FIRESIDE CHAT WITH THE CEO OF EDEN BIO
Written by Ciara Brady
Editted by Dr Rachel Shaw
Hi Chris, it's great to chat with you. So Eden Bio is your second biotech, how has the second time around been different from the first?
Well, I co-founded Better Dairy as part of the Entrepreneur First (EF) start up accelerator programme and was the company’s CTO before exiting when the company hit Series A in 2021, raising £16M. I founded Eden Bio to build on the tech I had been developing at Better Dairy, and we launched in January 2022. This being my second time around navigating startup life, I’m more familiar with all the steps we need to take to build a successful company. This means there are fewer obstacles and we need less guidance. This time around at Eden Bio, I’m the CEO and sole founder, and essentially this means I’ve responsibility over it all. It means I don’t have another co-founder to rely on, but it’s a step up I was ready to take.
Can you give us a brief insight into what Eden Bio does and the problems you’re trying to solve?
Simply put, Eden Bio is an AI-first company that uses machine learning to guide strain engineering. Many industries rely on strain engineering to help them generate the optimised microorganism strains they use to produce products through precision fermentation. These products can be across industries such as foods, materials and therapeutics, with more turning to this method each year. However, all of those companies are faced with difficulties when it comes to this strain optimisation, including low yields and their microorganisms not working how they should. Scientists currently tackle this through a process of trial and error, but Eden Bio’s technology revolutionises this approach, since we use machine learning to guide the process through rational design, essentially helping companies generate strains that are more optimised than they otherwise could have. It’s our machine learning technique that gives us the edge over our competitors. We’re optimising microorganism strains in a way no other company is, and we have the potential to do it better than anyone else has before.
What inspired you to start Eden Bio?
For years, I’ve wanted to bring machine learning to synthetic biology in a way that I knew could be done. There’s a whole world of potential just waiting to be delivered from marrying the two, but too few people have the duel expertise across these fields to make it possible like I have, and I knew that a biotech startup was the right place to unlock this potential.
And if you weren't building a startup, what would you be doing?
Well, I spent eleven years in academia before I joined EF, so I would probably still be there, working on machine-learning applications in synthetic biology, but without the catalyst that comes from being in a biotech, which accelerates everything.
How would you describe startup life in three words?
Challenging, rewarding and fluid. You have to be prepared to adapt to unpredictable situations as you never know what’s coming next.
Throughout your startup journey, what insights have you gained?
A lot of the startup experience is learning what not to do and how to handle the problems you run into, but as this is my second startup, I have the advantage of having been through it all before. This means we’re able to focus at Eden Bio on what needs to get done. It also means I’ve been able to smoothly set up Eden Bio’s lab, which normally causes a whole host of headaches to new biotechs. It’s been amazing to see how much simpler everything’s been this time. I’ve more confidence, and the connections I’ve built up have been critical to ensuring Eden Bio’s success.
Why did you choose to have offices in Scale Space?
Scale Space’s opening was perfect timing for Eden Bio. I was aware of Scale Space being built during my time at Better Dairy, but the timings didn’t work as it was only due to open in May of 2021. I went back to Scale Space earlier this year once I founded Eden Bio, and they had space for us, and I’m delighted we’re there now. It’s the perfect place for our team to grow and develop in line with our mission and strategy.
What does team collaboration look like in Eden Bio?
We are still quite a small team, which means everyone takes a lead on their workstreams, helping the startup power ahead. My role as CEO is to support everyone else to achieve the best they can, making sure everyone is working in the right direction, and bringing in the investments to keep the ship going, of course!
What are the core values you look for when hiring?
Eden Bio prizes those who are forward thinking, sustainability-minded and innovative. We’ve been really fortunate in building up a fantastic team that embodies all of those values, and I’m excited to bring on more people into the team soon!
What are the biggest challenges Eden Bio has faced?
Securing investment is always a challenge, particularly as belts are being tightened because of the economic climate we’re in right now. Thankfully, however, every challenge that’s come our way has been expected and somewhat planned for – for which my previous biotech experience has certainly helped. Still, there are constantly important challenges to be faced in a startup – the grind never really stops, but I love it.
What does success look like for Eden Bio?
Eden Bio’s success comes from becoming a valuable resource for the biotech community, helping alternate protein companies produce their proteins and get to market faster. The better we do, the faster we can help the world reach the more sustainable future we need to get to. To do this, we need to continually advance our technology and build our offerings for our customers.
Do you have any advice for those considering being an entrepreneur?
If you want to be an entrepreneur, you have to commit to it. You have to think to yourself ‘Is this something I really want to do?’. Being an entrepreneur can mean playing the long game, but it can be an incredibly rewarding experience if you go for it.