Grow Everything Biotech Podcast

• 153. Ghosts of Biotech Past: Veronica Breckenridge’s Playbook for Smarter Scaling

  In this Halloween-themed episode, Veronica Breckenridge from First Bite returns to discuss her eye-opening "Industrial Bio-Manufacturing Graveyard Report." Drawing from her experience scaling companies like Apple and Tesla, Veronica reveals why 80% of bio-manufacturing startups fail—and it's not because of bad science. The conversation explores critical mistakes like targeting commodity markets too early, underestimating downstream processing costs, and the "build it and they will come" mentality that has buried promising ventures. Veronica explains why now is actually the best time to invest in bio-manufacturing, citing decreasing costs (3 million times cheaper in 25 years), rising consumer demand for healthier alternatives to petroleum-based products, and increased government support for domestic manufacturing. She shares tactical advice on patient capital structures, the importance of strategic partnerships over going solo, and why bio-manufacturing is more analogous to hardware scaling than pharmaceutical development. The episode offers valuable lessons for founders, investors, and anyone interested in the future of sustainable manufacturing.Grow Everything brings the bioeconomy to life. Hosts Karl Schmieder and Erum Azeez Khan share stories and interview the leaders and influencers changing the world by growing everything. Biology is the oldest technology. And it can be engineered. What are we growing?Learn more at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.messaginglab.com/groweverything⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Chapters:(00:00:00) - Halloween intro and SNL's Snack Homies discussion(00:04:17) - Zombie apocalypse: Could fungi or viruses cause real zombies?(00:09:12) - Beyond Meat stock surge and meme trading(00:11:34) - Introducing the Graveyard Report and Veronica Breckenridge(00:14:23) - Why Veronica moved from Tesla to bio-manufacturing(00:19:45) - The three recurring market fit errors killing startups(00:27:56) - Why targeting commodity markets is a seductive trap(00:35:18) - Downstream processing: The overlooked cost killer(00:42:31) - CapEx overruns and the importance of strategic partnerships(00:48:07) - Patient capital structures for deep tech ventures(00:53:22) - What makes this moment different: Why invest now(00:58:14) - Quick fire questions and closing thoughtsLinks and Resources:First BightThe Industrial Biomanufacturing Graveyard ReportBiowell Biotech AcceleratorGinkgo ConsultingCapgeminiMcKinsey120. Busting Biotech's Bottlenecks: Veronica Breckenridge on the Path to Industrial Scale151. Report on Reports: Cash Flow, Carbon, and the BioeconomyZombie-like effects from fungusBeyond Meat’s Stock SpikeTedX BostonTechnoeconomic Analysis Tool⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Topics Covered: industrial biomanufacturing, biotech, business, growth stage, graveyard report, halloweenHave a question or comment? Message us here:Text or Call (804) 505-5553 ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠  / ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Twitter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ / ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ / ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Youtube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ / ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Grow Everything⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Email: [email protected] by: NihiloreProduction by: Amplafy Media

  --------  

  1:02:57

  --------

  1:02:57
• 152. Crystals in the Cosmos: Varda Rewrites Drug Formulation in Microgravity

