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Interview with David Hines, Founder of Biointelli

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Interview with David Hines, Founder of Biointelli

David Hines is an entrepreneur, business owner, and founder of Biointelli, the leading provider of proprietary algorithms and curated marketing data for the life sciences market. Hines founded Biointelli over 15 years ago to address an essential gap in the market when it came to marketing and sales data for life sciences corporations. Companies were missing key opportunities for market penetration by marketing and selling into the wrong contacts at institutions across the country. In response, Biointelli would provide curated marketing content and data analytics to allow for the right contacts to receive the right information at the right companies. Fifteen years on, Biointelli continues to be the market leader in life sciences data.

Hines started his educational experience with studies in Philosophy with a strong foundation in deductive reasoning, hierarchical classification, and abstract thinking. He took this background with him into his studies at University of Massachusetts, where he pursued a degree in Biochemistry. Among his achievements was the publication of a paper with Harvard Medical School regarding his ideas on the prefractionation of protein complexes for proteomic analysis.

Originally considering a career path in the labs, he found that his talents were better suited to making connections with people in life sciences and pursued a career in sales and business development within the industry. His experiences there, including the failings of the available options for marketing and database development, were what led to the inception of Biointelli, a life sciences platform created by life sciences experts. A core component of the foundation of Biointelli was the blending of his background in philosophy and logical approaches to marketing coupled with scientific modalities and digitized big data. Matching scientific projects with scientific products proved to be the start of a curated approach to life sciences data.

Prior to founding Biointelli, Hines worked for a number of life sciences companies including Oncogene, CNB, Novogene, Merck EMD, and Sartorius Germany, where he worked as Director of Business Development. When he’s not heading up his company, providing direction for development and marketing initiatives or helping to onboard new customers, Hines can be found captaining his boat, the Nautius. Hines is a licensed US Coast Guard Captain and can be found yachting in the Bahamas and coastal Florida to Nantucket. He lives in DelRay Beach, Florida, where he splits his time with Biointelli’s headquarters in Cambridge, Massachusetts.

Where did the idea for Biointelli come from?

I began my life sciences career with a foray into studying biochemistry in a master’s degree program. Deciding that the program was not the best fit for my interests, I decided to transition into technical sales in the life sciences space. Starting out working in field sales and marketing, I worked for Oncogene Research before taking on a more technical sales role CNBI Bio. Having found my niche, I progressed into field marketing for Merck EMD and then business development. I was motivated and intrigued by the fact that my teams were always on the hunt for new methods to sell and market bioscience, not just the products, in their portfolios. I was always trying to understand the market, what did the scientists want for basic research products, what competitors were doing, and what products could be developed to meet new needs in their space. However, senior advisors always seemed to be out of touch with what needed to happen to make an impact, as evidenced through unproductive group meetings with scientists and marketing leaders. I knew there had to be a better way to approach targeted marketing, and so I started Biointelli, or bio intelligence, to support the industry.

What does your typical day look like and how do you make it productive?

Biointelli is made up of a diverse group of individual contributors which I oversee on a daily basis. The firm is comprised of a network of freelancers and paid employees who are dedicated to chasing digital data and coming up for ideas to please our customers. While no day at Biointelli is typical, I spend my time collaborating with marketing and sales personnel, overseeing product development, and working directly with clients as a consultant to help them get the most they can out of the Biointelli platform.

How do you bring ideas to life?

For me, it all starts with the clients. Biointelli was developed to meet a need in the market for curated, targeted marketing data and analytics. By working closely with our customers, I am able to keep my finger on the pulse of the market and its needs. This, in turn, helps direct business and development efforts internally. All ideas are vetted by a senior team and then turned over to a dedicated group of developers and data experts to bring these new ideas to life within the platform itself.

What’s one trend that excites you?

I am always following the latest trends in the industry. Currently, I am following the emergence of clinical and traditional biology as it begins to merging and overlap from experimental to patient use in months rather than taking years. It is a very exciting time in the industry to follow the results of research and trials.

What is one habit of yours that makes you more productive as an entrepreneur?

I remain disciplined and tenacious with my passion for the life sciences. This has helped me and my company weather changes in the industry as different players have emerged and disappeared from the market over time. Biointelli has remained a stalwart offering for life sciences companies looking to hone in their marketing with curated content for over 15 years.

What advice would you give your younger self?

Biointelli is unique in that I bootstrapped the entire company myself from the start. In hindsight, as the market evolved, I would recommend to my younger self that I pursue investors earlier in the company’s history and not be afraid to scale operations earlier in the company’s growth stages. This, I believe, would have helped the company grow even more exponentially than it has today.

Tell us something that’s true that almost nobody agrees with you on.

