E26 #StartupStory "The Bactolife Evolution: Scaling Innovations in Gut Health" with Sandra (co-founder and CSO) & Sebastian (CEO) of Bactolife.

In this episode Sandra Wingaard Thrane, the co-founder and CSO, and Sebastian Søderberg, the CEO of Bactolife, share insights into the company's journey from early days at DTU and their experience of scaling it + and a bit about their Binding Proteins™ technology. The conversation dives into their backgrounds and how their complementary skills have enabled Bactolife to move forward successfully. They discuss the challenges involved in innovating and bringing new technology to the market, the value of having a transparent culture, and the necessity of being resilient. Looking ahead, Sandra and Sebastian share their plans about entering partnerships with food ingredient, consumer health, and supplement companies, and eagerly anticipate the opportunity to spread awareness about their technology and projects. About Bactolife We are on a mission to enhance global gut health and support the fight against antimicrobial resistance. As a Danish biotech firm, we're pioneering the future of gut health with our unique ingredients, Binding Proteins. These breakthrough Binding Protein ingredients, natural and versatile enough for any food, beverage, or supplement, selectively bind and block harmful microbial activity without disturbing the beneficial microbiome — a truly revolutionary approach. Our products are specially formulated for diverse needs, benefiting everyone from mothers and children to the elderly, immune-compromised individuals, travelers, and even animals. Backed by investors such as Novo Holdings, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, and Innovation Fund Denmark, we are committed to making Binding Proteins widely available. Our vision is a future where these proteins are a common part of diets, supporting gut health globally. Our deep understanding of Binding Proteins, combined with competitive pricing, enables us to make these innovations accessible. Join us as we change the future of gut health one Binding Protein at a time. Timestamp & Shownotes 01:15 The Founding Story of Bactolife  02:51 The Mission and Vision of Bactolife 03:51 The Journey of Bactolife: From Inception to Success 06:17 The Challenges and Triumphs of Building a Biotech Startup 07:18 The Role of Funding and Investment in Bactolife’s Growth 08:15 The Impact of Bactolife’s Technology and Products 10:11 The Future of Bactolife and Its Market Potential 14:23 Reflections on the Highs and Lows of the Bactolife Journey 20:45 The Power of Teamwork and Collaboration in Bactolife’s Success 24:31 Complementing Each Other 24:50 The Role of Temper in Passion 26:05 Building a C Suite and Collaboration 27:32 Nurturing a Transparent Culture 29:55 The Importance of Trust and Psychological Safety 30:39 Maintaining Transparency in a Growing Company 35:38 Challenges and Learnings in Scaling the Company 47:08 Looking Ahead: Future Plans for Bactolife 𝗕𝗲𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗲 𝗽𝗮𝗿𝘁 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗟𝗶𝗳𝗲 𝗦𝗰𝗶𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗧𝗮𝗹𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗘𝗰𝗼𝘀𝘆𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗺: We want to build a community to inspire life science professionals and leaders through talent talks and organized events. Share knowledge across the life science community through personal stories of their journey. We encourage you to take part in shaping this community by sharing your feedback, questions, or ideas. This you can do through our LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠community page⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. 𝗚𝗲𝘁 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗼𝘂𝗰𝗵 𝗯𝘆 𝘃𝗼𝗶𝗰𝗲𝗺𝗮𝗶𝗹 𝗼𝗿 𝗟𝗶𝗻𝗸𝗲𝗱𝗜𝗻: Feel free to share feedback or ideas for future themes or guests using our voicemail you can access⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠: (no voicemails will be published without your explicit approval). Warm Regards from your podcast hosts: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Nehar Mortuza⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠⁠Søren Spanner Bach⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