  In this episode, we explore how Varda Space Industries is pioneering pharmaceutical manufacturing in microgravity with Chief Strategy Officer Michael Riley and Chief Science Officer Adrian Radocea. The team discusses how removing gravity from the crystallization process enables better drug formulations—creating more stable, bioavailable medicines that don't require refrigeration. From their reusable spacecraft that can manufacture drugs in orbit and return them to Earth, to their vision of making space-based manufacturing routine and "boring," Varda is bridging aerospace engineering and biopharma to solve formulation challenges that have stumped the industry for decades. With $187 million in recent funding and spacecraft currently in orbit, they're transforming science fiction into a manufacturing platform that could expand access to medicines globally.Chapters:(00:00:00) Teaser and Introduction(00:05:00) Meet the Team: From Semiconductors and Global Health to Space Pharma(00:08:00) Microgravity as a Manufacturing Tool: Physics Over Chemistry(00:13:00) Which Drugs Benefit Most? Small Molecules to Antibodies(00:15:00) Bridging Aerospace and Biopharma Cultures(00:17:00) Current Mission: A Lab (and Soon Factory) in Space(00:21:00) Surprising Gravity Effects Even at 800 RPM(00:25:00) Making Space Manufacturing Cost-Effective(00:29:00) The 10-Year Vision: Routine, Industrial, and "Boring"(00:31:00) Hiring Across Aerospace and Pharma + Quick Fire QuestionsEpisode Links:VARDAElliot Hershberg on VARDA Elliot Hershberg and Patrick McCormick on VARDAElizabeth ReynoldsChris Mason Episode ⁠⁠Kate Rubins Episode⁠ ⁠Erika DeBenedictis EpisodeKyle Landry EpisodeGrow Everything brings the bioeconomy to life. Hosts Karl Schmieder and Erum Azeez Khan share stories and interview the leaders and influencers changing the world by growing everything. Biology is the oldest technology. And it can be engineered. What are we growing?Learn more at www.messaginglab.com/groweverythingTopics Covered: space biotech, drug development, space research, low earth orbit, microgravity, crystallization  Have a question or comment? Message us here:Text or Call (804) 505-5553Instagram  / Twitter / LinkedIn / Youtube / Grow Everything

  --------  

  41:00

  --------

  41:00
• 151. Report on Reports: Cash Flow, Carbon, and the Bioeconomy

  In this episode, Erum and Karl unpack six major reports that define the current state of synthetic biology and the bioeconomy. From investment trends to national security concerns, from manufacturing failures to trillion-dollar opportunities, these reports paint a complex picture of an industry at a critical turning point.Grow Everything brings the bioeconomy to life. Hosts Karl Schmieder and Erum Azeez Khan share stories and interview the leaders and influencers changing the world by growing everything. Biology is the oldest technology. And it can be engineered. What are we growing?Learn more at ⁠www.messaginglab.com/groweverythingChapters:(00:00:00) - Introduction: A Report on Reports(00:01:00) - The Ig Noble Prize for Meta-Reporting(00:02:00) - SynBioBeta Investment Trends: Easy Money's Gone(00:06:00) - World Economic Forum: Leading with Value, Not Technology(00:11:00) - First Bite's Manufacturing Graveyard: Learning from Failure(00:18:00) - AB4S Report: Biology's Climate Potential(00:24:00) - National Security Commission: The US is Falling Behind(00:33:00) - Bio & Kearney: The Hidden Bioeconomy(00:39:00) - Cross-Report Themes and Contradictions(00:45:00) - Quick Fire Questions(00:48:00) - Final Thoughts: From Science to InfrastructureEpisode Links:Ig Nobel PrizeSynBioBeta 2025 Investment ReportWorld Economic Forum’s Report with CapgeminiAdvanced Biotech for Sustainability Coalition Report BIO and Kearney’s Bioeconomy Impact Modelling Report National Security Commission on Emerging Biotechnologies Report  First Bight Ventures to Buy a Manufacturing Graveyard Report Our Live 150th episode Alexander Titus' episodeAngela Belcher's episodeGenspaceBreak into BiotechNSF and NVIDIA PartnershipTopics Covered: natural resources, feedstocks, bioprocessings, biomanufacturing, consumer products and goods, biotech, industry reports Have a question or comment? Message us here:Text or Call (804) 505-5553⁠Instagram⁠/⁠Twitter⁠/⁠LinkedIn⁠/⁠Youtube⁠/⁠Grow Everything

  --------  

  49:23

  --------

  49:23
• 150. Live at BioFab Fair. Celebrating 150 Episodes!

