Biotechnology Startup Professionals to Know 2025

Started my career at Sagentia Innovation, I helped global consumer and industrial companies such as P&G to identify and evaluate market opportunities of new technologies and products. I joined Oxford University Innovation in 2016, focusing on commercialising Oxford University's research outcomes through licensing and creating spin-out ventures. I am passionate about cleantech innovation, currently leading a Climate Tech initiative at OUI, launched the Oxford Climate Tech and Sustainability Innovation Challenge 2021 this summer to engage Oxford researchers and local innovation eco-system to tackle climate crisis together. I am always eager and self-motivated to learn new knowledge and develop new skills, enjoying the challenges of stepping out of comfort zone while keeping the focus. I am passionate about innovation and entrepreneurship, and how to bring these together to create real impact to the society. I am a great team player, sociable and optimistic. I enjoy leading, coaching and mentoring, in particular when I can support and make others succeed in their endeavours

AI meets biotech — straight from Zug, Switzerland Get the latest AI news, learn must-know AI tools, and keep up with Biotech news in just 5 minutes a week. Join our readers growing their careers with the AIxBiotech newsletter. Founded by executives who have led global biotech and tech teams, AIxBiotech is on a mission to make AI practical for themodern biotech office. In just a few months, we’ve attracted a fast-growing audience of biotech professionals and innovation leaders — from early-stage founders to Fortune 500 executives. Our readers span Europe and North America, with a strong base in the U.S. and Switzerland. We’re building organically, one engaged reader at a time — with the ambition to reach 500K professionals within our first year.

Serial entrepreneur, investor, and startup mentor with 20+ years in tech. Has founded companies in mobile games, B2C apps, and SaaS across Thailand, Armenia, & the US. Now building SuperFollow AI, a stealth startup for social media users and creators.

Achal Shah is VP of Strategic Development at Monetrey Mushrooms, a food and biotech company in the agriculture space, and a published contributor to AgFunderNews. With over 10 years of experience at the intersection of food, agriculture, and innovation, Achal has advised leading agribusinesses at McKinsey & Company and served as Global Strategy Lead and Chief of Staff to the CEO at RiceTec, a global seed company operating across the U.S., India, and Brazil. He has led strategies spanning seed genetics, sustainable farming, agri-biotech commercialization, digital transformation, and M&A — and spearheaded a multi-continent initiative to drive hybrid rice adoption that reduced methane emissions, cut water consumption, and improved profitability for smallholder farmers. Achal holds an MBA from the Kellogg School of Management and a Master’s in Design Innovation from Northwestern University. He is available to comment on agribusiness strategy, agricultural biotech, food system innovation, sustainable farming, and emerging trends shaping the global agriculture industry.

A humble continuous researcher & tech expert with innovative experience working on generative AI and green sustainable agentic workflows, I also have an good history working in cyber security and data science. With that said, my background in developing scalable and secure AI agents (that can autonomously make decisions and mitigate threats in real time) is well-documented. I am also a green tech expert, utilizing data analytics for optimizing energy consumption and implementing sustainable computing practices. Using the power of high performance AI, I want to work towards solving the world's greatest problems related to the environment, AI and security. To be the early to develop the next stage in the evolution of computing through developing Research & Development in Quantum Computing, that will help us to solve exponentially larger problems than can be solved with classical Silicon. I am working on using quantum enhanced algorithms to speed up breakthroughs in material science and maximize performance and efficiency in complex Green Tech systems at a molecular scale.

I’m a founding engineer at a YC-backed startup. I like building things from scratch and actually shipping them. Most of my time is spent writing code, testing ideas, breaking stuff, and fixing it again. Right now I’m working on products that use AI to improve healthcare. I work a lot with LLMs, OpenAI models, and real-time systems, and I care less about buzzwords and more about whether something is genuinely useful for real people. I’ve been in early-stage startups for a while, so I’m comfortable with chaos, fast decisions, and wearing too many hats. I enjoy the zero-to-one phase, figuring things out as I go, and turning rough ideas into products people can use. I’m interested in applied AI, healthcare, consumer-friendly UX for serious problems, and honest conversations about startup life. Always happy to talk about building with LLMs, being a founding engineer, YC, fundraising, or what it’s really like to build a company from the inside.

