Ep. 9: The Company Creation Engine

Today’s episode is essentially a greatest hits compilation of everything we’ve touched on so far since we launched this podcast--innovation, entrepreneurship, ecosystem building, venture capital, R&D. Today’s guest is a jack of all trades--Derek Small.Derek is a builder at his core. Over the course of his career, he’s helped launch and scale numerous companies. He’s worked across investment and operating roles and developed a deep understanding of what it takes to move an idea from concept to real-world impact. Today, through Luson Bioventures, he’s focused on creating and supporting the next generation of life sciences companies--bringing together science, capital, and talent to turn promising ideas into scalable ventures.In this conversation, Derek and Vince talk about what it really takes to build companies in the Midwest, how venture studios are changing the startup landscape, and what he thinks it takes to launch a successful idea. If you’re interested in innovation, company building, or the future of this ecosystem, this is a conversation you won’t want to miss