Grow Everything Biotech Podcast

Recorded live at New York Tech Week, Karl and Erum sit down with Brenton Alexander (CTO at Roebling) to unpack one of the biggest bottlenecks in scaling “biology as technology”: figuring out what it really takes to design and finance physical infrastructure. Brenton walks through how Roebling uses AI alongside deterministic engineering models (physics/thermodynamics) to accelerate early facility design, generate capex/opex estimates with uncertainty ranges (not false precision), and help teams run scenarios fast—so founders, investors, and operators can make better go/no-go decisions earlier, reduce wasteful iteration across siloed teams, and focus human expertise where it matters most.Grow Everything brings the bioeconomy to life. Hosts Karl Schmieder and Erum Azeez Khan share stories and interview the leaders and influencers changing the world by growing everything. Biology is the oldest technology. And it can be engineered. What are we growing?Learn more at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.messaginglab.com/groweverything⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Chapters:(00:00:00) Welcome to Grow Everything Live at NY Tech Week(00:02:10) The “infrastructure gap”: why feasibility work is slow and expensive(00:03:05) What Roebling does: accelerating the path from R&D to final investment decision(00:05:05) Live demo setup: building a yeast-based fermentation facility for a red bio-dye(00:07:15) What the platform decides (and why inputs matter): equipment, DSP, and cost drivers(00:10:00) “Why not just use Claude?” Deterministic models + AI tooling for defensible results(00:14:30) Handling uncertainty: ranges, distributions, and Monte Carlo-style scenario runs(00:18:40) What changes for engineers/consultants: shifting effort from manual work to judgment(00:23:10) Reading the outputs: capex/opex, IRR, and the “tornado chart” of uncertainty drivers(00:28:10) Audience Q&A: logistics/customer delivery, AI’s impact on costs, review fatigue, and assumptions(00:29:30) Long-term direction: more fidelity, narrower bounds, EPC-ready handoff(00:30:05) Audience Q&A begins(00:30:30) Q1: logistics + customer delivery costs (not just “at the gate”)(00:32:55) Q2: how AI changes operating cost assumptions over time(00:34:15) Q3: review fatigue—how to structure checks and triage what matters(00:36:10) Q4: what did the model assume for “colorant”? (and why specificity matters)(00:38:15) Wrap-up + thank-yousLinks and Resources:RoeblingRoebling Early Access ProgramBrentan AlexandarEdward Shenderovich65. Scaling Cells, Dreaming Big: The Biomanufacturing Cloud with Synonym’s Edward Shenderovich166. The Great Reformulation: Joshua Lachter Rethinks How We Make Everything at Scale172. Generating Needles in Haystacks: Elise de Reus Designs Proteins with CradleBioInnovations Events - For 25% off use code: Grow EverythingTopics Covered:Roebling, bioprocess modeling, techno-economic analysis, fermentation economics, food dyes, bio-based ingredients, process engineering, AI for biomanufacturing, scale-up planning, regulatory considerations, industrial engineering AI.Have a question or comment? Message us here:Text or Call (804) 505-5553⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ / ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Twitter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ / ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ / ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Youtube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ / ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Grow Everything⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Music by: Nihilore Production by: Amplafy Media

Sophia Xu, cofounder of Carbon Bridge, joins us to discuss how her company is revolutionizing gas fermentation with notebook-sized modular bioreactors that convert waste gases into valuable fuels and chemicals. From rejecting medical school to focus on climate biotech, to developing reactors 80% more energy efficient than traditional methods, Sophia shares how Carbon Bridge's platform enables wild-type methanotrophs to perform 500% better than genetically modified microbes. The conversation explores distributed manufacturing, the company's vision for an "app store" of microbial pathways, partnerships with Norwegian Cruise Lines, and why Sophia believes biology—not electrification—is key to decarbonizing heavy industry. We discuss deployment scenarios from dairy farms to breweries, the misconceptions about gas fermentation, and how Carbon Bridge is creating a new business model by selling bioreactors rather than end products.Grow Everything brings the bioeconomy to life. Hosts Karl Schmieder and Erum Azeez Khan share stories and interview