The mantra of Biointelli, and me personally since the company’s inception, has been that traditional marketing does not work on selling science. Rather than rapid fire messages that have broad appeal and reach the masses with the hope of finding the right person to resonate with, life sciences marketing requires a targeted and intentional approach. Life sciences marketing is about finding the precise contacts who have an explicit need for highly technical products and services and sharing those offerings in a way that resonates directly with their needs.

As an entrepreneur, what is the one thing you do over and over and recommend everyone else do?

Customers are the cornerstone of Biointelli, as they are in most businesses, and it’s our job to empower them with the tools they need to conduct their business with precision and ease. My team and I constantly place the emphasis on pleasing customers and supporting them directly. This takes the form of everything from curated data reports to incorporating changes into the Biointelli platform itself.

What is one strategy that has helped you grow your business?

Reputation is key in the life sciences industry, marketing or otherwise. Newcomers may spring up and fade away, but Biointelli has lasted as long as it has while growing its book of business by putting in the effort to truly understand the industry. This has all been accomplished through long days and hard work, attending tradeshows, networking, and establish a good reputation as a company that people can count on.

What is one failure you had as an entrepreneur, and how did you overcome it?

I have been an entrepreneur and founder of Biointelli for over 15 years. During that time, I was determined to remain independent to avoid the distraction and influence of other leaders and investors. In hindsight, I probably should have sought out funding much earlier and expanded my team earlier to keep up with growing competition in the space. In response, I have now expanded my development and marketing teams as well as taken on funding to help expedite Biointelli’s growth in the new competitive landscape.

What is one business idea that you’re willing to give away to our readers?

Whenever you’re coming up with your own intellectual property, no matter what the business idea, when it comes to contracts, make sure they are robust. To do this and to grow your ideas and business, the ideas need to be protected according to the American Trade Secrets Act. This can help protect your ideas from reverse engineering your ideas and cutting into your market share. You also need to be aware of which countries you’re dealing with because U.S. laws do not hold up in all foreign countries.

What is the best $100 you recently spent? What and why?

As a multitasker, I have gone through quite a few Jabra headsets. This keeps me connected to a bevy of devices that are essential to my work, including my computer and phone, while also connecting me to my favorite stereo throughout the house. I use the headset nearly non-stop throughout the day, communicating with my team around the world and taking a few moments to enjoy the music in between calls.

What is one piece of software or a web service that helps you be productive?

GotoMeeting has been indispensable for me as I keep my team of employees and freelancer network connected throughout the day. The software also allows me to conduct customer trainings as needed and record them for client archives and future use.

What is the one book that you recommend our community should read and why?

I recommend the book Post Capitalist Society by Peter Drucker. This book discusses the idea of information managers and the inception of technology and how elastic it can be to impact everyone’s lives. These revolutions can transform the world including how information can impact business. Data scientists were flagged to make data efficient and impactful for everyone, working to help recreate humanity alongside biotechnology. The book impacted me along with my philosophy background and science education to found Biointelli.

What is your favorite quote?

“Freedom in general may be defined as the absence of obstacles to the realization of desires.” – Bertrand Russell

Key Learnings:

  • Customers are the cornerstones of a business, and they deserve to be empowered with tools and support to conduct their own work.
  • Make sure your contracts are robust to protect your intellectual property.
  • Traditional marketing does not work when selling life sciences; instead, adopt a targeted, intentional approach.
Originally published on IdeaMensch.

Interviews

Interview with Jack Carlson, Founder of Rowing Blazers: History, Tradition, and Innovation

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Interview with Jack Carlson, Founder of Rowing Blazers

Table of Contents

Introduction

Jack Carlson is the founder and creative director of Rowing Blazers, a fashion brand that combines classic American style with a contemporary edge. Jack Carlson, a former national team rower, and scholar of history draw inspiration from vintage sportswear and traditional Ivy League fashion. His passion for design and fashion, combined with his unique background. Jack Carlson has resulted in the creation of a brand that stands out in the industry.

Can you tell us about your background and how you became interested in fashion?

I’ve always had a passion for fashion and design, even while pursuing my other interests. I grew up in Connecticut and started rowing at a young age, eventually competing at the national level. While studying history at Harvard, I became interested in the traditional clothing worn by rowers and began to collect vintage rowing blazers. This sparked my interest in fashion and led me to start designing my own clothing. After completing a Ph.D. in archaeology, I decided to pursue fashion full-time and founded Rowing Blazers in 2017.

What inspired you to start Rowing Blazers?

I wanted to create a brand that celebrated the rich history and tradition of American fashion, particularly the preppy style of the Ivy League. At the same time, I wanted to bring a contemporary edge to classic designs and challenge the boundaries of traditional fashion. I was inspired by the vintage rowing blazers that I collected and wanted to create my own versions that were both authentic and modern.

