In this episode of The Biotech Startups Podcast, we continue our conversation with Richard Yu, CEO and co-founder of Abalone Bio, as he traces his path from academic scientist to entrepreneur—starting with the 2008 alternative energy boom that led him to co-found algae biofuel startup Green Pacific Biologicals and deliver a two-slide, science-only VC pitch that sparked a new sense of purpose. He reflects on shutting the company down in 2013 and realizing that scientific feasibility alone doesn’t build a business, then describes how joining QB3’s incubator immersed him in hundreds of therapeutics startups, taught him the business side of company building, and ultimately set the stage for founding Abalone Bio and entering Y Combinator’s March 2020 batch just as COVID-19 began disrupting the world.

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“What did the council decide on item 42?” — answered with the speaker and the moment.

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