Introducing Raising Biotech

Hi everyone, I'm journalist Surani Fernando and I'm about to launch a new narrative-style podcast that explores biotechs raising impressive funds to develop ambitious medical breakthroughs. I speak with CEOs and founders to get origin stories, missions and future visions for the company, and I also bring in medical and industry experts to help contextualize the biotech's offering and potential to really make a healthcare impact.

So who am I and why am I doing this?

I'm a healthcare journalist with 13+ years experience covering the biopharma industry. I have a medical science background and even worked inside the clinical trial industry before becoming a journalist. This is my world, and I felt I could add value with a new podcast idea.

While my journalism career has always centered around investigating late-stage drug development and business ventures of more established companies, I've always been fascinated by earlier-stage private companies with ambitious -- almost Sci-Fi-esque -- endeavors and enormous gambles from investors.

So I decided to create a podcast where I talk to the CEOs/founders to gather the back-story and ultimate dreams for the company, and it was also important for me to speak with legitimate experts for a scientific credibility check.

I've grown to love the narrative podcast format, and some of you were avid supporters of The Vax Files podcast (thank you!), and so it was time to plunge into creating another series.

I'm hoping that this unique format will serve as both informational and entertaining content for interested listeners.

How do I select companies to profile?

I look at companies that have closed sizable financing rounds in the last couple of years and have some notable investors that have made successful bets in the past. While the series will likely be pretty heavy on US biotechs, I'm looking around the globe for promising biotechs to profile.

Some of these companies will go on to successfully market a product, others may turn to dust. Some may get bought out, and others may go public. But all of these companies are strapped in for a wild ride as they set their sights on the ultimate prize.

Who are the other guests that I interview apart from the company?

For my expert guests, I will usually aim to speak with key opinion leaders and medical experts that have some insight into the company's offering (eg academics acting as scientific advisors, trial investigators etc). I also may speak with other industry experts (consultants, advisors, analysts or speciality journalists) that can paint the bigger industry picture.

WHO should listen?

ANYONE! Well, I think this will be of more "tangible value" to industry listeners -- investors/venture capitalists, life-sciences advisors, business development folks, R&D teams, consultants, healthcare communicators and service providers.

This could equally be of interest to the broader medical and academic community eager to keep tabs on what's brewing in early-stage drug development.

I also aim to provide enough narrative hand-holding for this to be accessible to a general audience that can handle a bit of science and wants to learn more about medicine and drug development.

Where can you listen?

Anywhere you listen to podcasts! You can click on this link to access the official website which has direct links to Apple, Spotify and Amazon Music. Or just search for it :)

When you get there, please do me a BIG favor and subscribe/follow to get notified of new episodes. Once you listen (and if you liked it), please rate and review the series, it really helps to get the word out.

A total of six episodes (six companies) will be dropped by the end of the year, and then stay tuned for a second season in 2024.

If you have any feedback, thoughts or suggestions on companies I should profile, please message me directly.

Thanks for your support and see you on the airwaves!

Surani Fernando