the leaders and influencers changing the world by growing everything. Biology is the oldest technology. And it can be engineered. What are we growing?Learn more at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.messaginglab.com/groweverything⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Chapters:(00:00:00) - Sophia's Journey from Cancer Research to Climate Biotech(00:03:18) - AI in Biomanufacturing(00:06:00) - From Nanotechnology to Waste Gas Conversion(00:09:00) - Sophia's Path: Why Climate Over Medical School(00:11:00) - Biology as an Industrial Platform(00:11:48) - Visualizing Carbon Bridge: MacBook-Sized Bioreactors(00:14:00) - Navigating Unpredictability in Biological Systems(00:16:43) - Methanotrophs: The Wild-Type Microbes Behind the Tech(00:17:00) - Scaling by Stacking: From Lab to 80X Scale(00:18:00) - Sustainability Meets Economics: No Green Premium Required(00:21:00) - Performance Numbers: 80% More Efficient, 500% Better Than GMOs(00:23:00) - Distributed Manufacturing and the Server Farm Analogy(00:25:00) - Deployment Scenarios: Dairy Farms, Breweries, and Beyond(00:27:00) - Funding Insights: What ARPA-E, IndieBio, and SOSV Taught Them(00:28:53) - Business Model: Selling Bioreactors, Not End Products(00:30:00) - The App Store Vision for Microbial Pathways(00:32:00) - Carbon Conversion Over Carbon Removal(00:34:00) - Visioneering the Future: Reproducibility and the Biotech Revolution(00:36:00) - Quick Fire: Climate Myths, Hydrogen Skepticism, and More(00:39:00) - Post-Interview Reflections and Business Model SpinLinks and Resources:Links for Sophia's XuTopics Covered:CarbonBridge, climate biotech, gas fermentation, methane to methanol, modular bioreactor, distributed biomanufacturing, waste gas conversion, renewable methanol, industrial biotechnology, biomanufacturing infrastructureHave a question or comment? Message us here:Text or Call (804) 505-5553⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠ / ⁠⁠⁠Twitter⁠⁠⁠ / ⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠ / ⁠⁠⁠Youtube⁠⁠⁠ / ⁠⁠⁠Grow Everything⁠⁠⁠Music by: Nihilore Production by: Amplafy Media

Karl and Erum break down how biology is transforming the production of everything from cosmetics to construction materials. They explore why the petrochemical era is giving way to biological manufacturing, examining both the spectacular failures of early biofuels and the emerging success stories of companies like K18 and Mango Materials. Karl and Erum explain the fundamentals of fermentation, precision fermentation, and cell-free manufacturing, while introducing concepts like distributed biomanufacturing and "dirty biology." Drawing on insights from previous guests including Doug Friedman, Michelle Stansfield, Veronica Breckenridge, and Phil Morle, they reveal why 95% of executives are now pursuing bio-solutions and how three converging forces—falling technology costs, rising consumer expectations, and new infrastructure—are making this the moment for biomanufacturing to finally deliver on its promise.Grow Everything brings the bioeconomy to life. Hosts Karl Schmieder and Erum Azeez Khan share stories and interview the leaders and influencers changing the world by growing everything. Biology is the oldest technology. And it can be engineered. What are we growing?Learn more at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.messaginglab.com/groweverything⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Chapters:(00:00:00) - Why AI might just become our CEO (plus haircuts, Pilates, and gene therapy for hearing loss)(00:02:05) - Eli Lilly's $1B gene therapy deal for hearing loss(00:05:00) - Long Now podcast recommendation and NASA astrobiologist Lynn Rothschild(00:07:00) - Discussion of Apple TV's Scion and Drops of God(00:11:00) - What is biomanufacturing and why does it matter?(00:13:00) - The history of petrochemicals as "green technology"(00:16:00) - The opportunity: removing gigatons of carbon and unlocking trillion-dollar markets(00:19:00) - Types of biomanufacturing: fermentation, precision fermentation, and continuous fermentation(00:22:00) - Cell-free manufacturing and plant cell bioreactors(00:26:00) - Growing products with mycelium and dirty biology approaches(00:29:00) - Why biomanufacturing has been hard: the valley of death(00:30:00) - The biofuels bust and lessons from 60 failed companies(00:34:00) - Infrastructure challenges and the capacity gap(00:36:00) - New solutions: performance over sustainability and the K18 example(00:40:00) - Orchestration beats invention: connecting the entire value chain(00:43:00) - Distributed biomanufacturing and making products from waste(00:48:00) - The bio-better reality: what consumers and CPG companies need(00:51:00) - Three forces converging to make biomanufacturing work now(00:53:00) - Quickfire questions: luxury vs. commodities, funding, and AI's roleLinks and Resources:Links and Resources DOCTopics Covered: biomanufacturing 101, industrial biotechnology, precision fermentation, continuous fermentation, cell-free biomanufacturing, distributed biomanufacturing, dirty biology, bio-based materials, performance vs sustainability, CPG reformulationHave a question or comment? Message us here:Text or Call (804) 505-5553⁠Instagram⁠ / ⁠Twitter⁠ / ⁠LinkedIn⁠ / ⁠Youtube⁠ / ⁠Grow Everything⁠Music by: Nihilore Production by: Amplafy Media

