What’s one question that will make you stop and think when founding a company?

How do you negotiate with an Institute that’s supposed to be on your side?

And why does a seasoned academic choose to lead?

Today we’re speaking with Markus Zweckstetter, CEO of brainQr Therapeutics based in Göttingen, Germany. They’re developing small molecule drugs against intrinsically disordered proteins with a lead program in Alzheimer's disease targeting tau protein.

Of course, we’ll talk more about the science towards the end of the episode.

About LifeScience ORG

It’s no secret that Europe is a global leader in generating translational science. We’re grateful at LifeScience ORG to have a community of over 400 life science CEOs – leaders driving change in biotech, medtech, techBio and healthcare.

The conversations inside our community – stories of conviction, navigating challenges, and making bold decisions – inspire us every week. To hear the stories, lessons, and experiences of our life science leaders, listen to A Call to Lead @ LifeScience ORG, available on all good podcasting platforms.

Chapters

01:08 - From Lab Bench to Boardroom

04:09 - Into the Trenches

05:16 - Building Solo on Conviction

10:39 - Eye-Opening Advice

16:38 - Learning Without a Playbook

18:42 - Rooting in the Right Place

21:17 - Targeting the Untargetable

29:35 - Challenge Us Intelligently

31:56 - Decisions Define Leadership

Why is stopping something in medicine so much harder than starting something new?

How do you tell an equity story when the exit doesn’t exist yet?

And what goes into deliberately building a career towards leadership so that every role is a stepping stone?

Today we’re speaking with Torbjørn Furuseth, CEO of DoMore Diagnostics based in Oslo, Norway. DoMore Diagnostics is personalising cancer treatment by analysing tumour tissue with AI algorithms.

Of course, we’ll talk more about the science at the end of the episode.

About LifeScience ORG

It’s no secret that Europe is a global leader in generating translational science. We’re grateful at LifeScience ORG to have a community of over 400 life science CEOs – leaders driving change in biotech, medtech, techBio and healthcare.

The conversations inside our community – stories of conviction, navigating challenges, and making bold decisions – inspire us every week. To hear the stories, lessons, and experiences of our life science leaders, listen to A Call to Lead @ LifeScience ORG, available on all good podcasting platforms.

Chapters

1:12 - From Medicine to Leadership

2:52 - Natural Leadership Instincts

5:22 - Deliberate Career Planning

7:20 - Founding a Diagnostics Company

9:12 - Building High-Performing Teams

11:47 - Shared Startup Challenges

16:12 - Articulating the Equity Story

17:32 - Lessons from Downsizing

24:18 - AI in Cancer Diagnostics

What does it take to found a biotech when you were never trained for that job?

How do you lead with confidence when imposter syndrome stands in the way?

And why does hearing someone else describe problems like yours make them seem smaller?

Today we’re speaking with Christian Kersten, CEO of AKIGAI based in Oslo, Norway, working on treatments for neuropathic pain.

We’ll talk more about the science later in the episode.

About LifeScience ORG

It’s no secret that Europe is a global leader in generating translational science. We’re grateful at LifeScience ORG to have a community of over 400 life science CEOs – leaders driving change in biotech, medtech, techBio and healthcare.

The conversations inside our community – stories of conviction, navigating challenges, and making bold decisions – inspire us every week. To hear the stories, lessons, and experiences of our life science leaders, listen to A Call to Lead @ LifeScience ORG, available on all good podcasting platforms.

Chapters

1:06 - From doctor to founder

5:00 - The first breakthrough

9:54 - Understanding the pain

13:50 - Navigating new

31:45 - Creative freedom territory

17:00 - Facing imposter syndrome

21:12 - Shared CEO challenges

27:23 – When treatments fail patients

31:45 - Creative freedom