Grow Everything Biotech Podcast

• 121. Skin Deep: 'Peeling' Back the Layers of Skin Microbiome Diversity with Fjor's Natalie Enslow

  Erum and Karl dive into the fascinating world of the skin microbiome with Natalie Enslow, CEO and co-founder of Fjor. Natalie shares her journey from marketing to biotech, explaining how her brand is revolutionizing skincare by embracing the power of beneficial bacteria. She discusses the importance of microbial diversity, the challenges of launching a biotech-driven skincare brand, and how Fjor's enzyme-powered formulations are designed to support rather than replace the skin’s natural microbiome. The conversation also touches on the future of gender-neutral skincare, the intersection of biotech and entrepreneurship, and why the beauty industry needs a serious science-backed shake-up.Grow Everything brings the bioeconomy to life. Hosts Karl Schmieder and Erum Azeez Khan share stories and interview the leaders and influencers changing the world by growing everything. Biology is the oldest technology. And it can be engineered. What are we growing?Learn more at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.messaginglab.com/groweverything⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Chapters:00:00:00 – Welcome to the World of Skin Microbiomes!00:00:14 – Erum & Karl Reunite: Travel Tales and Jet Lag00:00:46 – From Panama to London: Adventures and Insights00:02:28 – Why We Started Grow Everything – A Podcast for the Bioeconomy00:02:44 – The Bioeconomy Boom: What’s Next for Biotech?00:04:26 – RFK Jr.’s Mission to Ban Food Dyes—Science or Politics?00:07:08 – Who Owns Your Genetic Data? The Debate Heats Up00:10:43 – Meet Natalie Enslow: The Biotech Innovator Changing Skincare00:13:00 – Culture, Science & Skincare: The Nordic Philosophy Behind Fjor​00:17:00 – Why Your Skin’s Microbiome Is in Crisis (and How to Fix It)​00:23:00 – Convincing Family: How Natalie’s Mom Became a Believer​00:25:00 – Too Many Choices? How Fjor Cuts Through the Skincare Noise​00:27:27 – Gender-Neutral Branding: Why Fjor Is Breaking Beauty Norms00:28:45 – Luxury Meets Science: Natalie’s Background in High-End Marketing00:30:33 – TikTok’s Influence on Biotech: How Fjor Uses Social Media to Educate00:33:29 – What’s Next? The Future of Fjor’s Skincare Innovations00:35:54 – Raising Capital & Building a Dream Team in Biotech00:41:47 – Women in Biotech: Challenges, Wins, and Breaking Barriers00:44:31 – The Future of Skincare: Trends in Biotech Beauty00:49:58 – Wrapping Up: Key Takeaways & Final ThoughtsLinks and Resources:Fjor -  science-backed microbiome  skincare. Order today!Who gets ownership of useful genetic data? (Ars Technica)Connect with Natalie on LinkedInTopics Covered: biomanufacturing, biotech startups, biotech investing, biomanufacturing pilot plants, Houston economic development, synbioHave a question or comment? Message us here:Text or Call (804) 505-5553 ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠  / ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Twitter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ / ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ / ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Youtube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ / ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Grow Everything⁠⁠⁠⁠Email: [email protected] by: Nihilore

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• 120. Busting Biotech's Bottlenecks: Veronica Breckenridge on the Path to Industrial Scale

  Karl and Erum sit down with Veronica Breckenridge, founder of First Bight Ventures, to discuss how the convergence of biology and technology is driving the biggest innovations of the 21st century. Drawing from her deep tech background, including her time at Apple, Veronica explores rapid advancements in genome sequencing, AI-driven biotech, and the vast untapped potential of microbes, emphasizing why now is the time to harness biology to tackle global challenges in health, nutrition, sustainability, and manufacturing. From synthetic biology startups to biomanufacturing at scale, this episode delves into the future of biomaterials and how venture capital can accelerate the next wave of biotech breakthroughs—making it a must-listen for anyone interested in scaling biotech innovations, investing in the bioeconomy, or exploring the intersection of computation and biology.Grow Everything brings the bioeconomy to life. Hosts Karl Schmieder and Erum Azeez Khan share stories and interview the leaders and influencers changing the world by growing everything. Biology is the oldest technology. And it can be engineered. What are we growing?Learn more at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.messaginglab.com/groweverything⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Chapters:00:00:00 - How Biology is Moving Faster Than Moore’s Law00:00:17 - Checking In from Panama00:00:42 - Exploring Panama City’s Biotech Potential00:01:26 - A Futuristic Robot Massage Experience00:02:11 - Reflecting on International Women's Day00:02:40 - Networking with Women in Biotech in Brooklyn00:05:27 - Inside the Merck Digital Sciences Studio Event00:06:19 - Breakthroughs Shaping the Future of Drug Development00:07:15 - The Biggest Hurdles for Startups in Pharma00:16:20 - A Deep Dive with Veronica Breckenridge00:30:41 - Why Manufacturability Matters in Biotech00:31:28 - The Role of Research and Pilot Facilities00:33:48 - How Scientific Founders Can Accelerate Their Business00:35:25 - Houston’s Rising Status in Biomanufacturing00:39:12 - The Power of Collaboration and Mentorship00:43:04 - What It Takes to Scale and Commercialize Biotech Innovations00:48:12 - First Bight Ventures’ Approach to Investing in the Bioeconomy00:51:26 - Building the Biotech Ecosystem & What’s Coming Next00:54:28 - Final Advice for Startups Looking to ScaleLinks and Resources:First Bight Ventures  Biowell - nonprofit acceleratorThe Machine That Changed the World (book)Cemvita (company)  / Grow Everything Episode with CEO Moji KarimiIndustrial Microbes (company) / Grow Everything Episode with CEO Noah HelmanTopics Covered: biomanufacturing, biotech startups, biotech investing, biomanufacturing pilot plants, Houston economic development, synbioHave a question or comment? Message us here:Text or Call (804) 505-5553 ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠  / ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Twitter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ / ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ / ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Youtube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ / ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Grow Everything⁠⁠⁠Email: [email protected] by: Nihilore