I run a buy-side digital advisory firm that works exclusively for organizations selecting AI, software, and design service providers. Before founding Launch Day, I built and led Series Digital for a decade through its acquisition and served as CEO of DOOR3, a global consultancy modernizing critical business applications for Fortune 1000 companies. My background is technical —computational ontology, relational database architecture, and applied AI/LLM systems— layered with 20+ years of direct involvement on both the buyer and vendor sides of the services market. That combination means I evaluate technology decisions not just strategically but architecturally, from data models to contract terms. I've supported engagements with the US Department of Defense, the Department of Justice, The New York Times, Goldman Sachs, Sony, and Stanford University. I write and advise on AI adoption strategy, vendor selection, procurement dysfunction, and why most technology projects fail before a line of code is written.

James Bean is a pioneering cannabis industry expert and Founding CEO of Seeds Here Now, the longest continuously operating seed bank in the United States with 15 years of proven leadership. Since 2010, Bean has built an industry-leading catalog featuring 3,500+ strains from 80+ world-class breeders, establishing Seeds Here Now as the premier destination for authentic cannabis genetics. With a Plant Science degree from Oaksterdam University and 15 years specializing in cannabis genetics, Bean brings unparalleled expertise in breeder verification, genetic authenticity, and cultivation science. His knowledge spans feminized, regular, and autoflower seed production, pheno-hunting, breeding practices, and strain lineage documentation. Bean's industry authority is demonstrated through extensive media presence on major cannabis podcasts including The Adam Dunn Show (as "James Bean Man on the Scene"), The Dude Grows Show, The Pot Cast, and Grow Bud Yourself Podcast. He has personally vended at hundreds of cannabis trade shows including High Times Cannabis Cups and Canna Con events, and serves as a cannabis competition judge. As a heavy cannabis consumer with decades of personal experience, Bean possesses exceptional first-hand knowledge of strain effects and quality assessment. His business has served thousands of satisfied customers with germination guarantees and transparent practices, earning recognition including the 2023 Leafly Seed Bank Hall of Fame honor and Forbes media coverage. Bean actively supports cannabis community causes, mentors emerging businesses, and contributes educational content through articles and podcast appearances. His direct relationships with renowned breeders like TH Seeds, Exotic Genetics, La Plata Labs, Snow High Seeds, and Dominion Seed Company underscore his trusted position as the "#1 U.S. Broker of High Quality Cannabis Genetics." Based in Tulsa, Oklahoma, Bean continues to shape cannabis breeding trends, preserve rare genetics, and advance industry professionalism while maintaining Seeds Here Now's position as America's most trusted source for authentic cannabis seeds.

Antonella Serine is Co-founder of KLA Digital, a Monaco-based AI governance platform helping enterprises comply with the EU AI Act. She brings over a decade of experience in financial services and strategic planning, including roles at BNP Paribas Cardif (strategic planning and regional financial control across Argentina and Chile), Accenture, and the Buenos Aires City Government. She specializes in bridging the gap between AI regulation and enterprise implementation in banking, insurance, and other highly regulated industries.

