Isospec Analytics: Meet the Venture Leader Biotech aiming to be the backbone of precision medicine

22.05.2023 07:00, Morgane Ghilardi

Meet Ahmed Ben Faleh, co-founder and CEO of Isospec Analytics. The startup's technology takes the guesswork out of biomolecular analysis by using unique molecular fingerprints to identify analytes, accelerating the development of biotech products and enabling the discovery of new biomarkers. In June, Ahmed will join nine other biotech innovators on a business development and investor roadshow in Boston.

Isospec Analytics' co-founders, Dr. Thomas Rizzo, Dr. Ahmed Ben Faleh, and Dr. Stephan Warnke

Name: Ahmed Ben Faleh 
Location: Lausanne, Switzerland 
Nationality: Tunisian
Education: EPFL, Ph.D., 2021
Job title: CEO and co-founder 
Number of employees: 3
Money raised: CHF 300,000
First touchpoint with Venturelab: Venture Kick, 2022
 

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"Our inspiration originates from a simple invention that shaped the world we live in: the barcode. We identified unique molecular signatures that can be used like bar codes to identify molecules."

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Whom does your product or solution help, and how?
Our solution aims to help clinical researchers and scientists working on the discovery of new disease biomarkers from liquid biopsies and developing processes to produce biotech products. We provide our customers with unique insights into their clinical samples and products, which will allow them to move forward faster and with certainty.

What market are you addressing and what is the potential of your startup in that market?
We are addressing the molecular identification market with a focus on glycomics and metabolomics for the development of therapeutics, early disease diagnostics, and clinical nutrition. Isospec Analytics will be the backbone of precision medicine.

How did you come up with the idea for your startup?
The idea came from realizing how challenging is the identification of small biological molecules. Our inspiration originates from a simple invention that shaped the world we live in: the barcode. We identified unique molecular signatures that can be used like bar codes to identify molecules. We then developed a technology to measure these barcodes in a fast and reliable way, digitizing molecular structure, and greatly simplifying identification processes.

How do you think the Venture Leaders roadshow will help you achieve your vision?
The Venture Leaders roadshow will allow us to interact with not only major players in the biotech industry but also with fellow entrepreneurs from whom we are convinced that we can learn a lot. It will allow us to gain a better understanding of the US ecosystem, gain exposure in the top biotech hub, Boston, and establish first contact with potential investors preparing for the next steps.

What excites you most about your work right now?
The potential impact that we can have on saving people's lives. The numbers are clear: 1 in 2 men and 1 in 3 women will develop cancer during their lives. The earlier it is detected the higher the chances of them getting their lives back. With every day that goes by we get closer to our goals, that is what excites me the most about my job.

How did you go about building your team?
To be honest, building the team was pretty straightforward for us, with Tom and Stephan my co-founders, we have worked together for more than six years, during which we achieved a lot because of how complementary we are. We are like a family, always understanding each other’s needs and supportive of each other. Things are moving extremely fast, and we are seeking to grow our team with the right talents that will allow us to keep on top of all the customer requests we have received and make our big dreams come true.

What are your team's key achievements to date?
In the first six months of our company's existence, we have already achieved a lot. We secured grants and awards, we worked on creating and establishing our brand. We worked on optimizing our products. What I am most proud of is the fact that we have some of the biotech industry leaders working with us. We already have 12 projects either, completed, in discussion, or planned for 2023, with a projected revenue exceeding CHF 200,000. The best is still to come.

What is the most challenging aspect of being a founder?
Decision-making for sure. This happens several times every single day, and decisions that are made today can have serious consequences on what happened ten years from now. That’s definitely what keeps me up at night. 

What is the most rewarding aspect of being a founder?
Building something from the ground up. The joy of fulfillment once we achieve a milestone, secure funding, and sign a new contract with a customer. But also, the evolution you go through to become an entrepreneur.
 
What is the most important lesson you have learned as a founder?  
Assumptions and hypotheses are great to create plans and think outside of the box. The reality of the market is almost always different, and that reality is for sure what matters most. As Mike Tyson said: "Everyone has a plan until they get punched in the mouth."

What is your favorite movie or TV show and why?
The Office summarizes all the reasons why you should give entrepreneurship a try.

What is your favorite book and why?
Thinking Fast and Slow by Daniel Kahneman. A learning journey about the difference between reality and perception. The book helped me a lot both in my personal and professional life.

 

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ABOUT THE PROGRAM
The Venture Leaders Biotech 2023 were chosen from over 70 applications by a jury of investors and technology experts. The roadshow in Boston, the vibrant life science hub, provides a unique opportunity for entrepreneurs to accelerate their startups' expansion in the US while expanding their professional network and profiting from workshops with investors and industry leaders. This year's Venture Leaders Biotech program is organized by Venturelab in partnership with Swissnex Boston and supported by Debiopharm, Novartis, EY - Ernst & Young, VISCHER, EPFL, ETH Zurich, Hansjörg Wyss, and the Swiss Biotech Association.
 

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