Bio Founder GPS Podcast: Biotech Fundraising, BD & Strategy Bio Founder GPS Podcast aims to demystify and democratize the business side of taking a life sciences company from 0 to 1. Host Vadim Shepel sits down with investors, executives, subject experts and founders to give science-driven founders tactical playbooks for fundraising, partnerships, and the bench-to-CEO transition. https://www.biofounder.io/ en Β© 2026 Bio Founder GPS 019e05a3-2513-708b-b8b6-a8fb03c2641d no podcast https://media.beehiiv.com/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down,format=auto,onerror=redirect,quality=80/uploads/asset/file/1efb3d5d-3c38-428d-9f5a-cfb083768f85/Bio_Founder_GPS_Podcast_Artwork.png?t=1778211585 Bio Founder GPS Podcast: Biotech Fundraising, BD & Strategy https://www.biofounder.io/ false episodic Bio Founder GPS Bio Founder GPS Podcast aims to demystify and democratize the business side of taking a life sciences company from 0 to 1. Host Vadim Shepel sits down with investors, executives, subject experts and founders to give science-driven founders tactical playbooks for fundraising, partnerships, and the bench-to-CEO transition.

]]> Bio Founder GPS vadim@bench2bio.com Sun, 24 May 2026 21:31:27 +0000 Sun, 24 May 2026 22:10:28 +0000 beehiiv Angel vs VC Funding for Biotech Startups: What Founders Need to Know | Jonah Probell, Lexi Ventures https://www.biofounder.io/podcast/s/bio_founder_gps/angel_vs_vc_funding_for_biotech_startups_what_founders_need_to_know_jonah_probell_lexi_ventures Is your biotech startup actually VC-backable, and how do investors make that decision? In this episode of Bio Founder GPS, I sit down with Jonah Probell, founder and managing partner of Lexi Ventures, a seed-stage fund investing in the genetic engineer... Sun, 24 May 2026 21:31:27 +0000 2964 Bio Founder GPS false full Is your biotech startup actually VC-backable, and how do investors make that decision?

In this episode of Bio Founder GPS, I sit down with Jonah Probell, founder and managing partner of Lexi Ventures, a seed-stage fund investing in the genetic engineering revolution.

We talk about how early-stage investors evaluate biotech startups, why some strong companies may still not fit the VC model, and how founders should think about matching their round to the right type of capital.

Jonah shares his perspective on:

  • Why genetic engineering could become one of the most value-creating venture categories of the next decade

  • How a solo GP evaluates early-stage deals

  • What founders need to understand about angel investors vs. VC funds

  • Why VC-backed companies need to show potential for outsized returns

  • How angel groups like Sand Hill Angels evaluate opportunities

  • The role of market size, execution risk, team risk, IP, and exit potential in investor decision-making

  • How AI tools are changing pitch deck review and early-stage diligence

If you’re a biotech, therapeutics, diagnostics, synthetic biology, or life sciences founder thinking about raising capital, this conversation will help you better understand how investors think - and how to position your company for the right funding path.

πŸ“¬ Subscribe to Bio Founder GPS for more insights & resources on fundraising, BD, strategy, and company-building for science-driven founders:

https://www.biofounder.io/

πŸ’Ό Apply to work with Vadim -

https://tally.so/r/dW6XJy

Where to find Jonah:

Where to find Vadim:

Timestamps:

0:00 - Introduction & Jonah Probell Overview
1:22 - Jonah's Background: From Computer Chips to Biotech
2:04 - Why Genetic Engineering? The Thesis Behind Lexi Ventures
3:50 - The Digital DNA Analogy: Why Biology = Programmable Chemistry
6:13 - Bottlenecks to the Genetic Medicine Future (Delivery & Manufacturability)
11:16 - Is Drug Delivery Underappreciated in Biotech Investing?
13:12 - Lexi Ventures' Thesis Beyond Human Health
15:58 - Agriculture, Industrial Biotech & Engineered Microbes
16:37 - Shoutout to SOSV & Biology Beyond Therapeutics
18:35 - How Lexi Ventures Sources & Evaluates Deals (Fund Overview)
17:44 - Check Size, Stage & Portfolio (12 Companies)
20:47 - How Jonah Evaluates Pitch Decks (Using AI / Claude)
21:11 - AI-ified Fundraising: Are Claude-Made Decks a Problem?
22:37 - Will AI Make Venture Markets More Efficient?
24:59 - Jockey or Horse? Founder vs. Market in Biotech
27:40 - Scientist-to-CEO: Common Mistakes & What Jonah Looks For
33:13 - The NPV Framework: How Jonah Calculates Deal Value
37:17 - Why Lexi Ventures Co-Invests (Fund Size & Risk Strategy)
41:21 - Small Funds vs. Large Funds: How Behavior Differs
44:15 - Angel Investing 101: AngelList vs. Sandhill Angels
46:28 - How to Pitch Angels & Angel Groups
48:11 - Words of Wisdom for Founders in 2026

