Science VC

There is a lot of stigma around psychedelics.
Vicky is the CEO of EYWA, a biotech startup that produces molecules for mental health treatments. In this episode, we discussed the fundraising process for a startup working with psychedelics and the stigma surrounding the industry.
Topics in this episode
0:00 Intro
1:07 Founding EYWA
3:53 Advice for Startup Founders in LATAM
8:51 What is Biosynthesis?
12:34 What Molecules is EYWA Focusing On?
13:35 How to Show Commercial Traction Before Regulatory Approval?
15:03 The Psychedelics Ecosystem
16:26 Scientific Data About Psychedelics
23:51 What is EYWA's Business Model?
25:49 How Does IP Shape an R&D Roadmap?
27:56 Why Use AI and Bioinformatics?
33:27 Regulatory Landscape for Psychedelics
40:14 The Investors' Perception of Psychedelics
44:17 EYWA's Most Recent Funding Round
46:14 Building Relationships with Investors
51:02 EYWA's Fundraising Plans
51:37 Recording a TV Show with Tim and Adam Draper
53:43 What's Next for EYWA
Connect with Vicky on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/victoria-costa-paz-a83499b2/
Follow EYWA on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/company/eywabio/posts/?feedView=all
Follow EYWA on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/eywa.bio/
Connect with JP Orlov on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/jp-orlov/
Follow Science VC on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/company/science-vc
Follow Science VC on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/science.vc
Subscribe to Science VC on YouTube https://www.youtube.com/@ScienceVC
Subscribe to our Newsletter https://substack.com/@jporlov
Learn how WeArePalta can help your deeptech company communicate its science and impact https://www.wearepalta.com/

Is it possible to transform carbon emissions into everyday products?
Alex is the CEO of CERT Systems, a Canadian climatetech startup that converts CO2 emissions into high-value chemicals. In this episode, Alex shares his journey from the lab bench to raising non-dilutive capital.
Topics in this episode
0:00 Intro
1:16 Founding CERT Systems
3:14 Why Now for CO2 Conversion?
5:33 Unlocking Commercial Potential
8:52 Communicating Sustainability
10:45 Why Petrochemical Companies Care
13:59 Integrating CERT’s Tech
16:33 Why Investors Should Pay Attention
21:29 Biggest Bottleneck for CO2 Chemicals
24:36 Best Markets for CERT’s Tech
29:14 Scaling from Lab to Market
33:08 First Adopters of CO2 Ethylene
37:07 Ethylene’s Role in Aviation Fuel
41:43 Raising Non-Dilutive Funding
44:28 De-Risking Climate Tech Startups
47:52 Protecting IP in Deeptech
54:15 CERT’s Role in Sustainability’s Future
56:18 What’s Next for CERT?
Connect with Alex on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/ipalex/?originalSubdomain=ca
Follow CERT on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/company/co2cert/posts/?feedView=all
Email Alex [email protected]
Connect with JP Orlov on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/jp-orlov/
Follow Science VC on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/company/science-vc
Follow Science VC on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/science.vc
Subscribe to Science VC on YouTube https://www.youtube.com/@ScienceVC
Subscribe to our Newsletter https://substack.com/@jporlov
Learn how WeArePalta can help your deeptech company communicate its science and impact https://www.wearepalta.com/

