Leen Kawas, Managing General Partner of Propel Bio Partners, a life science venture capital firm dedicated to supporting entrepreneurs developing breakthrough health innovations joins Enterprise Radio.

Listen to host Eric Dye & guest Leen Kawas discuss the following:



* You’ve been both a scientist and an entrepreneur. What lessons from your journey can help founders in any industry translate innovation into a successful business?

* Biotech is known for being high-risk and capital intensive. What strategies do you recommend entrepreneurs use to secure the right investors and partnerships?

* Propel Bio Partners emphasizes supporting entrepreneurs beyond funding. What practical ways can business leaders create more value for their teams and stakeholders?

* How do you balance scientific rigor with entrepreneurial speed, and what can leaders in other sectors learn from that balance?

* You’ve mentored many emerging entrepreneurs, especially women in biotech. What advice would you give to business leaders who want to build more diverse and resilient organizations?





Leen Kawas stands as a prominent figure in biotechnology entrepreneurship and investment. The Jordanian-born scientist earned her Doctor of Pharmacy from the University of Jordan before pursuing her Ph.D. in Molecular Pharmacology from Washington State University.

Leen Kawas co-founded a biopharmaceutical company focused on neurodegenerative diseases, where she served as Chief Executive Officer and guided the development of therapeutic candidates through clinical trials. During her tenure, she successfully raised more than $400 million in funding and achieved a historic milestone by becoming the first woman in over two decades to lead a company to initial public offering in Washington state.

Following her success in pharmaceutical development, Leen Kawas partnered with veteran investor Richard Kayne in 2021 to establish Propel Bio Partners. The Los Angeles and Seattle-based venture capital firm specializes in supporting biotechnology startups through strategic funding, mentorship, and operational guidance.

Through Propel Bio Partners, Leen Kawas has invested in innovative companies including Inherent Biosciences, which focuses on epigenetic diagnostics for fertility applications, and Persephone Biosciences, a developer of microbiome-based therapeutics. Her investment strategy emphasizes supporting transformative science that addresses unmet medical needs.

Dr. Kawas maintains an active role as a speaker, writer, and mentor within the biotechnology community. She particularly champions women innovators and emerging entrepreneurs while advocating for greater diversity in life sciences leadership and investment decision-making.



Website: https://www.propelbio.com



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