On Biotech Engineering and AI: a Conversation with TeselaGen's CEO, Eduardo Abeliuk
Navigating the dynamic intersection of biology and data science, Eduardo Abeliuk, the CEO of TeselaGen Biotechnology, invites us on a journey through his career and his company's role in the biotechnology industry. Abeliuk's roots in computational biology research at Stanford University and his rich background as a founder, advisor, board member, and investor have collectively sculpted the robust ethos of TeselaGen.
Amid an era of growth, Abeliuk discusses the profound influences of artificial intelligence and machine learning on biotechnology and outlines a future of intercompany collaboration, fueled by TeselaGen’s innovative software platform. He highlights the merger of biology and data science as a game-changing development, which TeselaGen aims to pioneer by transforming bioengineering with AI-driven tools. The democratization of advanced studies, he believes, will diversify the research landscape and usher in a new wave of biotech innovation.
Abeliuk reflects on the transformative potential of TeselaGen's recent partnership with NinthBio and its implications for drug discovery, sustainable agriculture, and industrial biotechnology. This interview provides a rare glimpse into the intricacies steering TeselaGen towards an exciting biotech horizon.
Eduardo: Prior to TeselaGen, I did research at Stanford University, where I was a member at the Information Systems Lab (ISL) and at the Beckman Center for Molecular and Genetic Medicine, where I worked on computational biology. I spent many years myself designing biological experiments and building DNA. While planning the experiments, I found myself wasting significant time performing tasks that I felt could be automated with good software. That was a strong motivation to start TeselaGen and to develop an enterprise-grade software that could speed-up R&D in Biotechnology. In addition, over the course of my career, I've been fortunate to be involved with various companies in several capacities – from founding two other successful companies prior to TeselaGen, to serving in advisory roles, sitting on boards, and even participating as an angel investor in a few ones. Each of these experiences provided me with a unique perspective and set of skills that I've carried into TeselaGen. As a founder, I learned the ins and outs of building a company from the ground up. This experience taught me about the importance of a strong vision, the need for resilience in the face of adversity, and the crucial role of a dedicated, talented team. It also gave me first-hand experience in the excitement and challenges of bringing innovative ideas to market. In my advisory roles and as a board member, I gained broader industry perspectives and developed a deep understanding of strategic decision-making. These roles also taught me the importance of good corporate governance, effective communication, and stakeholder management. My experience as an angel investor helped me understand the business from a financial perspective. I learned to assess the viability and potential of startups, to understand market trends and investment risks. This experience has given me valuable insight into what drives growth, the importance of financial management in ensuring the long-term sustainability of a company, and to build relationships with other investors. Bringing all these experiences to TeselaGen, I believe I bring a multi-faceted understanding of how to foster innovation, build and motivate a team, make strategic decisions, and maintain financial health. Above all, these experiences have instilled in me a deep appreciation for the transformative potential of biotechnology combined with computational biology and I am committed to leading TeselaGen in harnessing this potential to its fullest. Topics: Biotech
