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What does it really take to back and build world-class biotech companies from idea to FDA approval?

This week on Leading Beyond the Lab, Lawrence Rose sat down with Jonathan Tobin, Partner at Brandon Capital, to explore what truly drives success in life-science venture capital.

With over 20 years' experience spanning biotech investment, company creation, board leadership, and early-stage venture building, Jonathan has played a key role in building and scaling biotech companies across Europe, Australia and the US.

In this episode Jonathan covers:

- How Brandon Capital was co-founded in Australia by Chris Nave and Stephen Thompson, who grew it into a globally respected life sciences VC firm spanning company creation, long-term funding, and expansion in the US and UK.

- Jonathan reflects on how Brandon Capital has helped shape the Australian biotech ecosystem over the last almost 2 decades.

- Investments like AstronauTx, AdvanCell, Myricx Bio, and the stories from the frontline, including strategic pivots, tough decisions, successful exits, and the high-conviction bets that shaped portfolio outcomes.

- Practical, investor-led advice for founders raising venture capital; covering readiness, storytelling, common mistakes, and how to stand out in competitive funding rounds.

- How CatalYm has progressed deep into the clinic, and why Brandon Capital has supported the company through multiple funding rounds.

- Jonathan’s outlook on the future of biotech, from neuroscience and radiopharmaceuticals, to overlooked white-space opportunities shaping the next innovation cycle.

Be sure to check out the full episode of Leading Beyond the Lab, and don’t forget to like, subscribe, and share with anyone building in biotech.

To listen to (or watch) the full episode, search "Leading Beyond The Lab Jonathan Tobin" on your preferred streaming platform.

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This episode is a masterclass in how world-class life sciences investors think about risk, conviction, and real patient impact.

This week on Leading Beyond The Lab, Lawrence Rose sat down with Nikhil Thatte, Partner at Lumira Ventures, a leading Canadian life sciences venture capital firm, with over a decade of experience backing transformative biotech and medtech companies across North America.

In this conversation, Nikhil shares how Lumira Ventures has built a top-quartile VC track record over multiple market cycles, investing across therapeutic areas including oncology, gene editing, gene therapy, immunology, cardiometabolic disease, and medical devices. He also reflects on his journey helping scale globally impactful healthcare companies while staying grounded in patient outcomes.

In this episode, Nikhil covers:

• How Lumira Ventures evaluates investment opportunities in today’s biotech market, including why clinical data, valuation discipline, and a clear path to liquidity now matter more than ever (08:38)

• Lessons from Lumira’s major exit successes, including Histosonics and Endotronix, and what made these companies stand out from an investor perspective, with insights into leadership, timing, and execution alongside Mike Blue at Histosonics (02:33)

• What truly differentiates exceptional founders and management teams, with real examples of conviction moments backing leaders such as Joanna Stanicka at Axonis and Jade Doucet-Martineau at Puzzle Med (22:08)

• Why Canada punches above its weight in life sciences innovation, the structural challenges holding the ecosystem back, and what must change to retain value domestically, including reflections on Canadian success stories discussed throughout the episode (17:40)

• The vision behind the Cancer Breakthrough Fund, Lumira’s partnership with the Terry Fox Foundation, and how this model brings new capital, clinical expertise, and impact-driven investors into oncology innovation (31:08)

If you want a rare, honest look inside how top life sciences VCs assess opportunity, leadership, and long-term value creation, this is an episode you don’t want to miss.

Follow ARTO: https://linktr.ee/arto_talent

Nikhil Thatte

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nikhil-thatte-72372333/

Lawrence Rose

Director at ARTO

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lawrencerose/

Timestamps:

00:00 Introduction to Nikhil Thatte and Lumira Ventures

02:33 Major exits including Histosonics and Endotronix

05:30 Fund V and what drives LP conviction today

08:38 How Lumira evaluates deals in the current biotech market

17:40 Canada’s competitive advantages and ecosystem challenges

22:08 Backing exceptional founders and leadership teams

31:08 The Cancer Breakthrough Fund and Terry Fox Foundation partnership

37:00 Technologies and trends shaping the next 5–10 years

41:16 Patient impact and what ultimately motivates long-term investing

#LeadingBeyondTheLab #ARTOTalent #LifeSciences #BiotechVC #Medtech #VentureCapital #CanadianInnovation

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Cardio-metabolic diseases are the world’s biggest killer. But what if the next generation of treatments could change everything?

This week on Leading Beyond The Lab, Lawrence Rose sat down with Jyothis George, CMO of Nodthera, and a global thought leader in the obesity space, shaping the future of cardio-metabolic and inflammatory disease innovation. Jyothis has led global programs across GLP-1, SGLT2, PCSK9 and now the emerging NLRP3 inhibitor class. His work spans companies such as Novo Nordisk, Amgen, Boehringer Ingelheim and his move into biotech with NodThera marks a shift from big-Pharma leadership into next-wave therapeutic development.

In this episode, Jyothis covers:

- How NodThera is shaping the future of metabolic and inflammatory disease treatment.

- A look at the mindset and challenges behind leading in a high-stakes biotech environment.

- Why the right investors often play a critical mentorship role in biotech growth.

- Exploring why endocrinology remains underfunded and overlooked in biotech circles.

- How he previously worked with Eli Lilly (led by David Ricks), contributing to their efforts in the cardiometabolic space.

- Reflections on personal legacy, long-term impact, and how to get in touch.

If you’re interested in cardio-metabolic innovation, GLP-1 evolution, biotech strategy or leadership at the cutting edge of science, this episode is worth your time.

Follow ARTO

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/artotalent

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0kEcRZOiJChOoN1KF2n1ng

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/arto.talent?igsh=MWdhbWl5N204a253NQ%3D%3D&utm_source=qr

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@artotalent?_t=ZG-8tHbGACAZaj&_r=1

Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/leading-beyond-the-lab/id1783115575

Website: https://arto-talent.com

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@life_sciences

Jyothis George

CMO at NodThera

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jyothisgeorge/

Lawrence Rose

Co-Founder + Talent Solutions Director At ARTO

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lawrencerose/

Timestamps:

01:40 NodThera's Role in Future Endocrinology

10:48 Leadership in Biotech

21:05 Investment and Mentorship

30:58 Endocrinology's Underinvestment

38:13 Jyothis George: Legacy & Contact

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