Teen Founder Spotlight 03: From Cancer Research to Building a Startup
About Warren
Warren Fu is a 17-year-old researcher, builder, and entrepreneur heading to Columbia University, where he will study Applied Mathematics. His journey started in science: from growing algae in tanks in his bedroom, to conducting computational biology research at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, to gaining exposure to drug development at Regeneron.
His research on lung cancer earned him recognition as a Regeneron STS Scholar and ISEF 2nd Place winner. More recently, Warren has taken his scientific curiosity into entrepreneurship — participating in Y Combinator Startup School and now building a stealth startup.
Warren’s story is a reminder that entrepreneurship does not always start with a business idea. Sometimes, it starts with curiosity, research, and a problem worth solving.
What We'll Cover
From research to entrepreneurship — How Warren went from computational biology and cancer research to thinking like a founder
How he got started in science — What led him from bedroom experiments to research at Memorial Sloan Kettering
Research competitions — What he learned from Regeneron STS and ISEF, and how competitions shaped the way he approaches ambitious projects
Inside drug development — What his experience at Regeneron taught him about turning scientific discoveries into real-world impact
Building a startup at 17 — Why he decided to start building a company and what that transition has actually looked like
YC Startup School — What he learned from being around founders, startup ideas, and the Silicon Valley way of thinking
What he'd tell younger students — Advice for teens interested in biology, medicine, AI, research, or entrepreneurship who want to start building early
🟧 About Built Young:
Business is changing fast. The teens who learn to think like founders now won't just adapt to that future — they'll lead it. Built Young runs hands-on bootcamps that give teens 12–18 the business fundamentals, founder mindset, and real mentorship to build their first company — before college. To learn more: https://builtyoung.org/.