Fireside Chat with Greg Went and Amin Zargar
Hosted by Greg Went, a multiple-time company founder, company builder, product launcher, IPO and M&A exit CEO, and Amin Zargar, founder of ResVita Bio, an early-stage biotech company (and Bakar Labs tenant) tackling inflammatory skin diseases with synthetic biology, this dynamic conversation will cover a range of topics important to early-stage companies.
As diverse as startups can be, many will have to overcome similar challenges. From clarifying your personal goals and figuring out one’s role as a founder over the short and intermediate-term to understanding the competitive landscape, building a compelling company story, addressing instability and building community support, join us to hear how others have navigated the unpredictable road to success for biotech startups.
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About the Speakers
Greg Went, Dextera Biosciences
Greg is a scientist, inventor, investor, experienced entrepreneur and board member with multiple startups in the life sciences, including genomics, genetics, diagnostics and therapeutics. His companies have taken multiple products from invention through approval and commercialization, benefiting the lives of thousands of patients and their care partners.
His journey began early in his Ph.D. program in Chemical Engineering at the University of California, Berkeley. During his post-doc at Cornell, he co-founded CuraGen Corporation (NASDAQ: CRGN), one of the first genomics companies, where he co-led the development of CuraGen’s genomics platform and led the corporate partnering efforts. After spending about 5 years supporting VC firms and entrepreneurs, he co-founded Adamas Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ: ADMS), serving as its CEO and Chairman, where the company discovered, developed and launched two commercial products: Namzaric® (with Allergan) and GOCOVRI®. He joined Dextera Biosciences in 2020, a company attempting to develop a new category of drugs called synthetic D-Proteins. His initial role was as an investor/Board member, but he then stepped into his current role as CEO and Chairman to drive the development of its platform and programs to the clinic.
Greg divides his time between Steamboat Springs, Colorado and San Francisco, CA. Hid greatest professional joy is helping scientists, entrepreneurs and investors determine the maximal benefit a particular technology platform can achieve, then driving crystal clarity around the direct benefit of its successful development to patients.
Amin Zargar, ResVita Bio
Amin is a chemical and biomolecular engineer, with a passion for developing biomedical therapies. As the CEO of ResVita Bio, he leads the development of a pioneering platform for continuous protein therapy, using genetically engineered bacteria to deliver sustained therapeutic proteins directly to the skin. Under his leadership, ResVita Bio’s lead program for Netherton Syndrome has achieved key milestones, including productive FDA interactions and securing NIH funding.
Amin earned his BS in Chemical Engineering from Georgia Tech and went on to obtain his MS and PhD in Bioengineering from the University of Maryland, College Park. He completed his postdoctoral work at UC Berkeley under the mentorship of Jay Keasling, one of the pioneers of synthetic biology. As a NIH Ruth Kirchstein Awardee, Amin conceived the idea for ResVita Bio with his cofounder Dr. Keasling. In 2021, he received the Bakar Entrepreneurship Fellowship to commercialize the technology, leading to the launch of ResVita Bio at Bakar Labs in 2022.
Amin is based in Berkeley, California, and is committed to advancing biotechnology through collaborative efforts and innovation, bringing cutting-edge solutions from concept to clinical reality.