Can you walk us through the design process of creating a new collection?

The design process always starts with research and inspiration. I spend a lot of time looking at vintage clothing, archival photographs, and historical documents to get a sense of the styles and aesthetics of a particular time period or culture. From there, I sketch out ideas and work with my team to refine the designs and select fabrics. We always strive to balance classic elements with modern twists and unexpected details. It’s a collaborative process that involves a lot of trial and error, but we always end up with something that we’re proud of.

How do you stay true to your brand’s identity while also keeping up with current fashion trends?

For us, it’s not about following trends, but rather creating timeless pieces that will never go out of style. Although we draw inspiration from the past, we don’t limit ourselves to it. We’re always looking for ways to innovate and push boundaries while staying true to our brand’s core identity. We’re not interested in fast fashion or disposable clothing – our pieces are meant to last and be treasured for years to come.

Can you tell us about a particular challenge you faced while growing Rowing Blazers and how you overcame it?

One of the biggest challenges we’ve faced is scaling the business while maintaining the quality and craftsmanship that we’re known for. We’ve had to find the right partners and suppliers who share our values and are able to produce our garments to our high standards. We’ve also had to be very strategic about our growth, taking things one step at a time and not rushing into anything too quickly. It’s been a learning process, but we’ve been able to grow the business in a sustainable way that we’re proud of.

What advice would you give to someone who wants to start their own fashion brand?

My advice would be to stay true to your vision and never compromise on quality. It’s also important to be strategic about your growth and not try to do everything at once. Start small and focus on doing one thing really well before expanding. And always be willing to learn and adapt – the fashion industry is constantly changing, so it’s important to be flexible and open to new ideas.

What’s next for Rowing Blazers?

We’re always working on new designs and collaborations, but we’re also focused on expanding our brand beyond just clothing. We want to create a lifestyle brand that encompasses all aspects of American style, from furniture to home decor to travel accessories. We’re excited to continue growing and evolving while staying true to our brand’s identity and values.

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Jack Carlson’s passion for fashion and history has resulted in the creation of a unique and innovative brand that stands out in the industry. His dedication to quality and craftsmanship, as well as his commitment to sustainability, sets Rowing Blazers apart from other fashion brands. To stay up to date with Jack Carlson and Rowing Blazers, you can follow him on LinkedIn.

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Interview with Gracie Cedres: Insights on Entrepreneurship and Work-Life Balance

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Interview with Gracie Cedres, Founder of G.R.A.C.E.

Table of Contents

Introduction

Gracie Cedres is the founder and CEO of G.R.A.C.E., a company that provides virtual assistance and project management services to entrepreneurs and small business owners. With a degree in communications, Gracie has always been interested in helping others succeed in their businesses. Her passion for helping entrepreneurs led her to create G.R.A.C.E., which has been helping entrepreneurs and small business owners increase their productivity and profitability. In this interview, Gracie will share more about her journey as an entrepreneur and the success of G.R.A.C.E.

Can you tell us about yourself and your journey as an entrepreneur?

Sure, my name is Gracie Cedres, and I am the founder and CEO of G.R.A.C.E. I have always been interested in helping others, especially entrepreneurs and small business owners, succeed in their businesses. After completing my degree in communications, I worked as a virtual assistant for various entrepreneurs and realized that there was a need for high-quality virtual assistance and project management services. That’s how the idea for G.R.A.C.E. was born, and since then, I have been working hard to help entrepreneurs and small business owners achieve their goals.

How did you come up with the idea for G.R.A.C.E.?

After working as a virtual assistant for several entrepreneurs, the idea for G.R.A.C.E. came to me. I realized that many entrepreneurs were struggling to manage their time effectively and needed high-quality virtual assistance and project management services to help them become more productive and profitable. I saw an opportunity to help entrepreneurs and small business owners by providing them with top-notch virtual assistance and project management services, and that’s how G.R.A.C.E. was born.

What are some of the challenges you faced in starting and growing your business?

One of the biggest challenges I faced in starting and growing my business was finding the right team members. It’s important to have a team that shares your vision and is passionate about what they do. I also faced challenges in marketing my services and reaching out to potential clients. However, I overcame these challenges by networking, building relationships, and creating high-quality content that showcased the value of my services.

What is your vision for G.R.A.C.E. in the next five years?

My vision for G.R.A.C.E. in the next five years is to become the go-to virtual assistance and project management service provider for entrepreneurs and small business owners worldwide. I want to expand my team and services to be able to help more entrepreneurs and small business owners increase their productivity and profitability. I also want to continue building strong relationships with my clients and providing them with top-notch services.

