Why Scientists Need Co-Founders: Defining, Finding, and Collaborating with the Right Entrepreneurial Partner

In the 1950s, Dr. Sven-Ivar Seldinger successfully invented the Seldinger technique, which enables radiologists to access the vascular system using only a puncture needle, a guidewire, and a catheter.

However, this breakthrough technology has only taken its first step; there is still a considerable distance to bridge between research findings and market commercialization. At this juncture, the issue has become evident. Dr. Seldinger needed a “partner” who could help translate the technology into practical applications, and Bill Cook was perhaps the most suitable candidate, as his entrepreneurial talents sought a creative outlet.

By chance, two individuals with different yet complementary needs met and instantly clicked. In July 1963, they founded Cook Medical in an empty room in Bloomington, Indiana. What began as an obscure small workshop has since grown into one of the largest privately held medical device companies in the world.

Dr. Seldinger was fortunate, and so was Bill Cook; however, such “chance encounters” are rare. Many innovative medical technologies fail to be translated into clinical practice and remain confined to the laboratory simply because they cannot find suitable “partners.”

Such regrets are not uncommon, as scientific research and entrepreneurship differ fundamentally. While scientists may excel in the laboratory, they often lack proficiency in commercial domains such as business operations management and resource scaling. Furthermore, constrained by various limitations, scientists find it difficult to acquire these core competencies within a short period.

Therefore, it is particularly crucial to find a “partner” whose business acumen complements that of scientists. However, such talent scouts are rare. It is not easy for scientists, who spend most of their time in laboratories, to find a “partner” who not only understands the technology and possesses corresponding experience in corporate management and resource expansion capabilities, but also shares a mutual sense of recognition and alignment with the scientists.

It is precisely on this basis that VCBeat’s Chengguo Bureau has curated an online panel titled “Entrepreneurial Partners,” specially invitingProfessor Guo Tiannan, Distinguished Researcher at Westlake University and Founder of Westlake Omics; Dr. Tang Xiaodong, Chief Executive Officer of Yuan Yin Bio; Dr. Hou Jian, Partner at Bohe Angel Fund, by exploring and answering core questions from multiple dimensions—such as why scientists need co-founders, how ideal co-founders are defined, through which channels to seek them, and how to collaborate effectively once found—to provide experience and insights for scientists in search of entrepreneurial co-founders.

Dr. Tiannan Guo

Distinguished Researcher and Doctoral Supervisor at Westlake University

Head of the Proteomics Big Data Laboratory, Westlake University

Director, iMarker Lab, Westlake Laboratory

Graduated in 2006 from the seven-year clinical medicine program at Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, while concurrently earning a double bachelor’s degree in Biological Sciences from Wuhan University. Received a Ph.D. from Nanyang Technological University, Singapore, in 2012. Conducted postdoctoral research from 2012 to 2017 in the laboratory of Professor Ruedi Aebersold at ETH Zurich, Switzerland. In early 2017, served as Scientific Director and Group Leader of the Cancer Proteomics Group at ProCan, Children’s Medical Research Institute, The University of Sydney, Australia, and held an adjunct position as Senior Lecturer at the Sydney Medical School, The University of Sydney. Joined Westlake Institute for Advanced Study as a Distinguished Investigator in August 2017. Has long been engaged in proteomics-related research, applying it to extensive clinical samples (including thyroid cancer, prostate cancer, etc.), and leveraging artificial intelligence to explore biomarkers.

Dr. Xiaodong Tang

CEO of Yuan Yin Biotechnology

Dr. Tang Xiaodong is the Chief Executive Officer of Yuan Yin Bio. He has over 25 years of R&D and management experience in multinational corporations within the field of new drug development, particularly in cancer therapy. Dr. Tang previously engaged in long-term pharmaceutical analysis work at Pfizer in the United States and held positions such as Chief Operating Officer (and Board Member) at Vanease Biopharmaceuticals, Chief Executive Officer (and Board Member) at Junke Zhengyuan, and General Manager of ICON’s Asia-Pacific region. He has led and managed multiple new drug projects through clinical trials to approval. Dr. Tang holds a Ph.D. in Analytical Chemistry from George Washington University, an MBA from the University of Michigan, and a Bachelor’s degree in Biochemistry from Peking University. He has published more than 50 papers. Dr. Tang is a member of the Steering Committee of the Global Bioanalysis Consortium (GBC) and participated in drafting the guidelines for the 2015 edition of the Chinese Pharmacopoeia. He has served as Chair of the Analytical Science and Pharmaceutical Quality Section of the International Pharmaceutical Federation (FIP) and as an Editorial Board Member of the European journal *Bioanalysis*.

Dr. Jian Hou

Partner, Mint Angel Fund

Ph.D. in Chemical Biology; Former Head of the Biopharmaceutical Sector at CAS Capital; Former Deputy Director of the Foshan Branch of the Institute of Biophysics, Chinese Academy of Sciences; Extensive practical experience in the commercialization of scientific and technological achievements from research institutions.

A professional platform under VCBeat, dedicated to innovation and translation in the medical field. Starting from exploration, cognition, and service, it deeply connects every participant in the innovative industrial chain, continuously tapping into their innovation potential. With a core focus on addressing practical needs, it genuinely supports the growth of a group of scientists, ensures that each link in the ecological chain receives fair returns for their efforts, and facilitates the successful implementation of more valuable medical innovation projects in China.

“VB Think Tank” is one of VCBeat’s flagship events, serving as a face-to-face platform centered on exploring solutions in the healthcare sector, with the mission to “focus on practical challenges and discuss industry trends.” The event conducts in-depth discussions, analyses, and idea exchanges around the current state of core themes, addressing encountered difficulties, pain points, and barriers. Meanwhile, it delves into the resource endowments of participating enterprises, fostering practical collaborations through intellectual exchange.