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• 119: Bio-Reactor or Bio-Rocket? Scaling Up with Arsenale Bio's Massimo Portincaso

  Karl and Erum sit down with Massimo Portincaso, founder of Arsenale BioYards, to discuss the urgent need to rethink how we scale biomanufacturing. Massimo shares why today’s approach to industrial biotech—modeled after biopharma—is fundamentally flawed and how Arsenale is flipping the script. From nature co-design to AI-driven strain selection, he lays out a bold vision for scaling bio-based production in a way that is economically viable and industrially scalable. If you care about the future of precision fermentation, sustainable materials, and the bioeconomy, this is a conversation you don’t want to miss!Learn more at www.messaginglab.com/groweverythingLinks and Resources:Arsenale BioyardsFarm.OneCommon Side Effects (TV series)Nature Co-Design reportGenomatica aka GenoOfficinae Bio (now Maravai Life Sciences)"Scaling Cells, Dreaming Big: The Biomanufacturing Cloud with Synonym’s Edward Shenderovich" Topics Covered: Biomanufacturing, bioreactors, downstream processing, upstream processing, bioengineering, bioeconomy, italian biotech Have a question or comment? Message us here:Text or Call (804) 505-5553Instagram  / Twitter / LinkedIn / Youtube / Grow EverythingEmail: [email protected] by: NihiloreProduction by: Amplafy Media

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• 118. Smells Like Biotech Spirit: Bob Weinstein on the Flavors & Fragrances Industry’s Bio-Revolution

  Flavors, fragrances, and the science behind what makes things smell and taste amazing—Karl and Erum explore this world with Bob Weinstein, a legend in the industry who has spent decades at Firmenich, Robertet, and now Bedoukian Research. Bob takes them on a journey from the early days of animal-derived scents (yes, civet was a thing) to the rise of biotech-powered ingredients that are shaping the future of sustainable fragrance and flavor. They get into the art and science of scent, the challenges of scaling biomanufacturing, and why companies, much like organisms, have to evolve to survive. Plus, Erum shares her experience making her own perfume—though Bob has some thoughts on her ingredient choices.Grow Everything brings the bioeconomy to life. Hosts Karl Schmieder and Erum Azeez Khan share stories and interview the leaders and influencers changing the world by growing everything. Biology is the oldest technology. And it can be engineered. What are we growing?Learn more at ⁠⁠⁠⁠www.messaginglab.com/groweverything⁠⁠⁠⁠ Chapters: 00:00:00 – Ice, Snow, and a Birthday Glow 00:00:48 – Cabin Life and Petrochemicals at Work 00:02:37 – Brooklyn: Where Trivia Meets Fungi 00:04:38 – Fermentation Festival and the Science of Flavor 00:06:20 – Yeast, Beer, and Biotech's Brewing Future 00:07:00 – 90s Software Hype vs. Biotech’s Moment 00:10:56 – Melanin, Gamma Rays, and Seeds for Space 00:12:27 – Unilever Shake-Up and What It Means for Biotech 00:13:44 – Robert Weinstein: The Science and Business of Scent 00:31:12 – Government, Industry, and the Fight for Innovation 00:32:00 – The Future of Plant-Based Ingredients 00:32:58 – How Legacy Companies Stay Relevant 00:35:25 – Surviving Economic Cycles in Business 00:36:49 – Bedoukian Research and the Next Chapter 00:39:32 – The Science of Smell: Fragrance, Musk, and Civet 00:45:15 – The Price of Smell: Why Some Scents Cost a Fortune 00:51:38 – Biotech Founders, Here’s What You Need to Know 00:54:30 – Wrapping Up: Leadership, People, and Consumer DelightLinks and Resources: Robertet DSM- Firmenich  Bedoukian Berkeley Yeast FarmOne Avisa Myko Melatech  Melanin from the fungus  protects seeds from the effects of exposure to gamma radiation Inscripta  Aethera Biotech Research Institute for Fragrance Materials Fragrance Creators Association  Flavor Extract Manufacturers AssociationTopics Covered: Biotech beauty, flavors and fragrances, corporate leadership, perfume, taste, bioengineeringHave a question or comment? Message us here:Text or Call (804) 505-5553 ⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠  / ⁠⁠⁠⁠Twitter⁠⁠⁠⁠ / ⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠ / ⁠⁠⁠⁠Youtube⁠⁠⁠⁠ / ⁠⁠⁠⁠Grow Everything⁠⁠Email: [email protected] by: NihiloreProduction by: Amplafy Media

