Episodios

  • 177. Dye Another Day (REPLAY): The New Way to Color Textiles with Colorifix's Orr Yarkoni

    177. Dye Another Day (REPLAY): The New Way to Color Textiles with Colorifix's Orr Yarkoni
    Apr 17 2026
    In this replay episode of Grow Everything, Karl and Erum catch up after recent travel, reflect on a standout mainstream biotech article about biology reshaping the global chemical industry, and discuss why “tissue-on-a-chip” experiments in space matter for long-duration missions. They then kick off a deeper dive into bio-based dyes by revisiting their interview with Orr Yarkoni, co-founder and CEO of Colorifix, who explains how engineered microbes can both produce and directly deposit pigment onto textiles to dramatically reduce toxic chemistry, water use, and energy demand compared to conventional dyeing. The conversation covers why black and high-performance reds remain the hardest colors to replace, how Colorifix approaches scale-up through distributed on-site fermentation hardware, and what it takes to meet the real-world fastness and safety standards that brands and mills require.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) Travel catch-up and what the hosts have been thinking about lately(00:05:30) Mainstream biotech gets it right: biology as “Mother Nature’s R&D lab” for the chemical industry(00:07:15) Artemis and why deep-space biology experiments matter(00:08:40) Project Hail Mary and communicating across radically different biology(00:12:55) Why this season is focusing on bio dyes, and why textiles are a key wedge industry(00:16:55) Interview begins: Orr’s background and the pivot from arsenic biosensing to dyeing(00:20:15) How conventional textile dyeing works, and why it is so chemically and water intensive(00:24:10) What Colorifix does differently: microbes that make dye and fix it onto fabric(00:27:10) Performance realities: lightfastness, washfastness, and why “green but fragile” is not sustainability(00:29:35) Finding pigments in nature, choosing the right biosynthetic routes, and translating them across materials(00:34:20) Who buys what: dye houses, mills, and how the business model works(00:36:55) Scaling fermentation the hard way: standardizing hardware and enabling on-site production(00:40:05) Hardware basics and the economics of bioreactors for commodity chemicals(00:44:05) Worker health, safer chemistry, and toxicity testing across the full process(00:46:05) Where you can find Colorifix in-market, and which materials are trending(00:49:00) Color priorities: why blue is easiest, and why black is the biggest challenge(00:51:15) Regulation tailwinds: why some black chemistries are being phased out(00:55:15) The future: bio-manufacturing everyday goods at scale(00:58:45) Orr’s film recommendation: The Man in the White Suit(01:00:00) Closing: upcoming live recording at DC Climate Week and SynBioBetaLinks and Resources:Colorifix 75. Dye Another Day: The New Way to Color Textiles with Colorifix's Orr YarkoniTracking the removal of Petroleum-based Food Dyes Food Safety and Health Concerns of Synthetic Food DyesNational Geographic Spider SilkArtemis Mission - Lunar FlybyDC Climate WeekSynBioBeta Pass - Discount code: Grow Everything Topics Covered:industrial biotech, synthetic biology, biomanufacturing, microbial fermentation, engineered microbes, sustainable textiles, bio-based dyes, textile dyeing process, green chemistryHave a question or comment? Message us here:Text or Call (804) 505-5553⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ / ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Twitter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ / ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ / ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Youtube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ / ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Grow Everything⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Music by: Nihilore Production by: Amplafy Media
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    1 h y 3 m
  • 176. Dare to Commercialize: Damien Perriman’s eXoZymes Playbook

