Summary
Keith Parent, CEO of Court Square Group, hosts Shelley Amster on the “Driving the Business of Science” podcast. Shelley, with over 45 years in women’s health, discusses her extensive experience in mentoring startups and connecting them with strategic partners and investors. She highlights the challenges faced by small biotech companies, particularly in women’s health, and the importance of mentorship and collaboration. Shelley shares perspectives from her role as an Entrepreneur in Residence, helping Israeli companies establish a presence in the U.S. She emphasizes the need for startups to understand the business aspects of their technology and the value of warm introductions and strategic partnerships.
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Introduction and Overview of Court Square Group
- Keith Parent introduces himself as the CEO of Court Square Group, a managed service company delivering technology to life science companies.
- Keith explains the company’s ARCC, an audit-ready, compliant cloud environment for hosting and managing applications from pre-clinical through manufacturing.
- Keith introduces RegDocs365™, a content repository for clinical and regulatory content, particularly useful for FDA scrutiny.
- Keith welcomes Shelley Amster as the guest and invites her to share her background and current activities.
Shelley Amster’s Background and Career
- Shelley Amster shares her extensive experience in women’s health, reproductive health, and male infertility, including in vitro fertilization.
- She discusses her efforts to create a sense of community among small, privately owned CROs and CDMOs in the greater Boston area.
- Shelley highlights her role in helping small startup companies find strategic partners and investors.
- Keith emphasizes Shelley’s extensive network and connections in the Boston area, particularly with startups, CROs, and successful companies.
Shelley’s Interest in Startups and Mentoring
- Keith asks Shelley about her interest in working with startups and her experiences with big pharma and biotech companies.
- Shelley expresses her preference for working with small teams and having direct access to senior leadership, allowing her to make a significant impact.
- Keith and Shelley discuss the challenges of getting good science out of the lab and into the market, often hindered by lack of funding or fear of starting a company.
- Shelley emphasizes the importance of mentoring and continuous learning, sharing an example of a company in Germany she helped by providing valuable advice.
Entrepreneur in Residence and Networking
- Keith and Shelley discuss the concept of an Entrepreneur in Residence, with Shelley sharing her experience with a program in New Hampshire.
- Shelley explains her role in mentoring three women’s health companies from Israel, helping them navigate regulatory pathways and find the right partners.
- Keith highlights the importance of warm introductions and networking in the industry, particularly for those outside the Boston area.
- Shelley shares her strategies for helping startups find the right service providers, including banks, law firms, and CFOs, emphasizing the need for those who understand the life science world.
Focus on Women’s Health and Industry Challenges
- Keith and Shelley discuss the focus on women’s health and the challenges faced by women-led companies in securing funding and recognition.
- Shelley shares her frustration with the lack of investment in women’s health by big pharma and venture capitalists, noting the prevalence of small, underfunded companies.
- Keith mentions his involvement in a women’s health registry and the potential for new research and business opportunities in this area.
- Shelley emphasizes the importance of having men champion women’s health companies and the need for more significant investment to drive innovation and improvement.
Advice for Startups and Academicians
- Keith asks Shelley for her advice for startups and academicians looking to launch companies.
- Shelley advises spending a year or more on a deep dive into the business behind the technology and assembling the right team.
- She highlights the importance of being open to mentoring and continuous learning, sharing an example of a startup that values and appreciates her advice.
- Keith and Shelley discuss the role of tech transfer centers and the need for academic partners to work with business people to launch companies successfully.
Conclusion and Future Plans
- Keith thanks Shelley for her insights and contributions to the podcast, expressing interest in having her back for future discussions.
- Shelley shares her excitement about ongoing projects and the potential for new collaborations, particularly in women’s health.
- Keith provides additional context about the Institute for Advanced Life Science at UMass Amherst, where Shelley’s daughters attended.
- The podcast concludes with Keith thanking the audience and expressing hope for future discussions on driving the business of science.