BIO from the BAYOU: Build Your Biotech Network with Key Opinion Leaders and Investors

Math doesn’t have to be intimidating, especially when it’s the kind that helps fund companies and move science forward.


In this episode, host Elaine Hamm, PhD, is joined by Isaiah Reeves, PhD, Biomedical Analyst at Solas BioVentures, for a practical and approachable deep dive into venture math. Drawing on his background as a scientist turned investor, Isaiah breaks down the core financial concepts every biotech founder should understand: from valuations and dilution to IRR, cap tables, and deal terms. The conversation offers real-world guidance for navigating fundraising, choosing the right partners, and avoiding common pitfalls that can derail long-term value creation.


In this episode, you’ll learn:


How venture capitalists think about valuations, dilution, and returns, and why fully diluted post-money matters.

Key metrics like IRR and DPI, and how they influence investment decisions and fund performance.

Common deal terms and cap table “red flags” founders should watch out for as they raise capital.




Tune in to learn how understanding venture math can help founders make smarter funding decisions, protect long-term value, and build biotech companies positioned for sustainable growth and impact.


Links:


Connect with Isaiah Reeves, PhD, and check out Solas BioVentures.


Connect with Elaine Hamm, PhD, and learn about Tulane Medicine Business Development and the School of Medicine, as well as Cadenza Bio.


Connect with Josh Eckelberry, MBA, and Mark Corrigan, MD.


Check out the books The Go-Giver and Venture Deals.


Check out the podcasts STAT, Biotech Hangout, and 20VC.


Check out our previous episodes on Networking as an Introvert and Solas BioVentures with Travis Manasco.


Connect with Ian McLachlan, BIO from the BAYOU producer.


Learn more about BIO from the BAYOU - the podcast.


Bio from the Bayou is a podcast that explores biotech innovation, business development, and healthcare outcomes in New Orleans & The Gulf South, connecting biotech companies, investors, and key opinion leaders to advance medicine, technology, and startup opportunities in the region.

Politics can feel overwhelming - but how can scientists, founders, and biotech leaders effectively engage with policymakers to protect innovation and improve patient outcomes?


In this episode, host Elaine Hamm, PhD, is joined by Srinu Sonti, JD, Principal at Lewis-Burke Associates LLC, for a candid and insightful conversation on science, policy, and advocacy. Drawing on his experience on Capitol Hill, in health policy, and working with academic medical centers and startups, Srinu breaks down how innovation, funding, and regulation intersect - and why it’s critical for scientists and biotech leaders to have a voice in the policy process.


In this episode, you’ll learn:


Why policymakers want to hear directly from scientists, founders, and innovators, and how those conversations shape decisions.

Practical ways universities, startups, and small teams can engage lawmakers beyond sending emails or reacting to crises.

How policy choices around clinical trials, AI, global collaboration, and advanced therapies impact patients and the future of biotech.




Tune in to learn how building authentic relationships with policymakers can demystify science, strengthen innovation ecosystems, and help move life-saving technologies from the lab to the people who need them most.


Links:


Connect with Srinu Sonti, JD, and check out Lewis-Burke Associates LLC.


Connect with Elaine Hamm, PhD, and learn about Tulane Medicine Business Development and the School of Medicine.


Check out Pew Charitable Trusts.


Connect with Ian McLachlan, BIO from the BAYOU producer.


Learn more about BIO from the BAYOU - the podcast.


Bio from the Bayou is a podcast that explores biotech innovation, business development, and healthcare outcomes in New Orleans & The Gulf South, connecting biotech companies, investors, and key opinion leaders to advance medicine, technology, and startup opportunities in the region.

Where do scientific breakthroughs really begin, and how much space do we leave for curiosity, intuition, and creative thinking along the way?


In this episode, host Elaine Hamm, PhD, is joined by Auni Williams, PhD, a postdoctoral scholar at Penn State University, for a thoughtful and refreshing conversation about “night science.” Together, they explore the idea that behind every polished grant, publication, or protocol is a messier, more human process driven by curiosity, imagination, and the freedom to explore unconventional ideas. From historical examples of scientific breakthroughs to personal stories from the lab, this episode invites listeners to rethink how discovery really happens.


