This session focuses on the essential legal and funding strategies for early-stage biotech startups, emphasizing the importance of intellectual property (IP) management, legal structures, and the role of due diligence in attracting investors. The panel discusses common pitfalls, the significance of contracts, and the challenges of commercializing university IP. They also explore the timing of freedom to operate studies and the evolving landscape of biotech investment. For this session, the featu...
Oct 29, 2024•1 hr 1 min
In this episode of the Africa Biotech Conversations Podcast, host Adrienne Leussa welcomes Erin Rencken, General Manager of the newly launched OneBio Innovation Center (OBIC) in Cape Town, South Africa. The special episode features a live recording from the launch event and a detailed discussion about OBIC's mission, offerings, and community-building efforts. Erin outlines the center's vision to provide biotech startups with essential lab space, equipment, and a collaborative environment. The co...
Sep 16, 2024•51 min
In this episode of the "Africa Biotech Conversations" podcast, host Adrienne Leussa interviews Abdulaziz El Gamal, the co-founder and Chief Product Officer of Proteinea. Proteinea, based in Cairo and Boston, is a tech-bio company focused on leveraging AI to develop next-generation biologics, particularly antibodies with enhanced efficacy, safety, and convenience. Key Points from the Episode: Company Background: Proteinea was founded in early 2020, right before the global pandemic, which influenc...
Aug 10, 2024•45 min
The LinkedIn Live session, part of the AMA series on "The Art of Valuation," focused on valuation strategies for biotech startups at early and post-Series A stages. Moderated by Dr. Adrienne Leussa, the discussion featured finance experts Olufemi Elegbe, CFA and Sewu-Steve Tawia. Key highlights included the importance of financial literacy for biotech entrepreneurs, methods for accurately valuing biotech startups, and strategies for enhancing valuation after Series A. The session also emphasized...
Aug 10, 2024•1 hr
In this insightful episode of the "Ask Me Anything" series on funding and investment, the focus was on early-stage biotech entrepreneurs in Africa. Adrienne was joined by Gian-Marco Melfi, a partner at OneBio Venture Studios, who shared his expertise on the unique challenges and strategies relevant to securing investment in the biotech sector. The discussion covered the intricacies of biotech investments, including the importance of understanding the investment landscape, targeting the right typ...
May 28, 2024•48 min
In this comprehensive session of the ongoing dialogue with African biotech leaders, the focus was on building and maintaining investor relationships. Joining Adrienne were seasoned experts, including Dr. Vuyisile Phehane and Gian-Marco Melfi, who are regular contributors, along with first-time guests Natasha Drapeau and Frank Schwarz from Cohesion Bureau. The discussion covered best practices for engaging with investors, emphasising the importance of communication, the strategic presentation of ...
May 28, 2024•1 hr
In this episode of the "Ask Me Anything" series under the Dialogue with African Biotech Leaders, experts Gian-Marco Melfi and Vuyisile Phehane discuss the nuances of funding for biotech startups. Focusing on the early stages of startup financing, the conversation explores the challenges startups face in securing funding, the importance of aligning with the right investors, and effective strategies for engaging potential backers. Gian-Marco Melfi, from One Bio Venture Studio, emphasises the signi...
May 28, 2024•59 min
In this first episode of the "Ask Me Anything" (AMA) series focused on Investment Funding for biotech, held live on LinkedIn, we delved into the intricate world of funding for biotech startups. The session features profound insights from Dr. Vuyisile Phehane, the Executive: Bio-Economy at South Africa's National Technology Innovation Agency (TIA), and Mr. Gian-Marco Melfi, an investment principal at One BioVenture Studio. Together, they explore the diverse sources of funding available to biotech...
May 28, 2024•58 min
Welcome to another retrospective episode of the Dialogue with African Biotech Leaders. In this special session, titled "Going Global: Your 2024 Biotech Growth Plan from Africa and Beyond," we explore cutting-edge strategies for biotech leaders aiming for significant growth in the 2024. This episode is packed with insights from two distinguished speakers: Erica Sosnowski : Managing Partner at Sosna and Co, a leading business development firm in the life sciences industry, with a stellar track rec...
May 14, 2024•56 min
Welcome to another insightful episode of the Dialogue with African Biotech Leaders. In this episode, we focus on a critical aspect of biotechnology entrepreneurship—funding and investment. This episode was recorded as a live plenary session at BIO Africa 2023 in Durban, South Africa, and features in-depth discussions on funding challenges and opportunities in the African biotech landscape. Join our distinguished panelists: Dr. Allama Elmehdi : CEO of Prophamedis International from Mauritania, sh...
