The AI entrepreneur fighting against cancer
Selin Kurnaz is clearly very smart. But what really stood out to me is how street wise and scrappy she is as an entrepreneur. There is nothing theoretical about how she talks about building a business. It is practical, direct, and rooted in reality.
What I Learnt
Entrepreneurship is planned chaos. Selin described the journey perfectly. Nothing ever happens in the right order. You are constantly reacting, learning, adjusting, and moving forward with incomplete information.
The harsh realities matter. She spoke very openly about how tough it is to grow a healthcare business. Fundraising, pivots, pressure from all sides. It was refreshingly honest.
Customers before everything else. Selin made it clear that investing in customers came before investors. That mindset has shaped how Massive Bio evolved and why it gained credibility with pharma.
What I Liked
Selin is super smart but not precious. She feels grounded, resilient, and willing to get her hands dirty. I also loved how candid she was about the messiness of the journey rather than presenting a polished success story.
Her customer obsession really resonated with me. In a sector full of noise, that clarity matters.
Reflection
This conversation was a reminder that real entrepreneurship is rarely glamorous. It is about persistence, adaptability, and staying close to the problem you are trying to solve.
Selin’s story also reinforced something I see again and again on this podcast. The founders who win are the ones who embrace the chaos, learn fast, and stay relentlessly focused on the people they serve.
Listen to the full episode
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Big thanks to our amazing sponsors Bora Pharmaceuticals, Charles River Laboratories, and Lead Candidate for supporting the pod
