Activation Energy

Casey Lippmeier of Checkerspot discusses precision fermentation. Adam Lawrence co-hosts. OUTLINE(00:00) Introduction(00:32) Education and career(04:25) Checkerspot - origin story and technology(07:05) Target market - infant nutrition(08:21) Partnerships(10:41) Precision fermentation(13:04) Bioeconomy(14:52) Advantages and disadvantages(17:28) Market sizing and segmentation(19:27) Success stories(22:26) Value ecosystem and manufacturing (24:50) Needed innovations(26:58) Continuous fermentation(28:16) Industry cycles(31:29) Policies(35:39) Vision of the future of bioeconomy

Jason Kakoyiannis and Brian Brazeau of Ferment discuss the state of bioeconomy and backing biotech startups. Adam Lawrence co-hosts.OUTLINE(00:00) Introduction(00:38) Education and careers(01:35) Ferment origin story(07:10) Fund vs. studio venture model(12:21) Technoeconomics(19:33) Value ecosystem(21:59) Advantages of bio(24:43) Tech push, Market pull(29:25) Market opportunities(31:25) Success stories(33:16) Financing mechanisms(36:55) Government funding(41:26) State of biotech and biomanufacturing

William Morris of NuMat talks about metal organic frameworks (MOFs) for filtration, separation, and storage of gases, as well as about his journey helping spin out a startup from Northwestern University. Bryce Meredig joins as co-host.OUTLINE(00:00) Introduction(00:53) Career path(05:29) NuMat’s origin(06:10) Metal organic frameworks (MOFs)(10:39) Market opportunity(12:16) Partnership models(14:35) Invention to commercialization(16:48) Partnership with Merck(17:32) Technoeconomics(20:39) Market pull(23:07) Market research and customer discovery process(27:08) Challenges(31:46) Culture and team dynamics(33:48) Vision for NuMat

Mark Warner of Liberation Bioindustries speaks about the importance of scaling biology and shifting focus from R&D to manufacturing. Adam Lawrence cohosts.OUTLINE(00:00) Introduction(00:39) Career (02:36) Definition of biomanufacturing(03:46) Comparison with chemical manufacturing (07:14) History and evolution of biomanufacturing (10:15) Current state of biomanufacturing(13:01) Role of government  (17:49) R&D vs manufacturing(20:10) Ramifications of only R&D focus (25:40) Financing and technoeconomics(27:27) Workforce development(30:48) Liberation Bioindustries(40:31) Vision of future of US biomanufacturing

Nádia Parachin of Integra discusses industrial biotechnology. Adam Lawrence co-hosts.OUTLINE(00:00) Introduction(00:49) Education and career(02:21) Tech transfer and innovation financing in Brazil vs. US(08:52) Industrial biotechnology - definition and advantages(14:33) Key drivers for industrial biotech(16:21) Platform vs Product business models(20:38) Current state of industry(25:59) Examples of success(28:18) Bottlenecks(30:25) Commercialization strategy (33:15) Lessons learned and advice