Episode 208 - Handol Kim - CEO Variational AI

In this episode of The BioHub by Avetix, I’m joined by Handol Kim, Co-Founder and CEO of Variational AI.Recorded at BIO 2026, Handol shares his unconventional journey from more than two decades in technology into biotech, and why he chose to apply generative AI to one of science’s most difficult challenges: discovering new medicines. Variational AI’s Enki platform is purpose-built to generate novel, synthesizable small molecules designed around a specific target product profile. We discuss the realities behind the AI hype, where the technology can genuinely improve drug discovery, the challenge of building credibility at the intersection of technology and biology, and the lessons Handol has learned from building companies throughout his career.