Azooka Labs और उसके पहले प्रोडक्ट Tinto-Rang की कहानी,
क्यों ज़रूरी हैं इको-फ्रेंडली और किफ़ायती बायोटेक सॉल्यूशन्स? भारत में डीप-टेक स्टार्टअप बनाने की चुनौतियाँ.एक साइंटिस्ट और एंटरप्रिन्योर के रूप में उनकी Inspiring Story.
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~HT.318~ED.148~
क्यों ज़रूरी हैं इको-फ्रेंडली और किफ़ायती बायोटेक सॉल्यूशन्स? भारत में डीप-टेक स्टार्टअप बनाने की चुनौतियाँ.एक साइंटिस्ट और एंटरप्रिन्योर के रूप में उनकी Inspiring Story.
#azookalabs #nationalstartupawards #startupindia #startup #startupideas #startupbusinessideas #startupjourney #startupbusiness #startuptips #businessnews #businessideas #goodreturns #sucessjourney
Also Read
EF Polymer: Meet the Indian Startup Turning Banana Peels into Crop-Saving Polymers :: https://www.goodreturns.in/news/ef-polymer-meet-the-indian-startup-turning-banana-peels-into-crop-saving-polymers-011-1453415.html?ref=DMDesc
Masai And XLRI Launch Comprehensive Entrepreneurship Program For Aspiring Founders In India :: https://www.goodreturns.in/news/masai-and-xlri-launch-comprehensive-entrepreneurship-program-for-aspiring-founders-in-india-011-1451807.html?ref=DMDesc
~HT.318~ED.148~
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NewsTranscript
00:01Before COVID, India's molecular diagnostics penetration was only 12%.
00:08COVID pushed us to quickly scale up to around 80% of molecular diagnostics.
00:13We scaled up from zero to million units in less than three months' time.
00:17And we could really deploy one million units during COVID with zero contamination record.
00:23We started with the vision of building premium molecular biology products from India.
00:28I think now we want to be the leader in that space.
00:31So we have a couple of plans to get into the consumer genomic space and be a global leader in this space.
00:41Your transition from a scientist to an entrepreneur of Azuka Labs, let's talk about it.
00:47It was accidental, so I didn't plan this to be honest.
00:52What were the challenges?
00:53I didn't understand anything of business.
00:58Sometimes in the early conversations that we used to have with investors or with somebody else,
01:03a lot of words would go off my mind because I really didn't understand what it meant.
01:07So for me personally, I think it was a very transformative journey because I had to unlearn a lot of things,
01:15let go of my scientific ego, so-called big ego that scientists have, and really simplify solutions.
01:24Azuka!
01:25Azuka!
01:26Azuka!
01:27She is on a mission, scientist in the lab, and boss in the boardroom.
01:39Dr. Fatima Benazair, founder of Azuka Labs, is going places.
01:44And today in this episode of Game of Growth, we are going to talk about her story, her journey, and her vision for Azuka Labs.
01:52Hello Fatima, how are you?
01:54Hi, good.
01:55Thank you, Shruti.
01:56How are you?
01:57I am doing good.
01:58So the first question that I have for you is, you know, your transition from a scientist to an entrepreneur of Azuka Labs.
02:06Let's talk about it.
02:07It was accidental.
02:09So I didn't plan this, to be honest.
02:13But yeah, but I was very passionate about research and doing science.
02:18I was trying, I was doing a postdoc, trying for postdocs abroad.
02:22So that is when Alex, who happens to be my co-founder as well as my friend from school, met my mother and she apparently told him that this girl is not stopping studying.
02:36Do something with her, give a bit of advice to her.
02:40So then we started having conversations and I was looking to get some help from him to get a postdoc position abroad.
02:47So during these conversations, Alex found that I had done a lot of work, I was passionate about doing what I was doing.
02:56So he asked me a couple of questions which really changed my perception towards what I was doing.
03:01So he said, I see that you are really passionate, you spend all your time in the lab doing work, what do you do next?
03:08So I told him, yeah, we publish your work.
03:11So he asked, after publications, what is it?
03:14Then I told him, yeah, probably I want to publish in the cell or the nature, that's what every scientist wants.
03:21I said, what next?
03:22I said, citations maybe, what next?
03:25I really didn't have an answer to this.
03:28So he really asked me a question that opened up my mind in directions that I hadn't thought before.
03:35So he told me, are you trying to tell me that you are burying your lifelong's worth and passion in books that the common man doesn't understand?
