The Ripple brought founders, investors, and scientists together to unpack what’s blocking scale-up in industrial biotech.

People shared lessons on how past ventures failed for all sorts of reasons: tech limits, over-optimism, tough economics, and complexity around scaling.

Big takeaways were:

• You need to pick the right molecule and watch costs from day one.

• Teams with hands-on, real-world experience matter a lot.

• Building and keeping strong partnerships helps you grow and tackle problems.

• Investors want to see solid numbers and a clear business case, not just hope.

• Talking to customers early and often beats waiting for that “perfect” product.

The group agreed: successful scaling isn’t just about clever ideas or cash. It’s really about nailing the basics, learning as you go, and staying open to new ways to work together in a tough market.