    176. Dare to Commercialize: Damien Perriman’s eXoZymes Playbook
    Apr 10 2026
    Damien Perriman, Chief Commercial Officer of eXoZymes and the commercial lead behind the NCTx spinout, breaks down why cell-free biomanufacturing changes the rules for scaling nature’s rare molecules. Damien explains why the team spun NCTX out as a separate commercial vehicle, what it means to successfully transfer a process to a partner manufacturer (including a milestone Cayman validation), and why NCT (n-trans-caffeoyl tyramine), a trace compound found in peppercorns and hemp seed husks, has drawn so much attention as the only known agonist of HNF4A, a metabolic “switch” tied to mitochondrial function. The conversation also covers the logic behind launching first in supplements, how to build credibility in a crowded category through safety and product consistency, how regulatory timelines shape strategy, and why industrial biotech needs to move from platform-first stories to molecule-led business cases that match real market demand.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, introductions, and why tech transfer matters(00:02:10) Why eXoZymes spun out NCTX to commercialize faster(00:03:30) Cayman scale-up milestone: 99% conversion and 99.6% purity(00:05:20) What the Cayman validation proves for product delivery and partners(00:08:10) Why launch NCT in supplements first, and what GRAS enables(00:10:00) Building credibility in supplements: safety, purity, and consistency(00:12:05) What HNF4A is, and why NCT is the only known agonist(00:14:30) What’s next: more human use studies, dose regimens, and GLP-1 adjacencies(00:16:00) NCT vs GLP-1s: “metabolic restoration” and where it might fit(00:18:10) “Natural” vs safe and effective: what really matters(00:21:00) Examples of trace natural molecules scaled for human use(00:22:30) GRAS + FDA timelines: how they’re navigating regulatory reality(00:26:00) The Molecule Manifesto: why industrial biotech needs molecule-led business cases(00:31:00) How eXoZymes chooses what to work on (idea management system)(00:33:00) Vision: what success looks like in 5–10 years(00:35:00) Quickfire: NCT in ice cream, NCT as “WALL-E,” and other rapid takes(00:38:10) What people misunderstand about cell-free biomanufacturing(00:40:00) Wrap-up + post-episode reflectionLinks and Resources:eXoZymesInterview: Cayman Chemical validates eXoZymes' technology and scalabilityeXoZymes’ Cell-Free Biomanufacturing Platform Gets Positive Feedback from Cayman ChemicaleXoZymes on LinkedInDamien Perriman - new CCO129. No Cells? No Problem! eXoZymes' Michael Heltzen on the Future of Microbe-Free Biotech29. Gut Check with Stephanie Culler: Persephone’s Quest for Microbiome Breakthroughs170. There's a Bug for That: Sophia Xu on CarbonBridge's Notebook Bioreactors166. The Great Reformulation: Joshua Lachter Rethinks How We Make Everything at ScaleTopics Covered:cell-free biomanufacturing, industrial biotech, NCTx, HNF4A, metabolic switch, tech transfer, CDMO, supplements vs pharma, GRAS, purity and consistencyHave a question or comment? Message us here:Text or Call (804) 505-5553⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ / ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Twitter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ / ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ / ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Youtube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ / ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Grow Everything⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Music by: Nihilore Production by: Amplafy Media
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    46 m
  • 175. Seaweed Is the New Oil: Mari Granström Builds Origin by Ocean

    175. Seaweed Is the New Oil: Mari Granström Builds Origin by Ocean
    Apr 3 2026
    Mari Granstrom, founder and “chief executive activist” of Origin By Ocean, joins the Grow Everything podcast to explain how massive seaweed blooms, driven by nutrient pollution and eutrophication, can become a regenerative feedstock for bio-based and biodegradable chemicals. Mari shares how a career in industrial biochemistry, plus years of scuba diving and growing up near the polluted Baltic Sea, shaped their mission to transform invasive sargassum into high-performance ingredients that can replace many oil-derived inputs in everyday products. The conversation covers the scale of the sargassum problem across the Caribbean and Gulf of Mexico, how Origin By Ocean processes seaweed into “white powders” customers can use in cosmetics and nutraceuticals, and why the future of climate entrepreneurship needs diversity, integrity, and business models that restore ecosystems instead of extracting from them.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) Seaweed is the oil we never used(00:01:00) Karl’s Hidden Brain live show story + talking to strangers(00:03:00) Spring break travel + staying plugged into biotech(00:04:05) Pfizer Oscars ad: what “breakthrough” messaging gets right(00:08:15) Echo Biotech + NYC’s biotech network, from biomaterials to investing(00:11:10) Meet Mari Granstrom and Origin By Ocean (how they met at Climate Week)(00:14:00) Mari’s path: biochemical expertise inside big chemical companies(00:16:25) Eutrophication 101 + spotting seaweed blooms as future biomass(00:19:20) The sargassum crisis: 40–60M tons/year in the Caribbean + Gulf(00:21:00) Is this just a Gulf issue? Baltic Sea vs “real oceans”(00:23:00) Turning research into a real biorefinery business(00:25:00) “Chief executive activist”: science, entrepreneurship, advocacy as one role(00:28:05) How seaweed can replace oil-derived functionality in everyday products(00:30:10) Regenerative value chains vs ESG (doing less harm vs net-positive)(00:33:00) Why diversity (backgrounds, not just demographics) drives better solutions(00:34:00) Future-casting: where marine biomass will (and won’t) make sense(00:37:00) Quickfire: ocean’s passive-aggressive text, algae blooms, nudibranchs(00:40:00) Demo products: cosmetics, hair growth, makeup + showing customers potential(00:41:00) Wrap-up reflections (seaweed as feedstock, alternate history)Links and Resources:Mari Granstorm episode linksSynBioBeta Pass - Discount code: Grow Everything Topics Covered:fermentation, biomanufacturing, yeast, Lallemand, enzymes, biofuels, xylose, Saccharomyces cerevisiae, genomics, synthetic biologyHave a question or comment? Message us here:Text or Call (804) 505-5553⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ / ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Twitter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ / ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ / ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Youtube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ / ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Grow Everything⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Music by: Nihilore Production by: Amplafy Media
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    48 m
  • 174. From Beer to Billions: Kevin Wenger Scales Microbes at Lallemand

