Can Austin Lead the Race to Solving Rare Diseases with the Founders of the Firefly Fund

10/02/24 • 39 min

Nothing motivates a parent to action like a sick child, and for the Andrews family, words like no and impossible became mere roadblocks on their journey to help their kids. Our guests, Pam and Chris Andrews, founders of the Firefly Fund, turned their battle with their daughters' rare genetic disorder into a mission to revolutionize rare disease research and treatment here in Austin and beyond.

Episode Highlights

Firefly Fund's Origin
Establishing a Rare Disease Center at UT Dell Medical School
Navigating the Diagnostic Odyssey
Interplay of Tech Innovation and New Business Models in Healthcare
Downstream Effects of Rare Disease Advancements
What's Next, Austin?
- Pam Andrews: "Let's see how the intersection of technology and healthcare really can transform healthcare because I think that rare disease can light the way and inform the way that we do precision medicine for generations to come. So that's what we want through the Center for Rare Disease here in Austin is for it to evolve and unfold in a partnership with the rare disease community."
- Chris Andrews: "My dream is that when people think of Austin, they'll think of the University of Texas, they'll think of barbecue, but they also will think of a place where people work to save lives."

Firefly Fund: Website, Facebook, X/Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn

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

Episode Highlights

Firefly Fund's Origin
Establishing a Rare Disease Center at UT Dell Medical School
Navigating the Diagnostic Odyssey
Interplay of Tech Innovation and New Business Models in Healthcare
Downstream Effects of Rare Disease Advancements
What's Next, Austin?
- Pam Andrews: "Let's see how the intersection of technology and healthcare really can transform healthcare because I think that rare disease can light the way and inform the way that we do precision medicine for generations to come. So that's what we want through the Center for Rare Disease here in Austin is for it to evolve and unfold in a partnership with the rare disease community."
- Chris Andrews: "My dream is that when people think of Austin, they'll think of the University of Texas, they'll think of barbecue, but they also will think of a place where people work to save lives."

Firefly Fund: Website, Facebook, X/Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn

Previous Episode

Angel Investing's Evolution and What Austin's Scene Reveals

Angel investors are supposed to descend and bring early grace to startups but the reality of angel investing is much more complicated and complex. From individual big-check writers to small investors to organized groups, the will, experience, and dynamics vary widely. Katie Russel (Central Texas Angel Network), Hall Martin (Ten Capital), and James Burkett (NuFund) join us to explore angel investing evolution and the state of Austin's scene.

Episode Highlights

Defining an Angel
Angel Investing Intersections with the Ecosystem
Dynamics of Individual Investors, Small Syndicates, and Angel Networks
Where is Expertise in Verticals, Investing, and Startups
Contrarian vs Consensus Decision Making in Angel Investing
SAFE vs Convertible Note Debate
Austin's Angel Scene, its Evolution, and Challenges
What's Next, Austin?
- Katie Russel: "Making sure that Texas based startups have access to angel level capital and that investors, if they want to get involved in early stage investing, they know how to get involved and where to go"
- Hall Martin: "Life science and deep tech...Austin's right there with the Bits and Atoms"
- James Burkett: "Continue to do what defines Austin as a city. It's been really good at blazing its own trail in a number of unique industries and just because it's not something that someone in Sand Hill Road wants to fund doesn't mean it's the wrong thing to be building. And have conviction in that."

Katie Russel: LinkedIn, Central Texas Angel Network (CTAN)Hall Martin: Ten Capital Group, Startup Funding Espresso, Investor Connect
James Burkett: LinkedIn, NuFund, Florin Digital

Next Episode

Backing Extraordinary Leaders to Build Austin Moonshots with Craig Cummings, Co-Founder and General Partner Moonshots Capital

Building companies that can 10x humanity requires extraordinary leadership. Craig Cummings of Moonshots Capital has made finding and backing these leaders his mission. Craig shares his insights on building the next generation of mission-driven companies and the future of the Austin ecosystem.

Episode Highlights

What is a Moonshot?
Finding the %$^* Yes: Moonshots Capital's Investment Philosophy
Austin's Open Networks and Culture of Help
Building the Nation's Defense Tech Hub
Dancing with the Stars Austin
What's Next Austin?
- "How do we get bigger and smaller at the same time...Don't try to change it, help us maintain it."

Craig Cummings Moonshots Capital: Website, LinkedIn, X/TwitterDancing with Starts AustinCenter for Child Protection: Website, Instagram