Building Biotech Companies: Lessons from a Serial Biotech Entrepreneur
Join us for an engaging conversation with Keith Hearon, PhD, a serial biotech entrepreneur and CEO of Nuceptive Labs. As a 4× founder with 3 successful exits, Keith brings an experience-driven perspective on building companies at the intersection of science, strategy, and execution.
In this session, Keith will share insights from his journey developing and scaling biotech ventures from early-stage discovery through company formation, growth, and exit. He will also reflect on the realities of building in this space, including key decisions, challenges, and lessons learned along the way.
This session is designed for students, researchers, early-career professionals, founders, and operators interested in translational science and company building, offering a practical look at what it takes to move from lab to market.
Meet the Speaker
Keith Hearon is a serial biotech entrepreneur and currently serves as CEO of Nuceptive Labs and Keylicon Biosciences. An MIT Langer Lab alumnus, Keith has led multiple successful ventures as a Founding CEO or Board Chair, including Poly6, acquired in 2019, Virex Health, acquired in 2022, and Imidex, acquired in 2025.
With more than 75 patents across biotechnology fields, Keith is recognized as a Fellow of the National Academy of Inventors and as a Distinguished Alumnus of the Georgia Institute of Technology, Texas A&M University, and Westminster Schools of Augusta. His work spans biotechnology, diagnostics, AI-driven healthcare, advanced materials, and next-generation therapeutics.
Meet the Host
Berkeley Pharma Tech Foundation is a nonprofit committed to expanding biotech understanding and improving access to the industry through education, mentorship, and networking. We host roundtables, speaker panels, and community events to connect aspiring scientists and entrepreneurs with industry leaders. Our goals: launch a funded research program within two years and build a state-of-the-art lab in the Bay Area within five. Follow us on LinkedIn or reach out to Vanloan Nguyen to get involved!