Why not Tulsa?
Michael is the Founder, CEO, and General Partner of Atento Capital, a pre-seed and seed-stage VC firm focused on partnering with founders to build technology around healthcare, climate-tech, and business services.
Topics in this episode
0:00 Intro
1:13 Michael’s Career Journey: From Founder to VC
4:07 The Origin Story of Atento Capital
5:04 Backing from the George Kaiser Family Foundation
10:13 Why Atento Capital Partnered with GRIDX
12:50 Tulsa’s Startup Ecosystem
20:43 How Being a Founder Shapes Michael’s Investment Approach
25:40 Explaining Science Simply to Investors
30:42 The Convergence of Exponential Technologies
34:19 Capital Concentration in Mega Funds
46:01 What to Include in Effective Investor Updates
48:18 Inside the Atento Capital x GRIDX Demo Day
50:35 What’s Next for Atento Capital
52:02 Connect With Michael
Connect with Michael on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/mikebasch/
Follow Atento Capital on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/company/atento-capital/posts/?feedView=all
Visit Atento Capital’s Website https://www.atentocapital.com/
Connect with JP Orlov on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/jp-orlov/
Follow Science VC on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/company/science-vc
Follow Science VC on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/science.vc
Subscribe to Science VC on Spotify https://open.spotify.com/show/4XcR1Efx8SUqZqMZROQfQl
Subscribe to our Newsletter https://substack.com/@jporlov
Learn how WeArePalta can help your deeptech company communicate its science and impact https://www.wearepalta.com/

Are there unique ideas anymore?
Khoa Ma is an Associate Director at Endless Frontier Labs, a program at NYU Stern School of Business for early-stage science and technology startups.
Topics in this episode
0:00 Intro
1:07 Khoa’s Career Path
3:22 How Endless Frontier Labs Evaluates Startups
8:45 What Gets Startups Into Endless Frontier Labs
11:22 Most Impressive Startup Pitch
14:49 Maximizing Mentor Relationships
18:38 Building Investor Connections
26:20 Measuring Success Beyond Funding
29:33 Showing Traction Pre-Revenue
33:16 VC Blind Spots in Deeptech
36:32 Separating Sci-Fi From Reality
39:13 Underrated Deeptech Opportunities
42:31 Communicating Urgency to Investors
45:14 Founders’ Aha Moments
48:50 Best Cold Outreach Examples
51:55 No Unique Ideas Anymore
57:28 Reading Books vs. Doing
1:00:22 Who Should Apply to Endless Frontier Labs
1:01:46 Connect With Khoa
Connect with Khoa on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/khoahma/
Follow Endless Frontier Labs on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/company/endlessfrontierlabs/posts/?feedView=all
Connect with JP Orlov on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/jp-orlov/
Follow Science VC on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/company/science-vc
Follow Science VC on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/science.vc
Subscribe to Science VC on YouTube https://www.youtube.com/@ScienceVC
Subscribe to our Newsletter https://substack.com/@jporlov
Learn how WeArePalta can help your deeptech company communicate its science and impact https://www.wearepalta.com/

Why do founders have to be very picky about what VCs they approach?
Gerardo Bluske is the Chief Business Officer of ByBug, a biotech startup that creates therapeutics for animals using black soldier flies. In this episode, Gerardo shares his insights about business development and fundraising.
Topics in this episode
0:00 Intro
1:27 Who Is Gerardo Bluske?
2:13 How Was ByBug Founded?
6:47 What Does ByBug Actually Do?
11:57 ByBug's Business Model Explained
18:41 ByBug's Funding Journey
21:29 How to Stand Out to Investors
25:56 Advice for Founders on Data Rooms
32:03 Inside ByBug's Seed Round
35:57 How to Create Commercial Traction
42:16 The Risks of Not Protecting Your IP Properly
44:49 Will the GMO Regulatory Landscape Change?
49:17 Expanding and Managing an International Team
51:55 What Does Company Culture Really Mean?
54:24 What's Next for ByBug?
Connect with Gerardo on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/gerardobluske/
Follow ByBug on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/company/bybug/
Follow ByBug on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/bybug_inc?igsh=Y252ZXU4cWhtNGFm
Connect with JP Orlov on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/jp-orlov/
Follow Science VC on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/company/science-vc
Follow Science VC on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/science.vc
Subscribe to Science VC on YouTube https://www.youtube.com/@ScienceVC
Subscribe to our Newsletter https://substack.com/@jporlov
Learn how WeArePalta can help your deeptech company communicate its science and impact https://www.wearepalta.com/