The ideaSpace Podcast: How Startups Actually Get Built · 2025-10-27 · 50 min
Today on the podcast, we’re joined by Dr Jon Moore - a biochemist, entrepreneur, and seasoned biotech leader whose career spans both cutting-edge academic research and the commercial frontiers of cancer therapeutics. Jon is the Chief Scientific Officer and Co-Founder of Epitopia , a Cambridge- and Montreal-based company developing next-generation cancer vaccines using mRNA and immunotherapy technologies. Before that, he co-founded Pheno Therapeutics , an Edinburgh University spin-out focused on remyelination therapies for multiple sclerosis, and held senior roles at Horizon Discovery and RiboTargets , now Vernalis. Jon speaks to ideaSpace director, Ben Hartley about his journey from a science-obsessed teenager and Duke University postdoc to becoming a biotech founder shaping the future of oncology. He talks about the spark that led to Epitopia, the challenges of building transatlantic biotech ventures, what makes Cambridge such fertile ground for life-science start-ups, and the importance of curiosity, persistence, and trust in building great teams. It’s a thoughtful and entertaining Start-up Story so sit back, press play and enjoy!
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