Erudite Pirate

Business development for biotechnology research portfolio

After much crafting of technology value propositions and communicating of strategic context, it was time to cross the table from the sell side to the buy side. As European BD guy for Merck´s life science research unit, I am responsible for developing our network and deal pipeline, evaluating and recommending new product, technology, and platform opportunities for our portfolio. Meet smart, cool people and kick their tires?  Yes plz

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Co-Founder & Head of technology development for corporate start-up (Base6Bio)

As co-founder of our first corporate start-up, I led technology development, intellectual property strategy, project management, and commercial strategy. We built a running R&D program with a global footprint, an IP position, internal acceptance of the business case, recruited dozens of champions, and even attempted M&A to overtake our competitors' head start. We almost made it, but competitor resourcing scaled too rapidly for us. 

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Advisor & Activist for synthetic biology innovation

I got recruited into the first think tank of the new Merck Innovation Centre, mandated to recommend new business opportunities in synthetic biology. My project for an enzymatic DNA synthesis technology was funded as their first corporate start-up. I would continue to advise on the synbio agenda as exploratory field lead for innovation strategy, evaluator for applicants to our accelerator program, and tech platform expert & panelist.

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Inhouse strategy consulting for the eldest science & technology company in the world

It was time for exposure to large corporate. What better choice than a 15 Bn EUR sales, 50 k staff science & technology company founded in 1668? Awesome. The inhouse strategy consulting group was a great entry point with its long-term client relationships and high visibility / access. I divided my time on building up the new Innovation Centre organisation and on healthcare portfolio analytics, process mapping, and country strategy.

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Product launch for medical technology start-up

Actually launching a product seemed vaguely important in this whole entrepreneurship thing. So I joined a medtech start-up to help do just that for a point-of-care Dx. Market access through pharmacies, telemedicine to close the liability loop, a rocking cool mobile clinic to tour the country. All the best laid plans. Suddenly the company runs out of money in the middle of launch and fires everybody. More due diligence next time.

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Academic / Freelance technostrategic consulting for biotech start-ups

Working on my masters in biotechnology entrepreneurship opened opportunities to work with start-ups in the Cambridge biocluster. Topics included droplet microfluidics for single-cell analysis, cell line development services, and cell line engineering technologies (yes of course CRISPR, but not just that...). High technology in the context of royal medieval architecture, with the occasional Stephen Hawking rolling by. RIP :(

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Commercial strategy for bioenergy research institute

For topic and geocultural contrast, I went to California to intern in commercialising biofuel technology with JBEI (led by Berkeley lab, funded by the DOE). I focused on technoeconomic assessment of alternative higher-value chemicals produced from lignocellulosic biomass. I cunningly situated my Airbnb in Oakland, apparently the second most dangerous city in the US after Detroit. Walking to work in a suit was a special morning thrill.

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Boutique strategy consulting for Biophama

Healthcare-related biotech seemed to pull in all the attention and funding. I decided to check this out first. I took an analyst position developing value dossiers for therapeutic assets. My first exposure to a client-focused working style. I also learnt that my new locale, Macclesfield, was the world's biggest producer of finished silk in 1832. The methods used by the East India Company to support this achievement were not co-advertised.

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Laboratory research in translational and experimental medicine

The Imperial Centre for Translational and Experimental Medicine. I mean...with a name like that you couldn´t not do your dissertation research there. Shiny equipment. Floor-to-ceiling windows. Typical molecular biology workflows but looking into the role of exosomes in thrombogenic and pro-inflammatory signalling. When everyone else is gone, bust out the music and dance moves as you pipette.