Re-imagining Novo Holdings’ office building in Hellerup if it was built by Calatrava (MidJourney)

Best of 2023: books, podcasts, and more

As we close the chapter on 2023, it’s time to reflect on a year that buzzed with the energy of reconnection and groundbreaking advancements. 2022 set the stage with its post-COVID resurgence of in-person interactions, a boon for those of us who thrive in the company of others. The year also marked significant professional strides, from the launch of YVC Collective, enhancing collaboration in the European life science VC landscape, to exciting ventures like Engimmune Therapeutics. Navigating the nuances of biotech in Switzerland and moving back to the bustling biotech hub of Boston, 2022 was a year of dynamic shifts and learning.

As we embraced the wonders of AI tools like ChatGPT, little did we know how integral they would become in our daily lives and professional endeavors. Now, as 2023 draws to a close, let’s dive into how these experiences have shaped our journey, the progress made, and the lessons learned in a year that promised much and delivered even more.

As predicted last year, the introduction above ☝️ was written by ChatGPT.

Learnings and thoughts:

1. I’ve seen further maturation of the portfolio companies I am involved with, and it has been immensely rewarding to see the science pan out and the companies advance through additional financing rounds. From a large Series B to finance multiple trials, to advancing towards Series A with a clear story, plan, and team, it’s been a fantastic year for the portfolio!
2. I’ve taken my board work and understanding to the next level, having spent two fantastic weeks at IMD in Lausanne reflecting on my role as a board member and learning how to become a better one. If you are early-ish in your VC career and have a few years of experience on the board of several companies, I strongly recommend taking one of these courses!
3. The company where I have an operating role has matured even further. It’s been fantastic to help it grow from an empty shell to a team of over 10 members. I feel more attuned to what management teams do and have a deeper understanding of various operational challenges. I ultimately believe this is making me a better early-stage investor. It’s time to start thinking about the next company I will help build and shape!
4. I made the decision to divest from one of our portfolio companies. This decision entailed various challenges in stakeholder management. The investment thesis no longer made sense, therefore it was the best decision, but still a difficult one to take and manage. This experience reinforced the inherent risks in early-stage ventures and the critical importance of effective risk management.
5. I have become much better at navigating parenthood and balancing it with work. It’s truly incredible how much more productive and focused I’ve become since time is always scarce. Reading books as been completely transformed into listening to books while commuting to work!

Books

Not a great number of outstanding books in 2023, but the two books below were my favorites.

1. Between Two Kingdoms by Suleika Jaouad. A moving and powerful memoir of Suleika’s battle against acute myeloid leukemia. A must for anyone working in the healthcare/biotech space. It illuminates the human side of battling cancer and the impact it can have on one’s life.
2. The Good Life by Robert Waldinger and Marc Schulz. The book reflects on lessons from the Harvard Study of Adult Development, which is the longest scientific study of human happiness. In essence, it boils down to the strength of our relationships. So simple yet so complex!

My top books of 2023

Podcasts

In 2023, my podcast listening totaled around 120 hours of engaging and diverse content. I discovered a booming ecosystem of podcasters in Portugal, so much of my listening has been in Portuguese. Here are some standout episodes that captured my attention and provoked thoughtful reflection.

1. Three episodes from The Long Run podcast by Luke Timmerman, namely the interviews with John Maragnore, Zach & Alexis (Curie.Bio), and Deborah Palestrant (4:59am initiative from 5AM Ventures).
2. Two episodes by Guy Raz, namely the interviews with Jørgen Vig Knudstorp on Lego and Sal Khan on AI's transformational impact on learning & education.
3. The entire series “O CEO é o limite” in Portuguese by Cátia Mateus (Expresso).
4. Insightful interview with Daniel Ek (Spotify) by Ali Abdal, where Daniel talks about how he manages his schedule (among many other things).

Resources

1. Founder Playlist by Pillar is a phenomenal collection of templates, articles, and other resources for startups. What a treasure trove!

Art endeavors and discoveries

2023 was my first attempt at lino printing, and I’ve produced 9 copies of the work below, reflecting on the scientific advances in genome editing. The 0/9 print, along with individual sections of the composite image, are framed and hanging in our Novo Holdings’ Boston office (shown below).

In 2023, I also discovered more of Refik Anadol’s work and added data sculptures to my list of artistic endeavors to explore. They could be a unique way of exploring the new era of scientific big data. I spent nearly an hour sitting and observing his data sculptures at ARKEN. It was particularly engaging to see how much my 2-year-old son was in awe! A couple of other interesting works I’ve seen in 2023 are below.

My first lino printing reflects on the new era of genome editing.

Data sculpture by Refik Anadol

Mark Rothko, №14, 1960

María Berrío, The Crossing, 2023