Joshua Lachter, co-founder of Synonym, joins us for an in-depth conversation about the future of biomanufacturing and what he calls "the great reformulation." We explore how biology is poised to replace petrochemicals across industries, the infrastructure challenges holding back commercial scale production, and why standardization is critical for mass adoption. Joshua shares insights from Synonym's work building commercial biomanufacturing facilities, including their groundbreaking project in Decatur, Illinois. From GLP-1s to microplastics, we discuss how bio-based products can deliver superior performance while addressing health and environmental concerns. This episode is essential listening for anyone interested in the commercialization of industrial biotech, the economics of biomanufacturing, and the path toward a reformulated supply chain built on biology.(00:00:00) - Snowstorm updates from NYC(00:03:00) - Tech Meets Pharma: The Data Revolution(00:09:00) - Mr. Beast, Upside Foods, and Colossal Biosciences(00:14:00) - Joshua's Background and Why He Founded Synonym(00:18:00) - Financialization and Standardization of Biomanufacturing(00:25:00) - Early Assumptions That Turned Out Wrong(00:38:00) - The Great Reformulation: Biology vs. Petrochemicals(00:48:00) - GLP-1s and Nature-Inspired Innovation(00:54:00) - Better with Bio: Synonym's Partnership with Brentag(00:59:00) - Quickfire Questions(01:03:00) - Wrap-Up & Final ThoughtsEpisode Links:SynonymBetterWith.BioThe Great Reformulation Primient and Synonym Forge Strategic Partnership to Propel U.S. Bioproduct InnovationNYC Mayor Zohran Mamdani Snowstorm Prep VideoMr. Beast video: $1 vs $1,000,000,000 Futuristic Tech!Edward Shenderovich epAmy Trejo and JC Garcia Garcia epSuveen K18 ep Grow Everything brings the bioeconomy to life. Hosts Karl Schmieder and Erum Azeez Khan share stories and interview the leaders and influencers changing the world by growing everything. Biology is the oldest technology. And it can be engineered. What are we growing?Learn more at www.messaginglab.com/groweverythingTopics Covered: biotech, industry, biomanufacturing, bioprocessing, industrial biotech, Great Reformulation, consumer packaged goods, CPG, biotech R&D, chemical engineering, bioengineering, AI in biomanufacturingHave a question or comment? Message us here:Text or Call (804) 505-5553Instagram / Twitter / LinkedIn / Youtube / Grow Everything

We kick off our CPG series with Dr. Erin Marasco, Senior Director of Global Biology at Cargill, who leads innovation in ingredient discovery, strain development, and biotech applications. Erin takes us on a fascinating journey from the fundamentals of fermentation to the complexities of scaling biotech products from lab bench to global supply chains. We explore Cargill's 30-year history in biomanufacturing, discuss why terms like "precision fermentation" might be doing more harm than good, and learn what it really takes for startups to partner with multinational companies. Erin shares insights on feedstock diversity across continents, the future of nutritional bioactives in everyday foods, and why success in biotech means moving from "novel" to "preferred." This conversation is essential listening for anyone interested in how biology is quietly transforming every aisle of the grocery store.Grow Everything brings the bioeconomy to life. Hosts Karl Schmieder and Erum Azeez Khan share stories and interview the leaders and influencers changing the world by growing everything. Biology is the oldest technology. And it can be engineered. What are we growing?Learn more at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.messaginglab.com/groweverything⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Chapters:(00:00:00) - Introduction & New Year Kickoff — Welcome to 2026 and the start of our CPG series!(00:01:00) - JP Morgan Conference & South Africa Travel(00:05:00) - New Food Pyramid Controversy(00:10:00) - Introducing Erin Marasco & Cargill's Role in Biotech(00:17:00) - Where Biotech Creates Real Leverage at Cargill(00:21:00) - Demystifying Fermentation: Why Now?