Liisa Bozinovic: Be courageous and take a jump
Liisa Bozinovic, Executive Director at Oregon Bioscience Association and Co-Founder and Board Member at Boz Life Science Research and Teaching Institute, shared a post on LinkedIn:
“Be courageous and take a jump. That’s where the journey begins for the entrepreneurial scientist. If you’re curious about translating your research into real-world impact, here’s what the experts say: don’t go it alone.
Leverage the ecosystem. Talk to VCs, tech transfer offices, attorneys, payors, regulators, Pharma BD teams – anyone and everyone. Build your network. Understand all the perspectives around your innovation. This is how you sharpen your story and grow your odds of success.
Be gritty. Be self-motivated. Know the problem you’re solving, how big it is, and who truly cares. A patent isn’t a business model. A better mousetrap doesn’t always win. Success comes from aligning technical insight with market need—and building a team that can go the distance (10+ years in the trenches, anyone?).
Start by writing – memo, PowerPoint, etc. – whatever helps you clarify your thinking. Speak openly about your idea—yes, even if it feels uncomfortable. Getting feedback early is more valuable than stealth. And remember: a great idea with unclear IP or a messy cap table can sink you later. Get it in writing. Do the hard work up front.
Tap into resources. Join biotech clubs. Apply for VC fellowships. Use social media. Follow VCs—many are sharing exactly what they want to invest in.
Prepare for diligence. Learn to describe your invention in simple terms. Why does it matter? How big is the market? Who’s the customer? Many investors are not scientists—make your story resonate beyond the lab.
And don’t underestimate the importance of people. The wrong cofounder or misaligned investor can be more damaging than product risk.
Thanks to the incredible panel at the Oregon Health and Science University Oregon Drug Discovery Symposium (ODDS2025) for the honesty, wisdom, and inspiration:
Moderators: Sanjay Malhotra (OHSU) and Travis Cook (OHSU); Panelists: Michael Phillips (Davis Wright Tremaine LLP), Shula Jaron (ONAMI), Angelica Parente, PhD, Joseph Horsman, Jack Gomer.
For the entrepreneurial scientist: Be brave. Be clear. Be relentless. And remember – you don’t have to figure it out alone.
Appreciate the shoutout for Oregon Bioscience Association’s 2025 Economic Impact Report. And proud to have Oregon Bio Women represented.”
Bernard Fox, Co-Founder, President and CEO of UbiVac, shared this post, adding:
“Liisa’s words of wisdom for the entrepreneurial scientist:
‘Be brave. Be clear. Be relentless. And remember – you don’t have to figure it out alone.’ ”
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