I wish people understood the critical role BioGenerator plays in the innovation ecosystem here in St. Louis. It's hard to grasp how many pieces must come together to take a discovery in a research lab and turn it into a therapeutic, diagnostic, or device that helps patients. It takes a great team, capital, strategy—all these different components coming together, and BioGenerator plays a crucial role with our diligence and early investments.
We support startups in many ways, but the biggest part of my role is evaluating new investment opportunities. We conduct due diligence and look at all the different puzzle pieces that could make a startup successful. That includes market analysis, competitive landscape, evaluation of the product or technology, intellectual property, and more. We take all of that into account to determine if it’s a good opportunity to invest and help a company grow—and hopefully lead to a new treatment for patients.
I think I’m most proud of when I get to work closely with my colleagues to make an investment in a promising startup at a critical stage. I can’t pick just one example, but when BioGenerator invests in a startup with a great team of entrepreneurs, at just the right time, we help enable the company to de-risk and jump to the next level of development. Our role often helps bring more follow-on investment for the company, advancing their technology or product and having an important impact on the innovation ecosystem here in St. Louis.
I love that we play a role in helping entrepreneurs and early-stage companies succeed —and the impact we have here in St. Louis. It’s very exciting to learn about all the different technologies and the science behind them. What I enjoy just as much, though, is meeting and working with the founders during the diligence process—these entrepreneurs with big visions and deep passion for what they're building. It's inspiring to see how invested they are in their work.
If we can help these companies and have an economic impact, especially in life sciences, that’s really exciting. And on top of that, knowing that some of these companies will go on to help patients—not just in St. Louis, but globally—that’s incredibly inspiring.
I’ve always been interested in the complexities of biology, especially at the molecular and cellular level. I thought about medical school at one point, but once I got into the lab, I realized how much I loved research. Before joining BioGenerator, I worked as a scientist in pharma and biotech for about 4-5 years. What really got me excited, though, was the startup and entrepreneurial side—translating discoveries from the lab into real-world products. That’s what led me here.
I love the impact we have on the local community. It’s especially exciting to me that we’re helping companies in St. Louis that need critical early-stage funding. That support leads to both economic growth and improvements in human health.
I’m originally from Missouri, but after graduating, I lived in Nashville, New York, Charleston, and Durham for graduate school and work, before I joined BioGenerator in St. Louis a couple of years ago. I’m incredibly excited to be here in St. Louis and I have loved exploring the city and community. I’ve especially loved experiencing the great food scene here in St. Louis, and spending as much time as possible in Forest Park.
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