Path into biotech
So I’m a WashU student studying biochemistry interested in entering the business side of biotech. I haven’t really developed a path yet, but I want to be apart of a founding team for a biotech company one day I’d love to hear a good timeline that I should aim to follow after undergrad, i.e., when (if at all) i should enter industry to gain experience directly at a biotech company (and what position i should try to work towards), if it makes sense to enter an adjacent field instead or first (like life science consulting or VC, assuming i could get these positions with only an undergrad), and if and when I should get a PhD/masters in a relevant science or mba tdlr; washu student who wants to enter biotech but not be in a lab forever, what’s a good path to aim for if I want to one day be involved with starting a biotech company?
Get an MD
Side note, I plan to minor in general business to develop a little bit of an acumen in undergrad
Based on the most helpful WSO content, here's a potential path you could consider:
Timeline and Path to Enter Biotech Business Side
Undergraduate Experience:
Post-Graduation:
Gaining Experience:
Advanced Education:
Transition to Biotech Company:
Key Considerations:
Resources:
By following this path, you can build a strong foundation in both the scientific and business aspects of biotech, positioning yourself well to be part of a founding team for a biotech company in the future.
Sources: Guide To Evaluate a Biotech Company, Biotech finance: from IB to VC / HF to funded startup, Healthcare / Biotech Venture Capital?, Guide To Evaluate a Biotech Company, How Do I Get Smart in Biotechnology Space?
Hey man, I work a lot with biotech investors and the only way you can really get into biotech VCs is with an MD or a PhD. I graduated from a top 10 uni worldwide with a double major in Molecular Bio and Immunology and was told at every VC shop that a bachelors is just simply not enough. It is unfortunate but you might want to look at other verticals in biotech such as digital health investing which might not require a MD/PhD
Hmm, do you think if I broke into biotech ER and then life science consulting, VC might be within reach without a PhD or if I had an MBA. Or would a masters in a science and MBA be enough? I just don’t know if I want to commit the time for a PhD, it’s a lot of opportunity cost
Hey man,
100% its doable. However, biotech ER and life science consulting both individually are incredibly difficult to get into. Having both of them on your resume would get you into whatever VC fund you could want. The issue comes with doing those at reputable shops, and being able to secure BOTH. You have to realize, at the end of the day the reason that they ask for PhD/MD graduates is because those VC shops do their technical DD in house. Even if you do both ER and consulting, will you have the technical knowledge to be able to help with the DD process and know when a new company is actually innovative?
Imo, there are so many different verticals that utilize similar background info such as cleantech, agtech, digital health. Getting into a biotech VC is insanely time consuming and requires almost comical amounts of schooling. Do as you will but keep your options open
Consulting, banking or ER are prob the best paths if you’re dead against an advanced degree. In terms of buyside HF is much easier than VC w/o an advanced degree but both are doable to an extent
If you want to found a company though - PhD is the best route because you can actually be involved in creating the IP (platform or drug) the company is centered around. What VC is going to fund someone with a bachelors? That is a hard sell. Another longer term route could be getting into corp dev at a biotech after some time in MC / IB / ER
IMO you can get just as smart on the science without an advanced degree. I’m at a HF covering biotech and seldom feel out gunned by my advanced degree peers. But without one of those degrees you are at a big pedigree disadvantage. Kind of like trying to break into banking as a nontarget.
Hey I really appreciate your response. I think I have a much clearer idea of what I want to do after undergrad; decide between higher education, MC, and ER. Before I really only had end goals so you filled in a lot for me. As of know I’m leaning towards MC or ER. Do you have any advice for what I should be doing now if I wanted to end up in those roles?
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Also one thing I meant about starting a biotech company is really just being apart of a founding team, and not really being involved in IP. Because while it's true that CEOs in biotech essentially need advanced degrees like a PhD or MD, I've noticed that founding teams often include members without these qualifications, typically with an MBA. I’m not expert, but I’d assume this is because many scientists focus on IP development and lack the interest or expertise in the business aspects. To truly succeed, biotech startups need someone experienced in fundraising, navigating clinical stages, and understanding market and insurance dynamics. So for example, if I went into life science MC for a few years, got an MBA, and managed to break into biotech VC—this would surely provide a lot of those skills if I ever wanted to join a team of founders.
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