03:44Is that what you're actually doing?
03:46That really made me think.
03:48So we had a lot of conversations like this and then he said, maybe I see that you have a lot of passion and potential.
03:55Why don't you build something that will really create an impact or build something of value from your research rather than just targeting publications?
04:04I was really blown off because I was a hardcore academician at that point in time, very introverted.
04:13And I was really, I didn't know what business was.
04:15I told Sikraman, I know only science and experiments.
04:18I can't do business.
04:19That's not my forte.
04:21Then he said, maybe I can help you with it, with the business part.
04:25I think the partnership started when I met Dr. Fatima Benazir with an amazing innovation.
04:32The first thing that we understood was, I saw that she had a dye, which is a DNA binding dye, which we reported after 48 years and that was history.
04:44And this product was earlier a PhD thesis.
04:48It didn't get to become a product coming from a product background.
04:51I told her that this product deserves to go out into the world.
04:55And that's when she was reluctant saying that I don't know how to build a business around it.
05:00And because I had the experience of building a business earlier, because I had worked in the business earlier, I could understand how to build a product,
05:08how to build a business and how to make it as a platform.
05:11So that's when I told her that you take care of the science, I'll take care of building the business around it.
05:17I started making a lot of progress, much at a very rapid pace.
05:21In six months time, during my postdoc itself, I had an MVP.
05:25So then I think Alex really understood when he did the market research and stuff.
05:29He understood that he also got passionate about it and he jumped in full time.
05:34And we started Azuka unofficially in 2015.
05:40And that's how I became an entrepreneur.
05:43So we'll speak more about Azuka Fatima, but I want to know about your childhood, you know, who was your role model.
05:50And like you said that, you know, your mother said that, you know, she keeps studying.
05:55So how was it?
05:56Yeah, I think I had a very happy childhood.
06:00And I've been fortunate.
06:01I personally consider being fortunate because both my parents were working.
06:08My mom retired as a treasury officer in the New Greece district.
06:12And both were forward minded to really encourage me and let me do what I wanted, especially my mom.
06:21She was a very ambitious person.
06:23So she always used to say, you should do something of, you should be in a position where you command
06:30and never in a position where you are employed to somebody else.
06:33I would say, I think initially my mom was an inspiration to me.
06:36And after that, I've had several role models, mostly my teachers who have shaped me to what I am today.
06:44But yeah, I think that's where I get that ambition from.
06:49So she always used to say, don't settle for less.
06:52Less or enough.
06:53Don't settle for less.
06:54All mothers are true heroes, I feel.
06:56Dearly.
06:57I think especially in our community, it's very rare to find that kind of an encouragement from the mother.
07:04So yeah, I think that's, that made all the difference to me.
07:10I'm sure if it was not for her, I wouldn't have come this far.
07:14So Azuka, let's talk about Azuka.
07:18How did you think of this name?
07:21It's not me, to be very honest.
07:23I think Alex is very good with these names and one liners.
07:28So apparently he is, he was the director of product management at Zoho.
07:35He used to handle worldwide marketing there.
07:37Right.
07:38So he used to travel a lot and I think somewhere he had a disconnect with software when he was
07:45apparently at a Brazilian salsa bar called Azuka.
07:49So while we were thinking of names, I think that came to his mind and he said, we'll go with Azuka.
07:56I was very bad at this.
07:58It sounded really fancy.
07:59Anybody you say to this, Azuka bazuka.
08:02That's the kind of response we get.
08:05And eventually we also figured out that Azuka or Aska in Tamil means sugar.
08:12So we thought it's going to be a sweet journey too.
08:16And that's how we named Azuka Azuka.
08:19I'm sure it will be.
08:21So Azuka, our research team was doing some work and you know, getting to know the company more.
08:28And they mentioned something called Tinto Rung.
08:33Do you want to speak a little bit more about that?
08:35That's our first product or I should say the first MVP that we built.
08:40So it is a food grade safe dye that binds to DNA and RNA primarily used in RT-PCR.
08:49So what we were trying to do at that point in time was trying to eliminate hazardous and carcinogenic chemicals from the lab.
08:59So the molecule that competes with Tinto Rung is primarily cancer causing, mutation causing and a biohazard.
09:08So we are the first in the world to really come up with a food grade safe dye which can bind to DNA and exhibit these properties.
09:16I know earlier people never knew what DNA was or RT-PCR was thanks to COVID.
09:21I think now people at least connect to what we do.
09:25Yes, absolutely.
09:26So it was primarily a red colored dye.