May 14, 2024•1 hr 16 min
Welcome to another special episode of the Dialogue with African Biotech Leaders series, dedicated to exploring the theme of biotechnology for gender equality. In this episode, we delve into the intersection of biotechnology and gender equality, discussing both the challenges and successes within this dynamic field. Our goal is to envision a future where biotechnology serves as a catalyst for positive change. Join us as we introduce our distinguished panelists: Dr. Sibongile Gumbi : Founder and C...
May 14, 2024•57 min
Welcome to the second retrospective episode of the Dialogue with African Biotech Leaders series. In this episode, we feature an engaging panel of experienced biotech leaders from across Africa and the diaspora. Join us as we delve into the intersections of biotechnology, leadership, and the unique opportunities and challenges within the African biotech landscape. Our esteemed panelists, Dr. Omar Sakr, Mrs. Delali Attipoe, and Dr. Davidson Ateh, bring diverse perspectives from Cairo, Egypt; Mauri...
May 14, 2024•57 min
Welcome to a special retrospective episode of our digital networking platform, the Dialogue with African Biotech Leaders, dedicated to engaging and empowering members of the African biotech community. This platform aims to connect, engage, and exchange ideas, transcending geographical boundaries to fully unleash the potential of the African biotech industry. Join us as we reflect on the insights shared by our esteemed guests: Dr. Siya Ntutela, Non-Executive Director of Africa Bio, and Dr. Laud B...
May 14, 2024•57 min
In this enlightening episode of the Africa Biotech Conversations Podcast, Siso Mbanxa, a research scientist at Newform Foods, delves into the intriguing world of biotechnology in the food industry, focusing on cultivated meat. Her journey from academic research in biotech, particularly in cellular biology and tissue culture, to a role in the industry is explored. The episode highlights the technological advancements and challenges in producing sustainable and efficient food systems, with a focus...
Jan 31, 2024•54 min
Dive into UNISA's efforts to integrate entrepreneurial skills among its students. Spotlight on the tech transfer office and its role in encouraging new ventures. 🎙 Guests: Mr. Sibusiso Malindisa: A decorated PhD candidate, lecturer, and biotech enthusiast with ambitions of establishing a biotech startup. Mr. Basanda Pongoma: The bridge between business and academia, representing UNISA's directorate of innovation, technology transfer, and commercialization. 🎙 Discussion Highlights: From Academi...
Oct 15, 2023•41 min
Africa stands at a unique intersection, characterised by its challenges, which simultaneously present opportunities for innovation, especially in the biotech sector. From energy to food security and healthcare, the continent's obstacles can be its biggest assets, positioning it as a key player in developing solutions that not only serve local needs but have the potential to revolutionise global industries. Listen in to explore how, by building from within, Africa's innovations can seamlessly sca...
Aug 24, 2023•40 min
In this episode of the Africa Biotech Conversations podcast, our host Dr Adrienne Leussa engages in a captivating discussion with Gian-Marco Melfi, a partner at One Bio Venture Studio. One Bio is a venture capital fund that focuses on investing in local biotech startups in Africa. Marco, a biomedical scientist with a background in biochemistry and biomedical sciences, shares his fascinating journey from research to startups and now investing and funding early-stage biotech companies. Marco discu...
Jul 26, 2023•42 min
In this episode of Africa Biotech Conversations, host Adrienne Leussa welcomes Nii Simmonds, a non-resident fellow for the Atlantic Council and the Center for Global Development, based in Washington, DC. With a diverse background in pharmaceuticals, life sciences, consulting, and international development, Nii Simmonds emphasises the importance of supporting Africa's development and passing on skills to future African leaders. The discussion begins by exploring trends and opportunities for inves...
Jun 25, 2023•1 hr 3 min
In this episode of Africa Biotech Conversations, host Adrienne Leussa (PhD) interviews Dr. Nhlanhla Msomi, the president and chairman of Africa Bio, a nonprofit association advocating for biotechnology in Africa. Dr. Msomi shares his extensive experience and insights into the biotech sector and the objectives of Africa Bio. The conversation delves into Africa Bio's mission to defend and promote evidence-driven policies for biotechnology adoption, particularly in agriculture and healthcare. Dr. M...
May 24, 2023•49 min
In this podcast, host Adrienne Leussa speaks with Shobhita Soor from Ghana to learn about her journey as a biotech entrepreneur and sustainable nutrition solutions. Shobhita is the founder of two startups, Aspire Food Group and Legendary Foods. The mission of Legendary Foods is to deliver the nutrition of meat at the price point and the sustainability of plants. Insects are consumed by a third of the world's population and they are an underutilised resource to provide high-quality nutrition. Tun...
