Insider’s Advice for Starting, Growing, Exiting a Biotech

October 8, 2024

In this month’s episode of Evaluating Biopharma, host Ben Locwin and Chris Major, founder and partner of BioProcess360 Partners, discuss the best ways to start a company to address technology gaps, why it is beneficial to collaborate with competitors (instead of going against each other), and the challenges encountered when planning to de-risk portfolios in advance. Major also talks about how he approaches funding, the best practices and lessons he learned about time-to-exit strategies, and how his organization is paying it forward to the industry.

GUEST BIO

Chris Major, Founder and Partner, BioProcess360 Partners
Chris is a serial entrepreneur and knows exactly what it takes to be truly successful in this space. He has more than 20 years Bioprocessing experience, in both upstream and downstream technologies. At BioProcess360 he is responsible for identifying investment opportunities and strategic fit within the portfolio as well as supporting operational growth-related activities. Prior to BioProcess360, he created and led the Purolite Bioprocessing division. He started the venture in 2015 with zero revenue, turning a profit within 2 years and achieving revenues of $80m within 6 years. The business was acquired in 2021 for $3.7BN by Ecolab (ECL. NYSE).

His first start up was WAVE Bioreactors where he helped drive the adoption of single-use technology. WAVE was acquired by GE Healthcare (now Cytiva) in 2007. He has also spent time driving global commercial activities with key accounts at GE Healthcare and Merck Millipore. He started his career as a bench scientist, holds an MSc. in Biotechnology and attended Harvard Business School.

Chris has a passion for adrenaline-fueled activities - anything related to two-wheels. He enjoys enduro trails off-road biking, motorcycles and mountain biking as well as climbing, paddleboarding, live music, festivals, playing the piano, and any sightseeing holidays that involve beaches and water. He is also a committed and caring father of two teenage girls.

MODERATOR BIO

Ben Locwin, Chief Scientist and Head of Clinical Services, Black Diamond Networks, Healthcare Futurist
Ben Locwin is a healthcare executive and industry expert. His work has involved bringing new and innovative medical treatments (drug therapies, vaccines and medical devices) to patient populations with unmet needs across a variety of indications and health conditions. He has also worked with investors on the ‘next big things’ in the industry. He has been featured in The Wall Street Journal, Forbes, USA Today, The Associated Press, Axios, NPR, and other top-tier media.