]]> How to Raise a Pre-Seed Round as a Scientist-Founder | Julie Wolf, 2048 Ventures https://www.biofounder.io/podcast/s/bio_founder_gps/how_to_raise_a_pre-seed_round_as_a_scientist-founder_julie_wolf_2048_ventures Julie Wolf is a Partner at 2048 Ventures, an NYC and Boston-based VC that recently closed an oversubscribed $82M Fund III, leading pre-seed and seed rounds in Vertical AI, Deep Tech, Healthcare, and Biotech. A microbiologist by training, Julie co-found... Mon, 18 May 2026 04:28:07 +0000 3485 Bio Founder GPS false full Julie Wolf is a Partner at 2048 Ventures, an NYC and Boston-based VC that recently closed an oversubscribed $82M Fund III, leading pre-seed and seed rounds in Vertical AI, Deep Tech, Healthcare, and Biotech. A microbiologist by training, Julie co-founded her own biotech before helping launch IndieBio New York as Chief Science Officer, and has invested in 50+ companies across her career.

In this episode, we discuss:
1. Behind the scenes of 2048's oversubscribed $82M Fund III and the Pre-Seed Fast Track
2. How 2048 Ventures evaluates companies and the two questions every pitch deck needs to answer
3. What founder-market fit actually looks like at pre-seed
4. How to run an effective fundraising process
5. The commercial signals investors look for at pre-seed

πŸ“¬ Bio Founder GPS Newsletter & Community - Join 1,000+ Science-Driven Founders

πŸ’Ό Apply to work with VadimΒ 

Where to find Julie:
- LinkedIn
- X
- 2048 Ventures

Where to find Vadim:
- LinkedIn
- Instagram
- X

Resources:
- 2048 Ventures Pre-Seed Fast Track
- 2048 Ventures Theses
- DeepTech Fundraising (Biotech): How to Write Your Pitch Deck

Timestamps:
0:00 – Introduction & Guest Overview
1:00 – How Julie Got Into Venture
3:47 – From Founder to Investor: Does the Experience Help?
4:39 – Common Gaps for Scientist Founders
7:38 – Behind the $82M Oversubscribed Fund III
8:28 – What Is 2048 Ventures? Strategy & Focus Areas
15:10 – Chronic Disease & Health Tech Trends
16:06 – Avoiding Pilot Purgatory: Scaling Health Tech Products
27:32 – 2048's Pre-Seed Fast Track Program
34:16 – Co-Founder Selection: What Works & What Doesn't
35:39 – The 10-Day Diligence Process Explained
48:34 – What Makes a Great Pitch Deck? (The 2-Question Test)
54:32 – How to Run a Structured Fundraising Process
56:42 – What Founders Don't Know About VCs

]]> Introducing Bio Founder GPS: A Podcast for Science-Driven Founders https://www.biofounder.io/podcast/s/bio_founder_gps/introducing_bio_founder_gps_a_podcast_for_science-driven_founders Hey, I'm Vadim πŸ‘‹ I created this podcast to demystify and democratize the business side of building biotech and life sciences companies from 0 to 1 - from fundraising and storytelling to customer discovery, strategic partnerships, licensing, and staying... Sun, 17 May 2026 22:03:16 +0000 129 Bio Founder GPS false full Hey, I'm Vadim πŸ‘‹ I created this podcast to demystify and democratize the business side of building biotech and life sciences companies from 0 to 1 - from fundraising and storytelling to customer discovery, strategic partnerships, licensing, and staying sane through it all :)

On the show, you’ll hear from investors, strategics, subject matter experts, and founders who are building in biotech, life sciences, health tech, and beyond. The goal is simple: practical, founder-focused conversations that help science-driven founders build the company their science deserves.

Subscribe for upcoming conversations, tutorials, and frameworks.

Join 1,000+ science-driven founders for free frameworks, resources and community at biofounder.io

Where to find Vadim:
LinkedIn
Instagram
XΒ 

Connect and reach out with guest/topic suggestions, feedback, or anything else, I'd love to hear from you!

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