I entered the hemp space at the very beginning when there were almost no guardrails, no industry playbook, and very few operators who truly understood what it took to formulate something that actually worked. Hemp-derived flower and hemp wellness products were barely a category. What existed was largely untested, poorly sourced, and built around novelty rather than need. From day one, our approach was different purpose before profit, formulation before marketing, and a deep belief that every formulation should serve a real purpose. At JustKana, I oversee product development, quality control, and sourcing from the ground up. That means building relationships directly with small-batch organic hemp farms, evaluating raw material quality before it ever reaches a formulation stage, and ensuring every finished product meets both our internal standards and third-party lab verification. My work lives at the intersection of plant science and consumer wellness. I specialize in cannabinoid formulation for real therapeutic outcomes sleep support, chronic pain relief, anxiety management, and inflammation using full-spectrum hemp extracts that preserve the natural compound profile of the plant rather than isolating single ingredients. Over the years I've helped develop products that have made a measurable difference for thousands of people veterans managing PTSD, seniors dealing with chronic joint pain, and individuals looking to replace pharmaceutical sleep aids with something cleaner and plant-derived. That direct connection to consumer outcomes shapes every formulation decision I make. I understand the hemp supply chain from soil to finished product cultivation practices, extraction methods, cannabinoid and terpene profiles, and how sourcing decisions downstream directly impact what a customer experiences. In a space flooded with white-labeled, mass-produced products, that depth of knowledge is rare.

Authentic technology recruitment leader with expertise in executive talent acquisition and building high performance recruitment teams, primarily within the tech/digital/creative disciplines.

With a PhD in molecular genetics and as a specialist in data science, Céline Chantry-Darmon has over twenty years of experience in biomedical research and complex data analysis. As Scientific Director at Tekkare, she works on developing trustworthy artificial intelligence for healthcare. She is also committed to promoting inclusive and responsible artificial intelligence, and to advancing women in science and technology.

My expertise is in entrepreneurship, nutrition, fitness, and creating innovative food products. With a rags to riches story, I’ve hosted podcasts and had conversations with world class performers, professionals, writers, and researchers. I’m the creator of Energy Pods, the most innovative and versatile meal replacement food product, and CocoZen, a 12 oz sugar-free and nutritious spread, both of which are made in Napa, California.

Most AI conversations I have with CEOs and CFOs start the same way: "We know we need to do something with AI, but we're not sure what will actually move the business forward." That's where I come in. I help executives separate the signal from the noise. Which AI investments make sense for your business? What should you build first? How do you measure if it's working? And more importantly, how do you avoid spending millions on projects that end up as expensive demos? I run STX Next's AI and Data practice. We're a 20-year-old engineering company (started as a Python shop, now 200+ people across Poland and Mexico) that's delivered over 1,000 projects for mid-market and enterprise clients. Financial services, industrials, healthcare, energy. Companies that need systems that scale, not experiments that fade. My team builds data platforms and AI systems that connect to real business problems. We work on Snowflake, Databricks, AWS, Azure, but the technology stack matters less than understanding what problem you're solving and what success looks like. Before any project starts, I ask the same question: "What decision will this system help you make faster or better?" If we can't answer that clearly, we probably shouldn't build it.

I am an attorney, CPA, and software engineer helping entrepreneurs start, grow, manage, and exit their ventures. In addition to my law practice, I also teach Business Law to undergraduates at Florida Gulf Coast University. I have served in operations and finance with the world’s largest accounting firm, airline, and bank. I chose to pivot to pursue law as my next profession and am admitted to The Florida Bar and the State Bar of Texas. I completed my Juris Doctor on full tuition merit scholarship. While in law school, I served on the Law Review Editorial Board where my monograph—Transhumanism: Morality and Law at the Frontier of the Human Condition—was selected for publication. I passed the Florida Bar Examination in July 2022 and the Texas Bar Examination in February 2023. Following my J.D., I completed the Real Property Development LL.M. program at the University of Miami School of Law. I hold active CPA licensure in Florida and Texas and undergraduate and graduate degrees in accounting and taxation, respectively, from Southern Methodist University in Dallas. Before my career in law, I developed business intelligence and reporting on commercial banking clients in the Dallas and Chicago offices at JPMorgan across a variety of industry verticals—with a special emphasis on FIG and CRE clients. Previously, I supported capital investment decision-making and financial reporting for the commercial real estate, security, and legal divisions at American Airlines at their headquarters in Fort Worth. Prior to that, I founded Food on the Fly, a data mining and logistics startup leveraging mobile connectivity and transactional analytics to deliver premium meals in-terminal to transiting, time-constrained air travelers. My work on this venture continues. Before making the jump to the entrepreneurial realm, I began my career in the private equity and financial services tax compliance and consulting practice (“SALT-FS”) at PricewaterhouseCoopers in their Dallas office where I engineered solutions to more effectively serve VC/PE clients including Texas Pacific Group, Goldman Sachs, and others. I also hold the Certified Management Accountant, Certified Internal Auditor, Forensic Certified Public Accountant, Certified Information Systems Auditor, Certification in Risk Management Assurance, and Certified Fraud Examiner credentials. In my spare time, I explore the taxation and novel applications of virtual assets. I also serve as a mentor for university-age creators. I divide my time between sunny South Florida and Dallas, Texas.