(00:26:00) - How Cargill Partners with Startups(00:30:00) - Biggest Misconceptions About Working with Big Companies(00:33:00) - What Product Readiness Means to Cargill(00:38:00) - Plasmids to Pallets: Successful Partnership Examples(00:47:00) - Feedstock Diversity Across Continents(00:53:00) - The Future: Nutrition as Everyday Food(00:58:00) - Quick Fire Questions & Retiring "Precision Fermentation"(01:03:00) - Wrap-Up & What's Next in the CPG SeriesLinks and Resources:CargillCargill Fermentation BlogFermentation: nature's original biotech by CargillCantabria Labs (sunscreen from plant extracts)Viro - Sugarcane StrawsSawubona Mycelium Heliocare Cantabria Labs Andreesen Horowitz, VC fund, raised a $15 billion Topics Covered: biotech, industry, biomanufacturing, bioprocessing, agriculture, agritech, strain engineering, biotech R&D, feedstocks, chemical engineering, bioengineeringHave a question or comment? Message us here:Text or Call (804) 505-5553 Music by: Nihilore Production by: Amplafy Media

Karl and Erum kick off 2026 with deep reflections on prosperity, consciousness, and the idea that we might be living in a simulation. But the real focus is on a concept that could make or break biotech companies: orchestration. They dive into why most biotech innovations outside of pharma struggle to commercialize and introduce the idea of value chain syndication—bringing together innovators, manufacturers, investors, and big incumbents to create entire ecosystems rather than just individual deals. Using examples like K18 Hair's marketing orchestration and the urgent need to replace Red Dye 40, they break down how founders can architect strategic "seed deals" that build toward transformative industry shifts. This isn't about traditional sales or business development—it's about becoming the center of an ecosystem that includes everyone from ingredient suppliers to end customers. With tailwinds from geopolitical changes, supply chain concerns, and increasing demand for bio-based solutions, the time for orchestration is now. Whether you're a founder trying to scale or a big company looking to innovate, this episode shows you how to think bigger than your own company and build the infrastructure for a bio-based future.Grow Everything brings the bioeconomy to life. Hosts Karl Schmieder and Erum Azeez Khan share stories and interview the leaders and influencers changing the world by growing everything. Biology is the oldest technology. And it can be engineered. What are we growing?Learn more at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.messaginglab.com/groweverything⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Chapters:(00:00:00) - Welcome and New Year reflections from California and Cape Town(00:01:00) - Prosperity, money circulation, and building a better society(00:04:23) - Consciousness, simulation theory, and the philosophy of everything(00:09:00) - Why we're replaying the orchestration episode(00:10:00) - What is orchestration and why it's not just sales or business development(00:15:00) - Why biotech companies struggle to commercialize outside pharma(00:18:00) - Value chain syndication and manufacturing orchestration explained(00:20:00) - Seed deals: How to start small and build toward the big picture(00:22:00) - The Red Dye 40 case study: Architecting an ecosystem for change(00:27:00) - Why founders need to think differently and become deal architects(00:31:00) - Why now? Geopolitical and economic tailwinds for biomanufacturing(00:34:00) - Risks, rewards, and the 5-10 year arc of ecosystem building(00:37:00) - Final reflections and how to get started with orchestrationLinks and Resources:MessaginglabNational Security Commission on Emerging Biotechnology's Report: Charting the Future of BiotechnologyRed Dye ban153. Ghosts of Biotech Past: Veronica Breckenridge’s Playbook for Smarter Scaling149. Beyond Capital: Phil Morle of Main Sequence Ventures on Collaboration as the New Competitive Edge120. Busting Biotech's Bottlenecks: Veronica Breckenridge on the Path to Industrial Scale26. Breaking Bad Hair Habits with Biology: Suveen Sahib's K18 Rescues Your StrandsStar Talk Neil deGrasse TysonTopics Covered: biotech, CPG, business models, industry, bacterial cellulose, fermentationHave a question or comment? Message us here:Text or Call (804) 505-5553 ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ / ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Twitter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ / ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ / ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Youtube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ / ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Grow Everything⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Email: groweverything@messaginglab.comMusic by: NihiloreProduction by: Amplafy Media