Marcelo Bravo
I’ve been building science-based ventures for over two decades, including companies in consumer health, pharmaceuticals, biotechnology, advanced materials, medtech, and cell therapy. The journey started early: a chemistry set at Christmas in 1972 sparked a lifelong fascination that led to degrees in chemistry and chemical engineering, followed by a corporate R&D career before entrepreneurship called.
Since immigrating to the UK, I’ve founded or co-founded four companies. Two went public in recent years — one in advanced materials, another in pharmaceutical technology — both scaling internationally and raising over £50 million. One failed completely. The lessons from both outcomes have shaped how I think about building ventures.
My approach is grounded in experience and in the understanding that science-based entrepreneurship is both an art and a discipline.
“Starting and growing your company is like starting a fire,” says Marcelo. “There are three elements you need to start and grow a fire: fuel, oxygen and heat. If you remove any of these elements the fire dies. To start and grow a fire you need to delicately and skillfully dose and balance these three ingredients. Start-up companies are the same. Your three key elements are ideas, people and money.”