Meet Venture Leader Philipp Spycher and find out how he topped off his postdoc with a startup

03.08.2020 08:58, Isabelle Mitchell

Venture Leader Life Sciences Philipp Spycher co-founded Araris, a biotech startup that is pioneering a novel antibody-drug conjugate linker technology for targeted cancer therapy. Learn more about Philipp’s expectations for the Boston roadshow, his coffee-drinking habits, and the importance of choosing the right team members.

In November, the Venture Leaders Life Sciences 2020 will embark on their week-long roadshow to accelerate their expansion into the US market and build a business network through meetings with top-notch investors and industry leaders in Boston. To shorten the waiting time, we will introduce you to the members of the Swiss National Startup Team. We asked each entrepreneur to complete a short profile and choose four questions from a questionnaire about their personal and professional life: 

Name: Philipp Spycher
Job title: CEO of Araris 
Location: Zurich
Nationality: Swiss
Graduated from: ETH Zurich 
Number of employees: 6 (as of 07/2020)
First touchpoint with Venturelab: A call by Venturelab in 2017

“Araris develops high-performance glue for targeted cancer therapy.”

How and where did you come up with the idea for your startup?
There was no event where I said: “Now, I will create my own startup.” Instead, I had the idea of creating something exciting toward the end of my studies. But there was no real opportunity until my postdoc at the Paul Scherrer Institute.  
 
What do you expect from the Venture Leaders roadshow, and how will it help you achieve your vision?
There are three points to this: First, I believe that the Venture Leaders roadshow offers an excellent opportunity to meet VCs for current and upcoming financing rounds or get in touch with representatives from pharma companies. Second, I expect to obtain feedback on our current strategy and planned steps. Third, I also expect to expand my network. I think these points will be valuable to turn our company into a very attractive case for VCs and pharma companies interested in partnering with us. 

What is your favorite productivity tool and why?
Probably my cell phone and the Bluetooth earphones: They allow me to make notes or to walk around (or drinking coffee silently) while having a call, and I think that is very convenient. 

What is the most rewarding aspect of being a founder?
Being part of a highly motivated, excellently trained team that works very hard to deliver next-generation anti-cancer molecules. 
 
What is always in your fridge?
Whole milk for the coffee. 
 
What are you most proud of? 
Having assembled a brilliant team of co-workers, co-founders, investors, and key advisors who share our vision and support us.

Last but not least, can you show us your workspace? 

 

For more information and updates on Araris and the Venture Leaders Life Sciences, follow the Venture Leaders Life Sciences 2020 team with #VleadersLifeSciences on social media or subscribe to our newsletter.  
 
This year’s Venture Leaders Life Sciences roadshow to Boston is supported by EPF Lausanne, ETH Zurich, Hansjörg Wyss, Kellerhals Carrard, Paul Scherrer Institut, swissnex Boston, University of Zurich, Canton Vaud, YPSOMED, and the Canton of Zurich.