    174. From Beer to Billions: Kevin Wenger Scales Microbes at Lallemand
    Mar 27 2026
    Kevin Wegner, VP of R&D at Lallemand, joins Karl and Erum to share three decades of wisdom from the frontlines of industrial fermentation. From his gateway into the industry through homebrewing beer to leading global teams that deliver high-value microbial products at billion-gallon scale, Kevin reveals why a 1% improvement in ethanol yield translates to massive economic value, how his team engineered yeast strains that produce both enzymes and ethanol simultaneously, and why scaling from large to even larger bioreactors requires solving genetic and environmental puzzles simultaneously. The conversation explores Lallemand's century-long evolution from baker's yeast to cutting-edge synthetic biology, the untapped potential of xylose and complex sugars for expanding biomanufacturing feedstocks, and Kevin's vision for anaerobic fermentation, digital twins of cells, and biodegradable materials with perfectly tuned lifecycles. Whether you're fascinated by the microbial diversity hiding in America's public lands, curious about why sour beer yeast is a game-changer for Brooklyn craft brewers, or wondering how fermentation could revolutionize water treatment and replace single-use plastics, this episode unpacks the science, strategy, and scale needed to grow everything.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) - Flux capacitor, compost heat, and New York City garbage as fuel(00:03:10) - AI regulation and “synthetic beings”(00:06:00) - Shoutouts and recent hangs (Paul Shapiro, Superorganism, The Wooly)(00:09:40) - Longevity + a sauna networking event(00:13:30) - Advanced Biotech for Sustainability report + introducing Kevin Wegner(00:15:50) - Kevin’s origin story: chemistry, microbiology, and homebrewing beer(00:17:00) - Early lessons in large-scale fermentation and scale-up realities(00:22:00) - What Lallemand does today and who they serve(00:33:40) - How legacy fermentation drives innovation (including sour beer yeast)(00:37:30) - America’s Living Library Act, Molecule Manifesto, digital twins, and “anaerobic everything”(00:46:40) - Quickfire round + plastics moonshot(00:49:30) - Wrap-up and upcoming events (DC Climate Week, SynBioBeta)Links and Resources:LallemandLallemand Patent ApprovalNovel Yeast- Mascoma, Lallemand Jointly Marketing the New Product⁠SynBioBeta Pass⁠ - Discount code: Grow Everything Topics Covered:fermentation, biomanufacturing, yeast, Lallemand, enzymes, biofuels, xylose, Saccharomyces cerevisiae, genomics, synthetic biologyHave a question or comment? Message us here:Text or Call (804) 505-5553⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ / ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Twitter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ / ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ / ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Youtube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ / ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Grow Everything⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Music by: Nihilore Production by: Amplafy Media
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    56 m
  • 173. They Put the Ore in Organisms: Liz Dennett’s Microbial Mining at Endolith

