Free: Enzyme Alchemy with Alex Rosay at Cascade Biocatalysts
85. Always Be Brewing: Continuous Fermentation with Cauldron's Michele Stansfield
Topics Covered:
cell-free biomanufacturing, enzyme engineering, exozymes, biosynthesis, cannabinoids, NCT (N-trans-caffeoyltyramine), synthetic biology, AI-driven enzyme design, scalable bioproduction, sustainable chemicals
Have a question or comment? Message us here:
Text or Call (804) 505-5553
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Music by: Nihilore 
Production by: Amplafy Media