Gm Brazeryens. Here it is, the groove slightly transformed. Just a bit of a break from the norm.
[Welcome to Issue 10(!) of The House Brazeryen, where we break down the latest Brazen Bio, Brazen Capital, and bio-startup-related news for you fortnightly, in roughly 5 minutes.]
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Brazen Capital Has Dry Powder… BOOM
Our partner venture capital fund—Brazen Capital—completed first close last month and is now looking to back scientist-CEOs. As we are a small proof-of-concept fund (and still raising capital ourselves) our biggest value-add is not necessarily cash, but access to Brazen Bio resources/advisors and especially to our Partners who each have a decade of experience themselves as scientist-CEOs: Monica Berrondo, PhD and Shawn Carbonell, MD, PhD.
BRAZEN BREAKDOWN
We are looking to fund founder-led startups that have the potential to meaningfully impact human health primarily at the pre-incorporation to pre-seed stages, broadly defined. If this is you or someone you know please REACH OUT!
Special Feature: #LongLA Summer 🏝
When our founders were scheming our launch last year they could have chosen any city in the world as the HQ of Brazen Bio. So, why did they choose LA? Three reasons:
They wanted to skate to where they thought the biotech puck was going.
As a media company, DUH: Hollywood and New Hollywood (TikTok).
As an events company, DUH: palm trees and 284 days of sunshine per year.
What better way to experience LaLa Land than summer events? Here’s some alpha for the locals. If you are not local, come fly in and see for yourself. We just might have a bed for you at Brazen House.
Founder House LA
Kamp is debuting its new "Founder House" event series to the LA area on Aug 26th and you don't want to miss this amazing event opportunity. Founder House is set to be at a luxury mansion with startup rockstar/investor panels, followed by a live DJ, open bar, swimming, networking, and a VIP dinner.
If you don't know Kamp, they have been known to throw "dope" startup events across the country; helped over 5,000 founders with over 500 testimonials.
Founder House LA has limited seating, so grab your spot today and use code "brazen" for 15% off all ticket options.
Fun For Funds Festival (FFFF)
AI LA invites you to join them on August 18th for a sunset toast at Plug and Play's new rooftop in downtown LA during our Fun For Funds Festival (FFFF). This event is a benefit to support AI literacy!
FFFF is your chance to enjoy an evening on the largest rooftop in North America, where you’ll be transported to an immersive world designed by world-renowned generative AI artist OUCHHH, powered by 3500 Kelvin. More surprises will be announced leading up to FFFF.
Your ticket gets you open bar and all the tacos you can eat! Grab yours now and get $50 off with the code “BRAZEN".
Brazen Biotech + Healthtech Startup Mixer
Tech, but make it HARD. Join biotech nerds, VCs, and special guests for an exclusive evening event during #LATechWeek!
Free, but RSVP only! Priority will be given to early stage biotech & healthtech founders (pre-seed to Series A) and investors. Stay tuned for more info!
Brought to you by Brazen Bio/Brazen Capital, Anja Health, and several fine sponsors TBA!!! Get on the whitelist HERE!
VC Corner: PhDo It
Contributed by Scott Alpizar, PhD — The academic job market is broken. There aren’t enough academic jobs to go around, which forces PhD students to seek out alternative career paths. A popular path is an industry job at a major pharma company – the J&Js and Pfizers of the world. But what about a startup company? And what if instead of waiting until you graduated to work at one, you did your PhD there? Well, as crazy as it sounds, UCSF is trying out a program where you can do just that.
They’ve teamed up with Altos Labs, a Silicon Valley startup focused on longevity, to allow their graduate students to complete their PhDs with the company. The students will get to work under the supervision of Altos-based scientists, some of which are UCSF faculty members.
It’s a rare opportunity to explore the balance between curiosity and mission-driven science within a collaborative group and with excellent resources.
I don’t think this program is as ‘controversial’ as grumpy old academics may like to think – I think it’s extremely exciting. Having this experience would make those students better equipped to be entrepreneurs.
But most PhD students don’t have access to this program and may still want to start companies. While helpful, you don’t NEED experiences like this to be a biotech founder. Many of our portfolio companies have PhDs involved, some even leading the company as the CEO. How do you do it? Here’s what I’ve seen:
BRAZEN BREAKDOWN
Leverage other experiences. You may not need them, but they’re still helpful! Try an internship with an early-stage biotech startup during your PhD instead. Already done or close to finishing? Join a startup as an initial employee – see the blood, sweat, and tears up close but without the risk!
Take the leap. Fun fact: you don’t even have to have a PhD to be a founder! All you need is an idea or a technology that you’re passionate about commercializing. There isn’t a right time, and you may never feel prepared, but don’t let that hold you back!
Admit what you don’t know. You know how to read and evaluate the science. You know how to talk about the science. You’re the scientific expert! What you likely don’t know is most of the business side of things. Don’t pretend you do…
But figure it out! You have the research skills. Use them! Even if you’re not totally versed in something, effort goes a long way. Another way to do this is to surround yourself with people who have done it before – their experience is extremely valuable!
There’s no right or wrong path to becoming a biotech startup founder. You’ll need just to continue to learn and adapt along the way.
Will this program at UCSF work? Who knows! We’ll have to see with time, but I’m rooting for it to be a success. And I hope more programs like this pop up at other universities to enable more future biotech founders to get biotech experience during their academic training. More fuel for the rise of the scientist-CEO!
😋 Brazen Snax
🐩 Flip a Bitch: new book challenges our understanding of female animals
✨ Nature paper from Cambridge may completely revolutionize… glitter
💉 COVID outcomes in 3rd world are 2x worse than 1st world. WTF?
💰 The Disney princess of crypto: $MATIC (not financial advice)
🧊 Aww nuts. ‘70s scientists doubted the longterm viability of frozen sperm
🛰 All the ways the James Webb could have failed (and why it succeeded)
😅 Bear Market: Ep. IV — A New Hope: Big Tech layoffs peaked in June
⏰ TikTokCrak: Astrophysicist/SI swimsuit model reacts to JWST images
🔪 Carveout
Y Combinator—the Champagne of startup accelerators—posted a new podcast episode the other week for the first time since January 2020 and the verdict is in: it’s a goddam banger.
🙏🏽 A Dose of Gratitude
We are grateful for the first batch of founding LPs (investors) in Brazen Capital! Half of them are founders/entrepreneurs including two Y Combinator alums! The other half are highly successful professionals including software engineers, attorneys, & physicians. (CTA: Become a batch two LP in Brazen Capital!)
🙃 Brazen Meme
✍️ Feedback
Please tweet all thoughts, questions, and insults to us @brazenbio. Bring it. No, really. COME👏🏽AT👏🏽US👏🏽BRO👏🏽