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

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.

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.

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

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'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.

Patrick is the Founder of NanoGlobals, an expert-led platform that helps mid-size tech companies tap into global markets through remote hiring, offshoring, and international market expansion. Patrick is known for his writing and expertise in bringing colorful marketing to otherwise bland industries. His writing has been featured in The New York Times, Ad Age, Fast Company, Morning Brew, Hacker Noon, HuffPost, and Business Insider. He is also a member of the Forbes Communications Council. He is currently focusing on bringing his insight to the stage by speaking on topics related to outsourcing & tech in software development, inclusive globalization, and practical perspectives on emerging technologies. Reach out if you want to discuss outsourcing development, emerging technologies, or any Pittsburgh sport.

Gary Peters began his academic journey in applied mathematics at Vanderbilt University, transitioning to a focus on Artificial Intelligence at Carnegie Mellon University, where he completed his graduate studies. While at Carnegie Mellon, Gary Peters distinguished himself by winning a prestigious AI competition. This experience was a stepping stone to founding Uncapped Mortgage, a Silicon Valley-funded startup that revolutionized the mortgage process through AI, which was later accepted into Stanford's StartX program and acquired by FinTech leader Quo. Quo chose to keep Gary as CEO of QuoHome, and ultimately steered the company through significant growth, culminating in a successful acquisition. Leveraging his extensive AI experience, he recently launched PupPilot, in collaboration with his wife, a veterinarian. This venture combines his expertise in AI with a personal passion for supporting veterinary work. Additionally, Gary Peters serves as a technical AI advisor to various companies and non-profits, including Boca Helping Hands, where he contributes his expertise to advance technological innovation and strategy.

CoFounder of DualEntry, a modern ERP/accounting software venture-backed startup. Prior, CoFounder of Benitago, an ecommerce CPG group that grew to $100M in sales.

Diversity advocate and ethical culture warrior with over 10 years of experience in startup operations and Human Resources. Proven track record in partnering with Pre-Seed, Series A, and Series B startups to drive HR strategies that foster growth, innovation, and inclusivity. Adept at total compensation and equity benchmarking to attract and retain top talent. Committed to building workplaces where every voice is heard and valued.

Dr. Wanping Hu is a seasoned oncologist with over two decades of clinical experience and a Ph.D. in Microbiology and Immunology. A devoted mother of three, she began cooking daily and immersing herself in nutrition and alternative medicine to help heal her daughters’ chronic health conditions. Combining deep scientific expertise with a heartfelt commitment to holistic wellness, Dr. Hu bridges the worlds of modern medicine and ancient food wisdom. She is the inventor of FermentPro, a first-in-class home fermentation appliance that fuses traditional fermentation principles with cutting-edge technology to support optimal gut health. Guided by her belief that food is medicine, Dr. Hu is dedicated to making nutrition accessible and restoring health through both science and nature.

Previously, served as Sales Finance Analyst at Google and VP Data Science, Financial Crime and Fraud at Monzo (UK’s Venmo Bank), joining as one of the early employees and scaling a 120+ person team. With a background in financial engineering and AI, he specializes in risk-compliant automation for regulated industries.

Founder of Sobefy, and CTO at Dryeye Rescue. E-commerce expert and full stack developer focused on building scalable, high-performance solutions using Shopify, React, React Native, Next.js, and TypeScript. I specialize in crafting seamless digital experiences and driving growth for online brands. My current focus is on leveraging AI to build next-generation eCommerce tools—including custom applications, automation workflows, voice agents, and smart integrations that reduce friction and increase efficiency. With a strong foundation in frontend and backend development, I deliver tailored, results-driven solutions that combine deep technical skill with strategic business thinking.

I built CRINO.IO as a platform for analyzing investor deals and the parameters behind them. The project focuses on making funding data more transparent, structured, and useful, helping to identify patterns in investment activity and improve deal analysis.

A PhD graduate of ETH Zurich in Food Microbiology, Dr. Mario Hupfeld became a member of the NEMIS Technologies co-founding team as CSO in 2018. He's lived and worked in Germany, UK, Italy and Switzerland, and developed 7 products from ideation to commercialization since NEMIS Technologies' inception.

Nigeria’s Circular Economy entrepreneurs have the grit, commitment and creativity to use all business tools available to them to build a greener economy both locally and internationally. Please reach out if you have ideas to build market, technical and financing opportunities for those who are putting their pedal to metal to make a real difference. Let’s do business differently.

I’m a leader and entrepreneur with a proven track record of founding and scaling startups, as well as guiding enterprise teams to success. Since 2012, I’ve been a trusted mentor to startups, engineers, and engineering managers, helping them navigate career growth and solve complex business challenges with confidence. My journey spans the entire spectrum of technology, from designing integrated circuits to architecting multi-cloud systems. I’ve spearheaded the creation of groundbreaking products that millions rely on every day. I specialize in building scalable engineering environments and fostering innovation through a blend of strong vision, practical execution, and cutting-edge processes. As a passionate teacher and speaker, I’ve empowered engineering teams, taught software engineering principles at universities and non-profits, and delivered impactful workshops on topics ranging from public speaking to cloud infrastructure. Globally recognized as a keynote speaker, I share actionable insights on leadership, technology, and the future of engineering. Today, I run Coyotiv, a transformative software engineering education platform and ecosystem, while serving as a fractional CTO for startups and enterprises, driving innovation and growth in fast-paced, high-impact environments.

Abe Issa was founder of Envirosolar which was the 2nd fastest growing private company in the U.S. in 2017 according to INC Magazine and has been a top solar company nationally in terms of originations. Abe Issa was honored to have Envirosolar recognized by Stevie Awards, Solar Power Magazine, and has been mentioned in the national media for its efforts in the ever growing solar industry. As a national employer , Abe Issa is passionate about job creation and supporting our communities. Envirosolar was also the first national company that integrated solar & smart home into one platform. Abe Issa is also involved in several non-profits throughout the country.Abe Issa was one of the first entrepreneurs to do residential energy efficiency and solar in the south. He built numerous sales platforms and systems that have helped scale the top companies in the industry. Through his sales efforts, Abe Issa has created thousands of jobs throughout the country in the solar industry.

Divya Chakraborty is the COO and Director at SoftProdigy, driving digital transformation through AI and Agile methodologies. She partners with AWS and Azure, empowering teams and championing innovation for business growth.