| Hosts |
Anastasia Janas & Sam Kessel
|
| Listen | Apple Podcasts Spotify |
| Watch | YouTube |
Summary
In this episode of the Nucleate podcast, Dave Messina shares his remarkable journey from computational biology to entrepreneurship and venture capital. Starting with his work on the Human Genome Project, Messina transitioned from an academic path to co-founding Cofactor Genomics, a company using RNA and machine learning to help doctors choose treatments. Now a general partner at Pioneer Fund, he invests in health and biotech startups, focusing on founders with unique insights, execution velocity, and the potential to solve significant problems.
Throughout the conversation, Messina emphasizes the transformative potential of AI in healthcare, the importance of focusing on real-world impact, and the exciting opportunities for entrepreneurs in the current technological landscape. His key advice to founders is simple yet powerful: be mission-driven, scientifically fluent, and most importantly, "just go do it" - recognizing that now (2025) is an unprecedented time to create innovative solutions that can dramatically improve human health and well-being.
Show Notes
02:16 - Dave discusses his early career path and how he got into science
04:41 - Dave’s work on the Human Genome Project
13:38 - Founding Cofactor Genomics
16:42 - Discussing Pioneer Fund and its investment approach
48:58 - Thoughts on AI in health and biology
58:27 - Advice for founders in the current challenging funding environment 1:09:04 - How Pioneer Fund makes investment decisions
1:14:16 - Most difficult advice for entrepreneurs
1:16:47 - Final advice for founders: "Just go do it" and start your company