Can you share with us some of your favorite success stories from working with your clients?

One of my favorite success stories is working with a small business owner who was struggling to manage their time effectively. By providing them with virtual assistance and project management services, we were able to help them increase their productivity, improve their marketing strategies, and ultimately grow their business. It’s always fulfilling to see my clients succeed and achieve their goals.

What advice would you give to aspiring entrepreneurs?

My advice to aspiring entrepreneurs is to educate themselves and never stop learning. It’s important to constantly learn new skills, stay up to date with industry trends, and seek out new opportunities. It’s also essential to have a strong work ethic, be persistent, and not be afraid to take risks. Don’t let failure discourage you, instead use it as a learning opportunity and keep pushing forward.

How do you maintain a work-life balance as a busy entrepreneur?

Maintaining a work-life balance can be challenging as a busy entrepreneur, but it’s essential for your well-being and the success of your business. One of the things I do is prioritize my tasks and delegate when necessary. I also set aside time for self-care activities like exercise, reading, and spending time with family and friends. It’s also important to know when to disconnect from work and focus on other aspects of your life.

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Gracie Cedres is an inspiration to entrepreneurs and small business owners worldwide. Her dedication to helping others and passion for entrepreneurship has led to the success of G.R.A.C.E. With a vision for continued growth and success, Gracie is sure to make an impact in the virtual assistance and project management industry. To learn more about Gracie Cedres and G.R.A.C.E., visit her website and follow her on LinkedIn.

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Interview with Evan Cagner: Insights into the World of Tech and Entrepreneurship

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Interview with Evan Cagner, CEO of TechBlue

Table of Contents

Introduction

Evan Cagner is the founder and CEO of TechBlue, a company that provides managed IT services to businesses of all sizes. Evan has over 15 years of experience in the tech industry and has helped numerous businesses grow by leveraging technology. He is a thought leader and innovator in the IT industry, with a keen eye for emerging trends and technologies. In this interview, Evan Cagner shares his insights into the world of tech and entrepreneurship.

What inspired you to start TechBlue?

I’ve always been passionate about technology and how it can be used to solve business problems. I started my career working for a large IT consulting firm, and I quickly realized that there was a big gap in the market for managed IT services. Small and medium-sized businesses often struggle to keep up with the latest technology trends, and they don’t have the resources to hire full-time IT staff. That’s why I decided to start TechBlue – to help these businesses leverage technology to grow and succeed.

What sets TechBlue apart from other managed IT services companies?

There are a few things that set TechBlue apart from other managed IT services companies. First and foremost, we are incredibly focused on customer service. We believe that building strong relationships with our clients is the key to our success. Second, we have a team of highly skilled technicians who are constantly learning and staying up to date with the latest technologies. Finally, we are very flexible and can customize our services to meet the unique needs of each of our clients.

How do you stay on top of emerging trends in the tech industry?

I’m always reading and staying up to date with the latest news and trends in the tech industry. I attend conferences and meet with other thought leaders in the industry to discuss new technologies and how they can be used to solve business problems. I also encourage my team to stay up to date and share their knowledge with each other.

How has the COVID-19 pandemic affected the IT industry?

The pandemic has had a significant impact on the IT industry. With so many people working remotely, there has been a huge demand for cloud-based services and virtual private networks (VPNs). There has also been an increased focus on cybersecurity, as remote workers are more vulnerable to cyberattacks. Overall, the pandemic has accelerated the shift toward digital transformation and has highlighted the importance of having a reliable and secure IT infrastructure.

What advice do you have for entrepreneurs looking to start their own businesses?

My advice would be to focus on building a strong team and never stop learning. Surround yourself with people who are smarter than you and who have different skill sets. Be willing to take risks and make mistakes, but also be willing to learn from those mistakes. And finally, don’t be afraid to ask for help or advice from other entrepreneurs who have been through it before.

What is your vision for the future of TechBlue?

My vision for TechBlue is to continue to grow and expand our services to meet the changing needs of our clients. I want to stay at the forefront of emerging technologies and continue to be a thought leader in the industry. Ultimately, I want to help as many businesses as possible leverage technology to achieve their goals.

What do you like to do in your free time?

In my free time, I enjoy spending time with my family and staying active. I’m an avid runner and I also enjoy playing basketball and golf. I’m also a big fan of music and enjoy going to concerts and discovering new artists.

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Evan Cagner is a true leader and innovator in the IT industry. His passion for technology and customer service has helped TechBlue become one of the most respected managed IT services companies in the business. With his keen eye for emerging trends and technologies, Evan is sure to continue to make an impact in the industry for years to come. To learn more about Evan Cagner and TechBlue, you can visit their website or follow them on LinkedIn.

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