Africa Biotech Conversations

This session focuses on the essential legal and funding strategies for early-stage biotech startups, emphasizing the importance of intellectual property (IP) management, legal structures, and the role of due diligence in attracting investors. The panel discusses common pitfalls, the significance of contracts, and the challenges of commercializing university IP. They also explore the timing of free...

In this episode of the Africa Biotech Conversations Podcast, host Adrienne Leussa welcomes Erin Rencken, General Manager of the newly launched OneBio Innovation Center (OBIC) in Cape Town, South Africa.   The special episode features a live recording from the launch event and a detailed discussion about OBIC's mission, offerings, and community-building efforts.   Erin outlines the center's vision...

In this episode of the "Africa Biotech Conversations" podcast, host Adrienne Leussa interviews Abdulaziz El Gamal, the co-founder and Chief Product Officer of Proteinea. Proteinea, based in Cairo and Boston, is a tech-bio company focused on leveraging AI to develop next-generation biologics, particularly antibodies with enhanced efficacy, safety, and convenience. Key Points from the Episode: Compa...

The LinkedIn Live session, part of the AMA series on "The Art of Valuation," focused on valuation strategies for biotech startups at early and post-Series A stages. Moderated by Dr. Adrienne Leussa, the discussion featured finance experts Olufemi Elegbe, CFA and Sewu-Steve Tawia. Key highlights included the importance of financial literacy for biotech entrepreneurs, methods for accurately valuing...

In this insightful episode of the "Ask Me Anything" series on funding and investment, the focus was on early-stage biotech entrepreneurs in Africa. Adrienne was joined by Gian-Marco Melfi, a partner at OneBio Venture Studios, who shared his expertise on the unique challenges and strategies relevant to securing investment in the biotech sector. The discussion covered the intricacies of biotech inve...

In this comprehensive session of the ongoing dialogue with African biotech leaders, the focus was on building and maintaining investor relationships. Joining Adrienne were seasoned experts, including Dr. Vuyisile Phehane and Gian-Marco Melfi, who are regular contributors, along with first-time guests Natasha Drapeau and Frank Schwarz from Cohesion Bureau. The discussion covered best practices for...

In this episode of the "Ask Me Anything" series under the Dialogue with African Biotech Leaders, experts Gian-Marco Melfi and Vuyisile Phehane discuss the nuances of funding for biotech startups. Focusing on the early stages of startup financing, the conversation explores the challenges startups face in securing funding, the importance of aligning with the right investors, and effective strategies...

In this first episode of the "Ask Me Anything" (AMA) series focused on Investment Funding for biotech, held live on LinkedIn, we delved into the intricate world of funding for biotech startups. The session features profound insights from Dr. Vuyisile Phehane, the Executive: Bio-Economy at South Africa's National Technology Innovation Agency (TIA), and Mr. Gian-Marco Melfi, an investment principal...

Welcome to another retrospective episode of the Dialogue with African Biotech Leaders. In this special session, titled "Going Global: Your 2024 Biotech Growth Plan from Africa and Beyond," we explore cutting-edge strategies for biotech leaders aiming for significant growth in the 2024. This episode is packed with insights from two distinguished speakers: Erica Sosnowski : Managing Partner at Sosna...

Welcome to another insightful episode of the Dialogue with African Biotech Leaders. In this episode, we focus on a critical aspect of biotechnology entrepreneurship—funding and investment. This episode was recorded as a live plenary session at BIO Africa 2023 in Durban, South Africa, and features in-depth discussions on funding challenges and opportunities in the African biotech landscape. Join ou...

Welcome to another special episode of the Dialogue with African Biotech Leaders series, dedicated to exploring the theme of biotechnology for gender equality. In this episode, we delve into the intersection of biotechnology and gender equality, discussing both the challenges and successes within this dynamic field. Our goal is to envision a future where biotechnology serves as a catalyst for posit...

Welcome to the second retrospective episode of the Dialogue with African Biotech Leaders series. In this episode, we feature an engaging panel of experienced biotech leaders from across Africa and the diaspora. Join us as we delve into the intersections of biotechnology, leadership, and the unique opportunities and challenges within the African biotech landscape. Our esteemed panelists, Dr. Omar S...