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• 117. From Lab Coats to CEO Notes: BioLabs' Glennis Mehra on Biotech Business in NYC

  In this episode of Grow Everything, Karl and Erum sit down with Dr. Glennis Mehra, the absolute powerhouse behind BioLabs at NYU Langone, to talk about what it really takes to build a biotech startup in New York City. From how to deal with imposter syndrome to finding funding in a capital-constrained world, Glennis shares hard-earned insights on how founders can survive (and thrive) in one of the toughest, most exciting biotech ecosystems on the planet. They get into the magic of founder-to-founder collaboration, why biology’s complexity is finally getting the respect it deserves, and whether AI is about to make lab work obsolete (spoiler: it’s not). Plus, Erum debates whether traveling to Mars just to eat lettuce is worth it.Grow Everything brings the bioeconomy to life. Hosts Karl Schmieder and Erum Azeez Khan share stories and interview the leaders and influencers changing the world by growing everything. Biology is the oldest technology. And it can be engineered. What are we growing?Learn more at ⁠⁠⁠www.messaginglab.com/groweverything⁠⁠⁠ Chapters: 00:00:00 – Introduction and Vision for a Better Future 00:00:17 – Unexpected Weather, Birthday Trips, and Giant Malls 00:01:41 – Climate Change, Extreme Weather, and the Reality of Rising Temperatures 00:03:07 – Space Travel, Microbes on Mars, and the Lettuce Dilemma 00:05:12 – Biotech Innovations, Soil Microbiomes, and Engineering Nature 00:07:06 – The Storytelling Gene: Why Scientists Must Be Great Communicators 00:09:02 – Sweet Proteins, Strategic Narratives, and Startup Success 00:10:39 – Young Innovators, Biochar, and Climate Tech Disruptors 00:13:12 – Welcoming Dr. Glennis Mehra: The Biotech Builder 00:15:04 – From Academia to Entrepreneurship: Glennis’ Journey 00:17:31 – Imposter Syndrome in Biotech: Why Founders Struggle 00:19:55 – The Secret to Building a Strong Startup Community 00:22:18 – The Founder’s Dilemma: Making Big Decisions Quickly 00:25:09 – Why Founder-to-Founder Collaboration is Biotech’s Superpower 00:28:46 – Capital Scarcity and the Rise of Smarter Founders 00:32:53 – Building a Biotech in NYC: The Reality Check 00:33:42 – The Toughest Part: Capital, Talent, and Space 00:36:09 – Why NYC is a Risk-Taker’s Playground 00:38:56 – The Future of Biotech and the AI Acceleration 00:44:29 – Honest Advice for Biotech Entrepreneurs 00:48:12 – BioLabs and the Startup Survival Toolkit 00:52:48 – Final Words and What Comes NextLinks and Resources: Biolabs@NYULangone NASA Science Payloads Researchers link a gene to the emergence of spoken language Oobli and Ingredion Announce Partnership as Demand for Sweet Proteins Accelerates Sweet Dreams Are Made of Proteins: Oobli’s Ali Wing A 16-year-old (Harper Moss) helms this new regenerative farming startupTopics Covered: Biotech, Business, NYC, Innovation, Incubator, Accelerator, Startups, BiomanufacturingHave a question or comment? Message us here:Text or Call (804) 505-5553 ⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠  / ⁠⁠⁠Twitter⁠⁠⁠ / ⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠ / ⁠⁠⁠Youtube⁠⁠⁠ / ⁠⁠⁠Grow Everything⁠⁠⁠Email: [email protected] by: NihiloreProduction by: Amplafy Media

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