Breaking the Boundaries between Deeptech and Traditional Tech in Austin with Andrew Busey Co-Founder & Co-CEO of Form Bio

05/02/23 • 38 min

The world of technology is expanding, and we're seeing a convergence of deep tech with traditional software and computation. Today, we're speaking with Andrew Busey, co-founder of Form Bio and Colossal Biosciences, two companies that sit at this intersection. With over 25 years of experience in the industry, Andrew has been a driving force behind some of the internet's most significant technologies. Andrew’s career has taken him through several pivotal moments in tech history, including the early days of the internet, gaming, AI, and now bio.

Episode Highlights

Andrew’s career spanned key tech products such as Mosaic (the first web browser), iChat (the first web-based chat system), and Zynga (one the most popular gaming companies of the social media era)
Software entrepreneurs are increasingly applying techniques, business models, and more to the bio, quantum, and AI fields
His approach is to make Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups “...software is either the chocolate or the peanut butter and then I'm finding some other thing to combine with it to make something that tastes great and is novel”
Form Bio, the first spinout from Colossal Biosciences, aims to solve the badly managed data issue in the biotech industry
AI's impact on business and society is shifting toward distributed vertical intelligence
The availability of remote work technology may lead to a more distributed talent pool and impact the future of Austin as a tech hub
What’s next Austin? “I think the big thing we're gonna see is fabs and Musk-related companies evolving here and how that affects the mix of things will be very interesting.”

Episode links

Andrew Busey: Twitter, LinkedIn

Form Bio: Website, Twitter, LinkedIn

Colossal Biosciences: Website, Twitter, LinkedIn

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Austin Next Links: Website, X/Twitter, YouTube, LinkedIn
Ecosystem Metacognition Substack

Episode Highlights

Andrew’s career spanned key tech products such as Mosaic (the first web browser), iChat (the first web-based chat system), and Zynga (one the most popular gaming companies of the social media era)
Software entrepreneurs are increasingly applying techniques, business models, and more to the bio, quantum, and AI fields
His approach is to make Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups “...software is either the chocolate or the peanut butter and then I'm finding some other thing to combine with it to make something that tastes great and is novel”
Form Bio, the first spinout from Colossal Biosciences, aims to solve the badly managed data issue in the biotech industry
AI's impact on business and society is shifting toward distributed vertical intelligence
The availability of remote work technology may lead to a more distributed talent pool and impact the future of Austin as a tech hub
What’s next Austin? “I think the big thing we're gonna see is fabs and Musk-related companies evolving here and how that affects the mix of things will be very interesting.”

Episode links

Andrew Busey: Twitter, LinkedIn

Form Bio: Website, Twitter, LinkedIn

Colossal Biosciences: Website, Twitter, LinkedIn

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Austin Next Links: Website, X/Twitter, YouTube, LinkedIn
Ecosystem Metacognition Substack

Previous Episode

Why Austin and the Texas Triangle is Poised for Success: A Conversation with Cullum Clark

Are the cities in the Texas Triangle on the right track to success? With their expansive population growth and focus on economic growth, the cities of the Texas Triangle have been on an upward trajectory in recent years. To answer these questions and more, we welcome back to the show Cullum Clark, director of the George W. Bush Institute and SMU's Economic Growth Initiative. Cullum discusses the Texas Triangle and its implications for economic growth, infrastructure, and housing.

Episode Highlights

The Texas Triangle has been more successful in balancing growth while preserving the unique character and identity of each city.
Every county across the San Antonio and Austin metros grew, while the core urban counties in Houston and Dallas lost population.
Cullum's key for regions is to prioritize education, human capital, livability, and being business-friendly to attract and retain talent and companies.
Austin's multi-hub economy has a diverse industry base with a unique mix of a big public university, the state capital, and the biggest tourist destination.
What’s next Austin? “I think that when you look at everything that's working in 21st Century America, Austin truly has it all. To be a place that kind of benefits from being a kind of, having a cultural cool factor, benefits from being a center of tech benefits from being a major higher ed center. There is an economic anchor as well. I'm absolutely as bullish as I could be and I would encourage others to be as well. The future of the Texas Triangle is very bright.”

Episode links

Cullum Clark: Twitter, Website

George W. Bush Center: Website

The Texas Triangle: An Emerging Metropolitan Model in the Lone Star State

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Austin Next Links: Website, X/Twitter, YouTube, LinkedIn
Ecosystem Metacognition Substack

Next Episode

Austin's Next Innovation Hub: The Vision Behind the University of Austin with Pano Kanelos

The University of Austin is a new and promising institution set to open its doors to full time students in just over a year. The university is the brainchild of a few individuals who believe that an institution based on a new model is necessary. The school is committed to freedom of inquiry, a core tenet of any great university, that allows for the pursuit of truth. Today’s guest is the founding president, Pano Kanelos, a distinguished academic that had a successful tenure at St. John's College. We discuss the university's mission, building new institutions, and how they fit within Austin’s education and innovation ecosystems.

Episode Highlights

The University of Austin aims to become a new center for innovation and academic freedom in the city.
UATX aspires to become the "Stanford to Berkeley" for Austin, complementing the University of Texas.
By working closely with industry leaders, the university seeks to co-develop programs, offer internships, and provide support for student-led projects.
The Polaris Project emphasizes real-world application and impact on pressing global problems, while fostering interdisciplinary collaboration among students.
They want to inspire new institutions around the world by proving that it’s possible to build a new university today
What’s next Austin? “A dozen years from now, there is a thriving campus in the Austin area that is attracting scholars, practitioners, and young people from across the country and across the world who are building things that we haven't yet dreamed of.”

Episode links

University of Austin: Website, Twitter, LinkedIn

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Austin Next Links: Website, X/Twitter, YouTube, LinkedIn
Ecosystem Metacognition Substack