May 01, 2023•35 min
In this episode of the Africa Biotech Conversation podcast, host Adrienne Leussa speaks with Cindy Lawley, Sr Director, Global Population Health of the Proteomics Company, Olink. Cindy shares insights on her background, the technology of Olink, and its potential impact on understanding genetic risks of diseases. In this episode, we learn of the first deployment of Olink's technology on the African continent at the Institute of Infectious Disease and Molecular Medicine (IDM) in Cape Town, South A...
Mar 31, 2023•1 hr 6 min
In this episode of the Africa Biotech Conversation podcast, host Adrienne Leussa speaks with Neil Thanedar, the founder of labdoor.com and Utopic Ventures. Neil shares his inspiring story of building a biotech startup like a Silicon Valley tech company, including the creation of Labdoor.com, which tests vitamins and supplements that the FDA doesn't test and offers free transparency on product purity and accuracy. Through Labdoor.com, Neil raised over $7 million in seed and Series A funding and b...
Mar 20, 2023•29 min
Discover the cutting-edge world of Valley DAO - the decentralised autonomous organisation that's shaking up venture capital. In this episode, we explore how Valley DAO is using blockchain technology and community-driven decision-making to invest in the future of biotech startups. Join the co-founders, Albert Anis and Morgan Richards, as we uncover the fascinating story behind this innovative approach to funding and supporting early-stage companies. We share information on how to become a member ...
Mar 12, 2023•55 min
Welcome to the latest episode of our Africa biotech conversations podcast, where we explore the latest innovations and trends in the biotechnology industry on the African continent and beyond. In today's episode, we'll be diving into the rapidly growing SynBio Africa community and how it is advancing the field of synthetic biology on the continent. Synthetic biology combines biology, engineering, and computer science to design and build new biological systems with specific functions. Our guest t...
Mar 07, 2023•54 min
2 to 4 trillion USD in 2030-40...is the potential direct annual global impact of an estimated pipeline of 400 currently scientifically achievable use cases of the Bio Revolution, according to a 2020 report by McKinsey & Company. This is going to be as a result of up to 60 percent of the physical inputs to the global economy being produced biologically—with nonbiological materials like plastics or fuels potentially being produced or substituted using biology. Biology will become the ultimate ...
Feb 05, 2023•38 min
In this first episode of the Africa biotech conversations podcast for 2023, I spoke with Jayne McLaughlin, a director at george james Ltd, a company founded in 1999 to provide successful recruitment and training services to the technology and science sector. Jayne and I talked about: Jayne's journey from research through commercial to recruiting supporting the growth of the Life sciences industry across Europe Huge diversity of jobs available to people with a scientific background Taking respons...
Jan 19, 2023•43 min
In this episode of the Africa biotech conversations podcast, I spoke with Laud Anthony Basing, the Founder and CEO of Incas diagnostics, a biotech company in Ghana, which develops and manufactures lateral flow and molecular Point-of-Care tests specifically for the African Market. In our inspiring and insightful conversation we covered the following points: How his upbringing contributed to his entrepreneurial skills and curiosity The transition of Diagnostics from a medical laboratory to a Biote...
Dec 21, 2022•1 hr
In this episode I spoke to Saberi Marais, an Innovation Commercialization Manager for the University of Cape Town in South Africa; part of Research Contracts and Innovations. He commercializes the University's research outputs to realize their intended impact in society and return on capital. Saberi has extensive experience in deep technology invention valorization, project and business fund raising, deal structuring, investment funds management through the different stages of technology develop...
Nov 13, 2022•1 hr 2 min
"Who's crazy enough to start a vaccine production company, a surveillance diagnostic production company in Africa?" Dr Cornelius Cano Ssemakalu, one of the co-inventors and CSO at Iraka Biotech. Iraka Biotech is a South African-based start-up company that localises the creation, enhancement, and equitable sharing of life science solutions. Iraka Biotech was founded by Ms Blanche Lee Shong (CEO) and Dr Cornelius Cano Ssemakalu to address the lack of adequate and timely access to quality one healt...
Oct 23, 2022•39 min
This has been one of my favorite episodes of the Africa Biotech Conversations podcast because it is about 2 of my favorite topics women and biotech business. In honor of August being women's month in South Africa, I interviewed Dr Sarah Carroll who is CEO and co-founder of MariHealth Solutions, a spin-off company of the University of Cape town, in South Africa. MariHealth Solutions was co-founded with her ex-PhD supervisor, Vernon Coyne to make real-world use of research that was being done at t...
Aug 29, 2022•32 min
