Dr. Gur Roshwalb on How Biotech Startups Can Survive Venture Capital Realities

Early-stage biotech companies face a paradox. They drive the innovation pipeline, yet often collapse before reaching clinical trials—the infamous “valley of death.” While venture capital (VC) remains a key funding source, the industry’s mechanics are frequently misunderstood, particularly by first-time founders emerging from academia. Few people understand this intersection of medicine, finance, and innovation better than Dr. Gur Roshwalb, CEO of 1E Therapeutics — a trained physician who transitioned from practicing internal medicine to Wall Street biotech analyst, venture capitalist, and now biotech CEO. Drawing from each stage of that journey, he offers a rare, 360-degree view of how VCs make decisions, why early-stage firms struggle, and what strategies might bridge the gap between science and market.