    173. They Put the Ore in Organisms: Liz Dennett’s Microbial Mining at Endolith
    Mar 20 2026
    What if the oldest miners on Earth weren't humans at all—but microbes that have been extracting metals for billions of years? In this episode, Karl and Erum sit down with Liz Dennett, founder and CEO of Endolith, who's deploying extremophile microbial communities to unlock up to 1.9x more copper from existing mine heaps at industrial mining sites across the US. Liz shares her journey from growing up in resource-rich Alaska to pioneering bio-leaching technology that's tackling a critical challenge: we need more copper between now and 2050 than humanity has produced in its entire history—and every data center, EV, and AI query depends on it. But here's what makes this conversation different: Liz isn't trying to disrupt mining, she's working with it, bringing "purple-haired PhD energy" to one of the world's most conservative industries through safety-first culture, collaboration over competition, and under-promising, over-delivering results. This episode reveals why biology might be our best tool for responsible resource stewardship and what it really takes to bring breakthrough biotechnology into legacy industrial systems—plus, the copper oxidation series on Liz's nails.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 the Show: Microbes, Mining, and the Copper Crisis(00:01:53) - The PowerPoint-Google Slides Software Saga(00:03:47) - Meeting Clients In Person: Building Deeper Connections(00:05:05) - Erum's Panel Experience and the HairDAO Moment(00:06:56) - Mining, Microbes, and Copper in the Human Body(00:08:59) - Why Copper Matters for AI and Electrification(00:11:00) - Introducing Liz Dennett: From Alaska to Endolith(00:12:43) - Growing Up in Alaska: Natural Resources as Lived Reality(00:14:00) - The Moment Biology Met Mining(00:15:00) - What is Heap Leaching? Visualizing the Process(00:17:00) - Recovery Rates and Why 10% More Copper is Monumental(00:18:00) - Biology's Surprises: Communities Over Single Organisms(00:19:43) - Extremophiles: Microbes That Love Sulfuric Acid(00:21:00) - Dirty Biology: Engineering Control vs. Biological Adaptability(00:23:00) - Building Trust in a Conservative Industry(00:25:00) - Culture at Endolith: Safety, Feedback, and Snacks(00:27:00) - Validation Work and Customer-Specific Testing(00:28:00) - How Data, Biology, and Infrastructure Shape Resource Thinking(00:30:00) - The Copper Crisis: More Needed by 2050 Than Ever Before(00:33:00) - When Does Biology Work? Redox Reactions and Metal Recovery(00:34:00) - GMOs vs. Wild Type: The Labradoodle Analogy(00:36:00) - Bio-Leaching Evolved: Not Just One Microbe, A Full System(00:38:00) - Collaborating with Rio Tinto Nuton and Gunnison Copper(00:40:00) - Force Multipliers, Not Mine Operators(00:41:00) - The Copper Oxidation Series on Liz's Nails(00:42:00) - The 10-Year Vision: Biology as a Standard Mining Layer(00:44:00) - Quick Fire Questions: Wilderness vs. Mine Site, Copper vs. Lithium(00:45:00) - The Unwavering Playlist and Fundraising Energy(00:47:00) - Wrap-Up and Final Thoughts on Collaboration and the Energy TransitionLinks and Resources:Links and resources DocSynBioBeta Pass - Discount code: Grow Everything Topics Covered:biomining, Copper, mining, microbes, bioleaching, heap leach, extremophiles, energy transition, electrification, critical minerals, industrial biotechnologyHave a question or comment? Message us here:Text or Call (804) 505-5553⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ / ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Twitter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ / ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ / ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Youtube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ / ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Grow Everything⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Music by: Nihilore Production by: Amplafy Media
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    51 m
  • 172. Generating Needles in Haystacks: Elise de Reus Designs Proteins with Cradle

    172. Generating Needles in Haystacks: Elise de Reus Designs Proteins with Cradle
    Mar 13 2026
    Protein engineering has traditionally been slow, expensive, and stuck in trial-and-error mode—but AI is changing everything. In this episode, we sit down with Elise De Reus, co-founder of Cradle Bio, to explore how generative AI is revolutionizing the way scientists design proteins for medicines, enzymes, and sustainable materials. Elise shares her journey from studying fungi and building high-throughput strain engineering systems at companies like Zymergen and Perfect Day, to creating an AI-powered platform that helps R&D teams generate better protein variants in less time and at lower cost. We discuss the massive design space of proteins, the role of machine learning in navigating that complexity, how Cradle balances computational predictions with biological reality, and what it will take for the bioeconomy to reach its trillion-dollar potential. Whether you're in pharma, industrial biotech, or just curious about the future of biology as a design problem, this conversation offers a fascinating look at how AI is becoming an essential tool for engineering the building blocks of life.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) - The AI Revolution Meets Biology(00:01:00) - Why Erum Switched from ChatGPT to Claude (And What It Means for AI)(00:03:00) - Lab-Grown Meat Just Got Real: The Breakthrough That Changes Everything(00:06:00) - The Roadmap to a Trillion-Dollar Bioeconomy: Inside the AB4S Report(00:08:00) - Proteins 101: The Molecular Machines Running Your Life(00:10:00) - From Studying Fungi to Building AI Tools: Elise De Reus's Origin Story(00:12:00) - Inside Cradle Bio: The AI Studio Transforming How Scientists Design Proteins(00:15:00) - The "Short, Fat Data" Problem: Why Protein Engineering Needs Different AI(00:18:00) - Finding Needles in Infinite Haystacks: How Generative AI Navigates Protein Space(00:23:00) - When AI Is Confident But Wrong: Balancing Predictions with Biological Reality(00:27:00) - Speed vs. Caution: Why Pharma and Industrial Biotech Innovate Differently(00:30:00) - The $500 Billion Question: What's Really Blocking the Bioeconomy?(00:35:00) - Success Stories: How AI Unstuck Projects That Were Going Nowhere(00:38:00) - Sequence vs. Structure: Which AI Models Win at Protein Design?(00:41:00) - The Future Is Here: Better Data, Faster DNA Assembly, and Smarter Tools(00:43:00) - Quick Fire: Elise's Hot Takes on Biotech's Biggest Questions(00:47:00) - Biology as a Design Problem: Why This Changes EverythingLinks and Resources:CradleTurning lab-grown yeast into edible scaffoldingSynBioBeta Pass - Discount code: Grow Everything 166. The Great Reformulation: Joshua Lachter Rethinks How We Make Everything at ScaleTopics Covered:protein design, protein engineering, biotech, lab automation, biomanufacturing. synthetic biology, AI drug discovery, directed evolution, biologics, computational biology, enzyme optimizationHave a question or comment? Message us here:Text or Call (804) 505-5553⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ / ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Twitter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ / ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ / ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Youtube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ / ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Grow Everything⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Music by: Nihilore Production by: Amplafy Media
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    50 m
  • 171. Nature’s Balance Sheet: Kevin Webb Invests in Biodiversity with Superorganism

