#109: Philipp Baaske's Journey: From Small Village to Biotech Entrepreneur

Join us in this episode as we talk to Philipp Baaske, CEO of Nanotemper, and explore the ins and outs of building a successful biotech startup. We cover topics such as bootstrapping, finding customers, developing effective leadership skills, and more. Gain valuable insights and advice from Philipp's experiences as a business angel and entrepreneur. Tune in to learn how to build and scale a successful biotech startup.💡 LINKS TO MORE CONTENTIf you like the episode, become a subscriber and support the show: https://lsg2g.substack.com/subscribePhilipp BaaskeChristian Soschner📖 Memorable quotes:(36:18) "First of all, I disagree with Steve Jobs, it's important to talk with customers about their problems, but it's really about the problem, not talking about a technical solution." (48:17) "If you don't fail, you do something wrong because if it always works, you don't do the risky thing; you just do the easiest thing."(01:10:20) "This is my advice on startups: sell. Sell a product before you have it because if the customer gives you money for it, you know that it's worth developing it."(01:12:39) "We never thought about failing. Failure was not in our mind." (01:19:31) “I strongly believe that every disease is treatable.”⏰  Timestamps:(00:00) Introduction(02:30) The Impact of SVP Bankruptcy on Entrepreneurship(06:41) The Importance of Proper Risk Management(09:51) Absolute Focus on the Things You Can Influence(12:05) Managing a Global Team: Trust, diversity, and decentralized decision-making (14:56) Trusting the Best People(17:01) Hiring with Gut Feeling and CV-Application Letter Match(20:32) Marketing and Cultural Diversity(28:43) The Importance of Product-Market Fit Over Funding and Investors(29:12) Finding Customers vs Finding Investors(33:43) Milestones and Helping Customers(38:00) Talking to Customers About Their Problems(40:06) Identifying Markets and Competitors(42:56) Unlocking New Cancer Treatment Pathways(45:26) Overcoming Failure in Startups and Drug Discovery(48:49) Breaking Out of Confinement and Pursuing Goals(56:37) Impact of Upbringing on Entrepreneurial Spirit(57:33) Stop complaining, start improving: lessons from Vienna(01:00:04) Curiosity-driven education: finding a passion for physics(01:03:21) Experimenting in microgravity: sending projects to the ISS(01:14:20) Startup advice: focus on sales and steady growth(01:12:39) Overcoming adversity: believing in our technology(01:15:31) The potential of every disease being treatable(01:18:22) The impact of smoking on cancer risk(01:23:17) Leadership lessons: walking the talk and starting with yourself(01:26:35) Emotional Side of Leadership: How Emotions Drive Success(01:28:57) Balancing Kindness and Assertiveness in Leadership(01:31:49) Fostering Trust and Transparency in the Workplace(01:35:35) Maintaining the Spirit of Innovation While Scaling a Company(01:41:04) Struggles and Support from Business Angel Experience(01:42:13) Learning as a Business Angel: Insights and Expectations(01:45:01) The Impact of Toxic Behavior on Company Growth(01:48:56) Defining the Role of Business Angels in Startups(01:55:09) Balancing Executive and Investor roles(01:56:09) Investing in Teams You Can Trust(01:57:33) Building a Successful Company During Shutdowns(01:58:25) Advice to Younger Self: Do Your Thing and Reconsider the ImpossibleSend us Fan Mail Join Christian Soschner for expert coaching. 50% Off - With 35+ years in deep tech, startups/scaleups, and public companies, Christian offers power video sessions. Elevate strategy, execution, and leadership. Book Now.Support the showJoin the Podcast Newsletter: Link