sixteen: the birth of brazen bio
Brazen Bio was born on May 27, 2021 to two proud parents, Brent M. Witgen, PhD and W. Shawn Carbonell, MD, PhD.
[They met at U Penn in 2000 when their mutual mentor hired Shawn to train Brent.]
Brent and I. (He’s the taller one.)
Our mission is to help scientists become CEOs.
[We are also interested in supporting STEM careers and science communication, generally (more on this in another post).]
In just the past 6 months, we’ve recruited nearly 50 Senior Fellows (i.e., advisors), built a brand and nearly 1,000 followers on LinkedIn and Instagram (#BeBrazen), participated in over a half-dozen podcast interviews (e.g., here and here), raised six figures in financing from the public through regulation crowdfunding, launched a Discord server to promote STEM careers, established our alpha product (the Brazen Incubator), opened applications and recruited 6 founders to the first cohort (BRZN01), were featured in the press TWICE in a week (here and here), established Brazen House—the first ever biotech launch house, commenced laboratory and office operations at BioLabs LA, hosted a sponsored benefit open house for local biotech founders and leaders, graduated our first cohort in the Brazen Incubator, and established the Brazen Creator program for science communicators.
And as if that weren’t enough—this week—we launched our first venture capital fund to power the Brazen Incubator: Brazen Capital.
It is often said that the best startup ideas come from solving one’s own problems. It is no secret that launching biotech companies in general is incredibly difficult. And, it certainly is no secret (bc I won’t shut the fuck up about it) that launching my first biotech startup in particular—while destroying me mentally and largely contributing to the demise of my marriage—also led to a brand new promising cancer drug candidate (currently in a Phase 1 clinical trial) and massive personal growth.
I am so grateful for it.
Thus, my new biotech startup is about helping others launch biotech startups. Brazen Bio allows me to become the resource I needed a decade ago when my cancer drug was just a crazy idea in my head.
Real CEOs wear lab coats, y’all.
I’ve done it. You can too.