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From improving food security to decarbonizing heavy industries and even transforming human health, microbes are emerging as a powerful tool in the fight against climate change.
But could they also be the next multi-billion-dollar opportunity?
And can generalist VCs understand the space well enough to back the right teams?
In this episode, I’m joined by Olivier Mougenot, partner at Wind, a French deep-tech climate VC firm. Olivier is not a scientist. He’s not a biologist either. But he’s convinced that microorganisms will reshape our industries for the better and that biotech is now a business-first game where traditional VCs can support startups.
We discuss:
What VCs can learn from SaaS to back the next generation of biotech startups
How to evaluate microorganisms projects (hint: performance, price, scale)
What AI can’t do yet in synthetic biology (but might soon)
How the best biotech startups de-risk their business
… and more!
Watch this episode on YouTube. 👇
⌛TIMESTAMPS
0:00 Introduction
2:59 Wind: A Deep Tech VC Firm
6:34 Microorganisms & Sustainability
12:37 Biotech Beyond Scientists
16:46 Ethics of Microorganisms
21:23 Why Impact Funds Fit Biotech
27:00 Wind’s Investment Thesis
34:27 AI in Biotech
37:45 Biotech Predictions
41:54 Advice for Founders & VCs
📚 STARTUPS AND BOOKS
The Good Virus - A book on the positive role of viruses in biology
InSpek - Provides optical sensors for bioreactors
Phagos - Develops phage therapies for cattle
Gourmey - Lab-grown foie gras
Carbios - Plastic degradation via enzymes
Lanzatech - Biofuels
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