Welcome to a special retrospective episode of our digital networking platform, the Dialogue with African Biotech Leaders, dedicated to engaging and empowering members of the African biotech community.  This platform aims to connect, engage, and exchange ideas, transcending geographical boundaries to fully unleash the potential of the African biotech industry. Join us as we reflect on the insights...

In this enlightening episode of the Africa Biotech Conversations Podcast, Siso Mbanxa, a research scientist at Newform Foods, delves into the intriguing world of biotechnology in the food industry, focusing on cultivated meat. Her journey from academic research in biotech, particularly in cellular biology and tissue culture, to a role in the industry is explored. The episode highlights the technol...

Dive into UNISA's efforts to integrate entrepreneurial skills among its students. Spotlight on the tech transfer office and its role in encouraging new ventures. 🎙 Guests: Mr. Sibusiso Malindisa: A decorated PhD candidate, lecturer, and biotech enthusiast with ambitions of establishing a biotech startup. Mr. Basanda Pongoma: The bridge between business and academia, representing UNISA's directorat...

Africa stands at a unique intersection, characterised by its challenges, which simultaneously present opportunities for innovation, especially in the biotech sector. From energy to food security and healthcare, the continent's obstacles can be its biggest assets, positioning it as a key player in developing solutions that not only serve local needs but have the potential to revolutionise global in...

In this episode of the Africa Biotech Conversations podcast, our host Dr Adrienne Leussa engages in a captivating discussion with Gian-Marco Melfi, a partner at One Bio Venture Studio. One Bio is a venture capital fund that focuses on investing in local biotech startups in Africa. Marco, a biomedical scientist with a background in biochemistry and biomedical sciences, shares his fascinating journe...

In this episode of Africa Biotech Conversations, host Adrienne Leussa welcomes Nii Simmonds, a non-resident fellow for the Atlantic Council and the Center for Global Development, based in Washington, DC. With a diverse background in pharmaceuticals, life sciences, consulting, and international development, Nii Simmonds emphasises the importance of supporting Africa's development and passing on ski...

In this episode of Africa Biotech Conversations, host Adrienne Leussa (PhD) interviews Dr. Nhlanhla Msomi, the president and chairman of Africa Bio, a nonprofit association advocating for biotechnology in Africa. Dr. Msomi shares his extensive experience and insights into the biotech sector and the objectives of Africa Bio. The conversation delves into Africa Bio's mission to defend and promote ev...

In this podcast, host Adrienne Leussa speaks with Shobhita Soor from Ghana to learn about her journey as a biotech entrepreneur and sustainable nutrition solutions. Shobhita is the founder of two startups, Aspire Food Group and Legendary Foods. The mission of Legendary Foods is to deliver the nutrition of meat at the price point and the sustainability of plants. Insects are consumed by a third of...

In this episode of the Africa Biotech Conversation podcast, host Adrienne Leussa speaks with Cindy Lawley, Sr Director, Global Population Health of the Proteomics Company, Olin k .   Cindy shares insights on her background, the technology of Olink , and its potential impact on understanding genetic risks of diseases. In this episode, we learn of the first deployment of Olink's technology on the Af...

In this episode of the Africa Biotech Conversation podcast, host Adrienne Leussa speaks with Neil Thanedar, the founder of labdoor.com and U topic Ventures. Neil shares his inspiring story of building a biotech startup like a Silicon Valley tech company, including the creation of Labdoor.com, which tests vitamins and supplements that the FDA  doesn't test and offers free transparency on product pu...

Discover the cutting-edge world of Valley DAO - the decentralised autonomous organisation that's shaking up venture capital. In this episode, we explore how Valley DAO is using blockchain technology and community-driven decision-making to invest in the future of biotech startups. Join the co-founders, Albert Anis and Morgan Richards, as we uncover the fascinating story behind this innovative appro...

Welcome to the latest episode of our Africa biotech conversations podcast, where we explore the latest innovations and trends in the biotechnology industry on the African continent and beyond.   In today's episode, we'll be diving into the rapidly growing SynBio Africa community and how it is advancing the field of synthetic biology on the continent. Synthetic biology combines biology, engineering...

2 to 4 trillion USD in 2030-40...is the potential direct annual global impact of an estimated pipeline of 400 currently scientifically achievable use cases of the Bio Revolution, according to a 2020 report by McKinsey & Company. This is going to be as a result of up to 60 percent of the physical inputs to the global economy being produced biologically—with nonbiological materials like plastics or...