92 How a CEO Biotech Founder Scaled to IPO Without Silicon Valley

What does it take to build a biotech company without burning billions—or losing your conviction? Felicia Shakiba sits down with Dr. Shalabh Gupta, Founder & CEO of Unicycive Therapeutics, to unpack what real leadership discipline looks like in one of the most capital-intensive industries in the world. A physician turned Wall Street analyst, Dr. Gupta shares how he raised over $150M in public markets, took a biotech company public with a single employee, and scaled to FDA submission readiness with just 22 people—without relying on traditional Silicon Valley venture capital. This episode explores how leadership clarity, rigorous decision making, and focused C-suite strategy drive value creation under extreme constraints. Dr. Gupta explains why great CEOs start with the problem—not the product—and how disciplined execution, process rigor, and business process automation enable scale without excess. Leaders across industries will gain executive insights into credibility, trust, and navigating digital transformation in highly regulated environments. Chapters 00:00 Introduction to Unisysive Therapeutics 04:27 Innovative Approach to Biotech 07:55 Understanding the Biotech Landscape 10:39 Transition from Medicine to Wall Street 14:08 Lessons from Genentech 19:46 Building a Company Alone 22:47 The Importance of Networking 27:00 Engaging with the FDA 30:57 Raising Capital in Biotech 41:58 Navigating Investor Relationships This episode is a masterclass in purpose-driven leadership, capital discipline, and building companies that last. — Subscribe to the LeaderbookAI Podcast (formerly CPO PLAYBOOK): https://leaderbook.ai/podcast Want to create 10x the value of your business or investments? Let’s talk: https://leaderbook.ai/contact