  In this special 150th episode of Grow Everything, Erum and Karl broadcast live from the BioFab Fair 2025 in London. They explore the innovative world of biology as technology with special guests Elliot Roth and Amanda (from Mothership Materials), discussing community biotech labs, biopunk culture, and sustainable feedstocks for the bioeconomy.Chapters:(00:00:00) - Introduction to BioFab Fair 2025(00:01:43) - Reflections on day one of BioFab Fair(00:06:00) - Interview with Elliot Roth on Biopunk culture(00:07:00) - From hacker to punk: Redefining biotech development(00:10:00) - The rise of community bio labs and why they're having a moment(00:12:00) - Missing small business biotech and problems with VC funding(00:14:00) - Weird biotech innovations around the world(00:20:00) - Global tour insights and medical tourism observations(00:24:00) - Call to action for Biopunk movement(00:27:00) - Interview with Amanda from Mothership Materials(00:28:00) - Breakthrough technology for agricultural waste processing(00:30:00) - The importance of glucose for scaling biomanufacturing(00:34:00) - Introducing "Microbe Munch" - specialized sugar for microbes(00:38:00) - The future of distributed biomanufacturingEpisode Links:Gozen Lunaform video. Wow! - https://vimeo.com/1061047875Biopunk Lab - https://biopunklab.com/Pacagen - https://pacagen.com/Deep Science Ventures - https://www.deepscienceventures.com/Mothership Materials - https://www.mothershipmaterials.com/Topics Covered:Biofabricate, Biofab Fair, live recording, 150 episodes, biomaterials, textiles, fabrics, furniture, community biotech, biopunk, cultivation, microbes, bioprocessing, biomanufacturing, waste agricultureHave a question or comment? Message us here:Text or Call (804) 505-5553Instagram / Twitter/ LinkedIn / Youtube/ Grow Everything

  --------  

  39:53

  --------

  39:53
• 149. Beyond Capital: Phil Morle of Main Sequence Ventures on Collaboration as the New Competitive Edge

  This episode explores the journey from scientific breakthrough to scalable industrial implementation. Phil Morle — partner at Main Sequence and co‑founder of Pollenizer — explains how strategic off‑takes generate market pull, the reasons nylon recycling advanced faster than PET, and the orchestration techniques required to progress from First-Of-A-Kind (FOAK) to Next-Of-A-Kind (NOAK) facilities. The conversation covers practical aspects of costs, partnership development, policy incentives, and industrial realities, including Phil's pragmatic test: "if it doesn't need a forklift, it's not relevant."Chapters:(00:00:00) – Intro and producer mindse (00:06:53) – Orchestration and Samsara origin story(00:07:53) – Market pull with Woolworths and ANU enzymes(00:11:12) – Why nylon before PET(00:12:12) – Offtake vs. equity checks(00:31:40) – Industrial reality: the forklift test(00:33:56) – Samsara's infinite-recycling facility(00:34:33) – Biomanufacturing as infrastructure(00:40:25) – FOAK to NOAK playbooks(00:55:00) – Cauldron's HyperFermentation infrastructureEpisode Links:- Main Sequence Ventures - https://www.mseq.vc/- Lululemon & Samsara deal - https://corporate.lululemon.com/media/our-stories/2025/lululemon-and-samsara-eco-announce-10-year-plan-to-advance-recycled-material-portfolio)- Future of Fungi Awards - https://www.futureisfungi.org/- **Michele Stansfield Episode** - https://creators.spotify.com/pod/profile/messaginglab/episodes/85--Always-Be-Brewing-Continuous-Fermentation-with-Cauldrons-Michele-Stansfield-e2lu3kdTopics Covered:venture capital, ecosystem orchestration, biotech, australian businessHave a question or comment? Message us here:Text or Call (804) 505-5553Instagram/Twitter/LinkedIn/Youtube/Grow Everything

  --------  

  1:27:04

  --------

  1:27:04

Más podcasts de Ciencias

Podcasts a la moda de Ciencias

Acerca de Grow Everything Biotech Podcast