In this enlightening episode of the Africa Biotech Conversations Podcast, Siso Mbanxa, a research scientist at Newform Foods, delves into the intriguing world of biotechnology in the food industry, focusing on cultivated meat. Her journey from academic research in biotech, particularly in cellular biology and tissue culture, to a role in the industry is explored. The episode highlights the technological advancements and challenges in producing sustainable and efficient food systems, with a focus on cultivated meat's role in enhancing food security in Africa. Siso's insightful discussion illumi ..read more

Africa stands at a unique intersection, characterised by its challenges, which simultaneously present opportunities for innovation, especially in the biotech sector. From energy to food security and healthcare, the continent's obstacles can be its biggest assets, positioning it as a key player in developing solutions that not only serve local needs but have the potential to revolutionise global industries. Listen in to explore how, by building from within, Africa's innovations can seamlessly scale and integrate into global solutions. Eugene Duvenage, CEO of Axaitech opens up about his transfor ..read more

In this episode of Africa Biotech Conversations, host Adrienne Leussa welcomes Nii Simmonds, a non-resident fellow for the Atlantic Council and the Center for Global Development, based in Washington, DC. With a diverse background in pharmaceuticals, life sciences, consulting, and international development, Nii Simmonds emphasises the importance of supporting Africa's development and passing on skills to future African leaders.     The discussion begins by exploring trends and opportunities for investors and biotech entrepreneurs in Africa, considering the challenges in the finan ..read more

In this episode of the Africa Biotech Conversations podcast, our host Dr Adrienne Leussa engages in a captivating discussion with Gian-Marco Melfi, a partner at One Bio Venture Studio. One Bio is a venture capital fund that focuses on investing in local biotech startups in Africa. Marco, a biomedical scientist with a background in biochemistry and biomedical sciences, shares his fascinating journey from research to startups and now investing and funding early-stage biotech companies.     Marco discusses his experience at Cambridge University, where he supported biotech startups ..read more

In this podcast, host Adrienne Leussa speaks with Shobhita Soor from Ghana to learn about her journey as a biotech entrepreneur and sustainable nutrition solutions. Shobhita is the founder of two startups, Aspire Food Group and Legendary Foods. The mission of Legendary Foods is to deliver the nutrition of meat at the price point and the sustainability of plants. Insects are consumed by a third of the world's population and they are an underutilised resource to provide high-quality nutrition. Tune in to learn more about Shobhita's journey as a biotech entrepreneur and her innovative solutions t ..read more

In this episode of Africa Biotech Conversations, host Adrienne Leussa (PhD) interviews Dr. Nhlanhla Msomi, the president and chairman of Africa Bio, a nonprofit association advocating for biotechnology in Africa. Dr. Msomi shares his extensive experience and insights into the biotech sector and the objectives of Africa Bio. The conversation delves into Africa Bio's mission to defend and promote evidence-driven policies for biotechnology adoption, particularly in agriculture and healthcare. Dr. Msomi mentioned the need to address misconceptions surrounding genetically modified organisms (GMOs ..read more

In this episode of the Africa Biotech Conversation podcast, host Adrienne Leussa speaks with Neil Thanedar, the founder of labdoor.com and Utopic Ventures. Neil shares his inspiring story of building a biotech startup like a Silicon Valley tech company, including the creation of Labdoor.com, which tests vitamins and supplements that the FDA doesn't test and offers free transparency on product purity and accuracy. Through Labdoor.com, Neil raised over $7 million in seed and Series A funding and built a platform for independent testing.  Neil also discusses Utopic Ventures, a fund they ..read more

In this episode of the Africa Biotech Conversation podcast, host Adrienne Leussa speaks with Cindy Lawley, Sr Director, Global Population Health of the Proteomics Company, Olink.  Cindy shares insights on her background, the technology of Olink, and its potential impact on understanding genetic risks of diseases.   In this episode, we learn of the first deployment of Olink’s technology on the African continent at the Institute of Infectious Disease and Molecular Medicine (IDM) in Cape Town, South Africa.  Cindy joined Olink in 2020 soon after the launch of the Explore ..read more

Welcome to the latest episode of our Africa biotech conversations podcast, where we explore the latest innovations and trends in the biotechnology industry on the African continent and beyond.  In today's episode, we'll be diving into the rapidly growing SynBio Africa community and how it is advancing the field of synthetic biology on the continent. Synthetic biology combines biology, engineering, and computer science to design and build new biological systems with specific functions.  Our guest today is Ian Peter Busuulwa, an expert in the field of synthetic biology, actin ..read more

Discover the cutting-edge world of Valley DAO - the decentralised autonomous organisation that's shaking up venture capital. In this episode, we explore how Valley DAO is using blockchain technology and community-driven decision-making to invest in the future of biotech startups. Join the co-founders, Albert Anis and Morgan Richards, as we uncover the fascinating story behind this innovative approach to funding and supporting early-stage companies. We share information on how to become a member of Valley DAO.  ..read more