I’m Co-Founder of a software development outsourcing company working with startups and growth-stage businesses across the US and Europe. I have over 15 years of hands-on experience in software development, product engineering, and technical consulting across industries including fintech, social media, gaming, and online platforms. Before founding my company, I worked as a freelance software developer for more than a year, delivering projects for 150+ clients worldwide. This gave me deep exposure to real-world product challenges, from early MVP validation to scaling production systems under tight budgets and timelines. In addition to building products, I’ve spent several years as a software development lecturer at local campuses and as an instructor on Udemy, teaching practical programming, system design, and modern development workflows. This background allows me to explain complex technical topics in a clear, practical, and business-focused way. I also founded and ran my own mobile app startup, which gave me firsthand experience in product ideation, MVP development, user acquisition, and the challenges of scaling a small team. This experience reinforced my understanding of what founders truly need from development partners and shaped how I approach building solutions that are both technically sound and aligned with business goals. I regularly share insights on software outsourcing, MVP development, remote teams, development costs, and how startups can make smarter technical decisions. My focus is always on practical experience, real data, and lessons learned from building and shipping software in the real world.

Founder of PeptideLeads, a patient generation agency built specifically for peptide therapy clinics. We deliver qualified patients at $50 each with no retainer and no ad spend from the clinic. Built on a proprietary database of every peptide clinic in the US.

A Physicist, Data Scientist and a Renewable Energy Enthusiast with more than a decade of research experience in theoretical physics. Expert in statistical methods and mathematical modelling. My expertise includes inferring meaningful and comprehensive insights from data, strategising pathways for solving problems using logical analysis and communicating technical details to non-technical stakeholders. Co-Founded Giniw Tech and led the development of solar-forecast.com Mathematical skills: Bayesian Analysis, Correlation and Error estimation, Statistical Modeling, Basic of Stochastic Calculus, Solving PDE and Markov Chain Monte Carlo (MCMC) simulations.

Cosmetic chemist that has been formulating self-care products since 2015.

I'm Whitney Klonsky, founder and CEO of Rhubarb, a specialized platform for home gardeners featuring AI that understands your unique growing conditions, a "super-app" for growing food designed specifically for the gardening community. I'm a lifelong home gardener, mother of three, and former coach who has studied horticulture, permaculture, agroecology, and nutrition. I hold professional certifications as a Horticulturist (Cert III, Australia), Precision Nutrition Level 1 coach, and NASM Personal Training with corrective exercise and lifestyle specializations. After spending seven years in Australia and experiencing firsthand how food, health, and climate are interconnected, I’m now back in the Pacific Northwest helping more people get growing, wherever they live. I provide expert insights on a broad range of gardening topics, particularly how they connect with nutrition, fitness, sustainability, and seasonal living. I can speak to everything from homegrown food as part of a broader food security solution, to water-wise gardening, biodiversity, ways to support local ecology through everyday garden choices, and the intersection of technology with traditional growing practices. As tech startup founder I can also speak to my experiences in a late career switch. I’m happy to share timely tips, trends we’re seeing in the Rhubarb community, or provide quotes for upcoming stories. You can also find me at www.joinrhubarb.com.