    171. Nature’s Balance Sheet: Kevin Webb Invests in Biodiversity with Superorganism
    Mar 6 2026
    Kevin Webb, Managing Director of Superorganism, joins Erum and Karl to discuss why biodiversity is the next frontier for venture capital. After 15 years backing SaaS unicorns and marketplaces, Kevin made a radical pivot to launch a $25M fund focused exclusively on biodiversity-driven startups. In this conversation, Kevin breaks down why nature has been catastrophically undervalued in our economic systems, how his fund identifies venture-scale opportunities in everything from invasive species leather to AI-powered ecosystem monitoring, and why measuring biodiversity is infinitely harder than tracking carbon emissions. He shares portfolio highlights including companies turning Burmese pythons into luxury goods, explains why sea otters would make ideal board members, and reveals the cultural, technological, and regulatory shifts that could transform biodiversity from a conservation concern into a mainstream asset class within the next decade. This episode is essential listening for founders, investors, and anyone interested in the intersection of nature, technology, and capital.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) - Nature as Undervalued Infrastructure(00:01:00) - AI, Intelligence Premium, and Economic Disruption(00:05:00) - Animation, Uploaded Intelligence, and Biotech Narratives(00:09:00) - Color, Bio-Dyes, and Experiencing the World(00:12:00) - Kevin Webb's Journey from SaaS to Biodiversity VC(00:17:00) - Why Biodiversity Is Harder to Quantify Than Carbon(00:21:00) - Superorganism's Investment Thesis and Portfolio(00:26:00) - Invasive Species as Business Opportunity: Python Leather(00:32:00) - Biodiversity, Human Health, and Disease Spillover(00:36:00) - Misconceptions About Building in Biodiversity(00:40:00) - Fund Raising, LPs, and Long-Term Capital(00:45:00) - Quick Fire Round: Sea Otters, Octopi, and Redwoods(00:50:00) - eDNA, Measurement, and the Future of Nature TechLinks and Resources:Superorganism131. Leaf It to Science: How Foray Bioscience's Ashley Beckwith is Reforesting the Future64. Swaying Away from Plastics: Julia Marsh's Seaweed Solutions159. The Future Is Fungi Awards: From Mushroom Dreams to Real-World ThingsThe Color FactoryThe 2028 Global Intelligence Crisis - Citrini Research Atoms vs.Bits - Citrini ResearchTopics Covered:biodiversity investing, biodiversity venture capital, Superorganism VC, Kevin Webb Superorganism, nature based solutions startups, invasive species business model, climate and biodiversity tech, impact investing in nature, biodiversity as an asset classHave a question or comment? Message us here:Text or Call (804) 505-5553⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠ / ⁠⁠⁠⁠Twitter⁠⁠⁠⁠ / ⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠ / ⁠⁠⁠⁠Youtube⁠⁠⁠⁠ / ⁠⁠⁠⁠Grow Everything⁠⁠⁠⁠Music by: Nihilore Production by: Amplafy Media
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    58 m
  • 170. There's a Bug for That: Sophia Xu on CarbonBridge's Notebook Bioreactors

    170. There's a Bug for That: Sophia Xu on CarbonBridge's Notebook Bioreactors
    Feb 27 2026
    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
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