🤔 What does it really take to build a biotech that survives the clinical gauntlet and scales into a global business?

🎬 This week on Leading Beyond The Lab, Lawrence Rose sat down with Roel Bulthuis, Managing Partner and Head of Investments at Syncona Limited.

Roel has spent his career building, funding and scaling European biotech companies end-to-end, supporting high-performing teams from inception through clinical development, commercial launch and manufacturing scale-up.

Along the way he references outcomes from portfolio companies such as Autolus Therapeutics and Beacon Therapeutics, showing how patient capital and conviction-led strategy compound over time.

⭐️ Syncona has an impressive portfolio including,

Autolus Therapeutics, Beacon Therapeutics, Spur Therapeutics, iOnctura, Quell Therapeutics, ANAVEON AG, MOSAIC THERAPEUTIC SERVICES, Resolution Therapeutics, Purespring Therapeutics, Forcefield Therapeutics, OMass Therapeutics, Kesmalea Therapeutics, Yellowstone Biosciences, Slingshot Therapeutics.

🚀 In this episode, Roel dives into:

- What defines a Syncona company and its unique model

- Key lessons learned from both successes and setbacks

- How to manage investor involvement without stifling progress

- The challenges of leadership transitions within portfolio companies

- Syncona’s strategic commitment to the European market

- What drives Roel personally and what he enjoys most about his role

Check out this episode if you want grounded insight into biotech venture building, long-term capital strategy and how scientific founders scale from the lab to patient impact. 🤝

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Lawrence Rose

Co-Founder + Talent Solutions Director at @ARTO

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lawrencerose/

Role Bulthuis

Managing Partner @Syncona

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/roel-bulthuis-aa414a/

Timestamps:

01:10 What makes up a Syncona company?

11:25 What were the main lessons learnt from previous failures/successes?

15:06 Managing investor involvement & preventing counter productivity.

22:14 The issues with exchanging leadership.

31:07 Commitment to the European Market.

42:20 What Roel enjoys about his job.

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