Francisco Gimenez (8VC) on Spotting Biotech Unicorns Others Miss

Francisco Gimenez, Partner at 8VC, shares his unconventional journey from Stanford PhD to venture capital, where he leads investments in Bio-IT and enterprise AI. Known for his technical background and sharp instincts, Francisco has been pivotal in backing startups pushing the boundaries of biotech and healthcare innovation.

 

Here's a glimpse of what you'll learn:

• 00:48 Introduction to Driving Alpha

• 01:18 Meet Francisco Gimenez: A Journey from Academia to Venture Capital

• 02:45 Francisco's Early Career and Academic Background

• 04:02 Joining Formation Eight and Transition to 8VC

• 06:18 Investing in Visionary Founders and Unique Companies

• 08:26 Challenges and Insights in Deep Tech and Biotech Investing

• 12:15 The Importance of Problem-Oriented Founders

• 19:51 Exciting Companies and Future Prospects

• 20:41 Engineering Principles in Biologics

• 22:26 Innovative Cell Biology Tools

• 23:36 Biological Foundation Models and AI

• 24:52 VC Perspective on Biotech and Pharma

• 26:00 Challenges in Biotech Innovation

• 33:50 NIH Funding and Indirect Costs

• 39:13 Advice for Aspiring VCs and Founders

• 42:20 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

 

In this episode,

Francisco unpacks how he spots the kinds of biotech companies others overlook, those "end-of-one" startups tackling massively complex problems with groundbreaking approaches. He explains why he focuses on founders driven by a deep obsession with solving difficult problems, rather than chasing trends or easy wins.

The discussion explores the future of biotech, with insights into companies like Big Hat Biosciences and Seleno Therapeutics, pioneers at the intersection of AI and biology. Francisco explains why applying engineering and iterative design principles to the life sciences is unlocking new frontiers in drug development. He also offers his take on NIH funding controversies and shares why decentralized biotech innovation could spark the next wave of transformative therapies.