What inspires a theoretical physicist to start a drug invention company?
How do you choose the right co-founder when you're coming from academia?
And, in a multi-site, multi-cultural European organisation – how does a leader manage communication with the team?
I’m joined by Maximilien Levesque, physics academic turned entrepreneur, CEO and co-founder of Paris and London-based company AQEMIA. Aqemia uses a mix of physics and generative AI to invent therapeutics for poorly treated diseases.
More on the science towards the end of the episode, but first Max explains what inspired him to found AQEMIA and how he's faced challenges from selecting a co-founder to communicating and maintaining team alignment as his company grows in two locations.
About LifeScience ORG
It’s no secret that Europe is a global leader in generating translational science. We’re grateful at LifeScience ORG to have a community of over 400 life science CEOs – leaders driving change in biotech, medtech, techBio and healthcare.
The conversations inside our community – stories of conviction, navigating challenges, and making bold decisions – inspire us every week. To hear the stories, lessons, and experiences of our life science leaders, listen to A Call to Lead @ LifeScience ORG, available on all good podcasting platforms.
Timestamps
00:00 Introduction and Host Welcome
00:27 Max's Story
05:08 Challenges and Realizations in the Leadership Journey
07:09 Finding the Right Co-Founder
10:32 Building a Multicultural, Multidisciplinary Company
13:44 Maintaining Team Alignment
14:50 European Life Science Landscape
17:09 Generative AI in Drug Discovery
24:42 Vision for the Future
26:23 Leadership Insights