In this episode, you’ll learn:


What “night science” is and why embracing early, unpolished ideas is critical for innovation and discovery.

How modern research culture can unintentionally suppress creativity – and what institutions and leaders can do to protect exploratory thinking.

Why communicating science as a human, curiosity-driven process is essential for engaging both scientists and the public.




Tune in to learn how making space for curiosity, creativity, and night science can reignite passion for research and lead to the next generation of scientific breakthroughs.


Links:


Connect with Auni Williams, PhD, and learn more about Penn State University.


Connect with Elaine Hamm, PhD, and learn about Tulane Medicine Business Development and the School of Medicine.


Learn more about François Jacob, Barry Marshall, August Kekulé, Operation Everest, American Heart Association Funding, and Cormac McCarthy's essay.


Listen to our previous episode with Walter Isaacson.


Connect with Ian McLachlan, BIO from the BAYOU producer.


Learn more about BIO from the BAYOU - the podcast.


Bio from the Bayou is a podcast that explores biotech innovation, business development, and healthcare outcomes in New Orleans & The Gulf South, connecting biotech companies, investors, and key opinion leaders to advance medicine, technology, and startup opportunities in the region.

What does it really take to modernize a tech transfer office and build innovation ecosystems that thrive outside the traditional coastal hubs?


In this episode, host Patrick Reed, RTTP, is joined by Robert Lowe, PhD, CEO of TechPipeline, for a timely conversation on how tech transfer offices can evolve in a rapidly changing innovation landscape. From data-driven decision-making and intentional use of AI to workforce development and ecosystem-building beyond the coasts, this episode offers practical insights for university and industry engagement leaders navigating what comes next.


In this episode, you’ll learn:


Why “perfect is the enemy of good” when modernizing tech transfer systems, and how using the right mix of tools can improve outcomes.

How tech transfer offices can leverage AI as a force multiplier while maintaining strong foundational skills.

What smaller and mid-sized cities can do to build collaborative, high-impact tech transfer and startup ecosystems.




Tune in to learn how a data-informed approach to tools, training, and ecosystem strategy can help tech transfer offices accelerate innovation and deliver greater impact wherever they’re located.


Links:


Connect with Robert Lowe, PhD, and check out TechPipeline.


Connect with Patrick Reed, RTTP, and learn about IPX at Auburn University.


Connect with Ian McLachlan, BIO from the BAYOU producer.


Check out BIO on the BAYOU.


Learn more about BIO from the BAYOU - the podcast.


Bio from the Bayou is a podcast that explores biotech innovation, business development, and healthcare outcomes in New Orleans & The Gulf South, connecting biotech companies, investors, and key opinion leaders to advance medicine, technology, and startup opportunities in the region.

How do you build a venture strategy that both delivers strong returns and meaningfully improves the lives of children and families?


In this episode, host Elaine Hamm, PhD, sits down with Andrew Meadow, MBA, Founding Partner and Chief Investment Officer at Health Innovation Capital, for a thoughtful conversation about investing in pediatric and maternal health. Andrew shares the personal and professional journey that led him to focus his career on underserved pediatric populations, and why children are not just “small adults” when it comes to innovation, clinical development, and investment strategy.


In this episode, you’ll learn:


Why pediatric and maternal health remain some of the most underfunded (and high impact) areas in biotech.

How venture funds can balance financial returns with real-world improvements in access, affordability, and quality of care.

What entrepreneurs need to know to engage pediatric-focused investors and stand out in a competitive funding environment.




Tune in to hear how purpose-driven venture capital can change the trajectory of healthcare innovation and why investing in children may be one of the most important bets biotech can make.


Links:


Connect with Andrew Meadow, MBA, and check out Health Innovation Capital.


Connect with Elaine Hamm, PhD, and learn about Tulane Medicine Business Development and the School of Medicine.


Connect with Ian McLachlan, BIO from the BAYOU producer.


Check out BIO on the BAYOU.


Learn more about BIO from the BAYOU - the podcast.


Bio from the Bayou is a podcast that explores biotech innovation, business development, and healthcare outcomes in New Orleans & The Gulf South, connecting biotech companies, investors, and key opinion leaders to advance medicine, technology, and startup opportunities in the region.