09:29So we wanted it to all the molecular, for example, right, we wanted to do Azuka with the mission of building premier molecular biology products from India.
09:38Because Alex strongly felt that India is known for Me Too or Cheap or the service market and there were no innovative products that India was related to.
09:49So that was the actual vision we started Azuka with.
09:52And so we wanted to have an Indian name.
09:55So Tinto means red in Brazilian Portuguese again and Rung means color.
09:59So it's a red colored dye.
10:01So that's what it means.
10:03Nice, nice.
10:04So I think the first molecular biology product with kind of an Indian name.
10:09Okay.
10:10So that's Tinto Rung.
10:11Okay, that's interesting.
10:12Yeah.
10:13Nice, you spoke about the challenges as a company you faced.
10:17Let's talk about you.
10:19Being an entrepreneur is tough.
10:22Probably being a woman entrepreneur is tougher.
10:25What were the challenges?
10:27I would say that for any entrepreneur, right, the journey is tough.
10:33I don't see a difference for genders.
10:35Right.
10:36Other than probably as a woman, you have to manage your home and your children, which is an additional responsibility.
10:43Maybe not all other counterparts may have.
10:48But for me, I think primarily the biggest challenge was, you know, convincing my family.
10:57Because they feel with two children, why would you want to take a journey which is riskier?
11:02Why can't you take up a job that is going to be consistent?
11:05You may have some security.
11:07Why do you want to do this?
11:08You don't even know this.
11:10You are a scientist.
11:11So there's a lot of pre-perceptions that people have, right?
11:15Okay, she's an introvert.
11:16She's a scientist.
11:17She doesn't know what the world is.
11:19How is she going to do business?
11:21So those kind of stigma, that was my biggest challenge during the early days.
11:26And social stigma also to some extent, right?
11:29Not only me, I think Azuko also has faced a lot of these kind of issues with stigma.
11:35Okay, when we go to customers, they say we trust only high class German or American products.
11:42Yes.
11:43We won't use Indian products.
11:45People have told this to our faces.
11:47So that's sometimes I think the biggest challenge is people's perception, right?
11:53People's perception of things and their unwillingness to even really try something.
11:59Try something.
12:00Try something.
12:01Accept it.
12:02They don't even try.
12:03So it took me a lot of that.
12:05And personally for me, right?
12:06Because I was a very shy person to myself and my lab.
12:11And I didn't understand anything of business.
12:16Sometimes in the early conversations that we used to have with investors or with somebody else,
12:21a lot of words would go off my mind because I really didn't understand what it meant.
12:26So for me personally, I think it was a very transformative journey because I had to unlearn a lot of things,
12:33let go of my scientific ego, so-called big ego that scientists have and really simplify solutions, right?
12:43Because the scientists mind is not trained that way.
12:45We are trained to analyze and work on very complex problems in complex ways.
12:50Right.
12:51So simplifying itself becomes a challenge.
12:52So I think for me personally, all these were my initial challenges, right?
12:57My inability itself was a challenge.
13:00So I really had to work hard, especially unlearning was the most toughest part.
13:06Right.
13:07You've acquired a lot of habits and skills out of your years and unlearning those and letting go was even more challenging.
13:16But I think looking back now, I really feel I'm a really transformed person.
13:22And this journey has given me a very good understanding of myself as well as the research that I do
13:31and probably customers and what they really look for from our companies is something I think the journey has taught me.
13:41Good you spoke about it because, you know, on one side, we speak about Atmanir Bhar Bharat.
13:45On the other side, we are a little hesitant to, especially when it comes to the medical field,
13:51we are a little hesitant to, you know, accept Indian products.
13:54Very true.
13:55Very true.
13:56Yeah.
13:57We still face that sometimes.
13:58Right.
13:59Yeah.
14:00But people have changed because people when they try our products, they really love it.
14:03Right.
14:04So I think for us now the challenge is only getting them to try it.
14:07How to up the game.
14:08When they try it, they come back to us.
14:11They stay with us.
14:12Right.
14:13So that's something that we need.
14:14Do you feel that there's a gap in the Indian biotech ecosystem?
14:19Of course, there is a big gap in the Indian biotech ecosystem in my opinion.
14:24The gap is really huge because I think even if you look at the recent biotechnology report
14:32or the bio report policy released by DBT, if I am not wrong, if you see more than 90% of whatever
14:39revenue that is reported is from services than products from India.
14:47And so I think there is a big gap in the innovation part where products are being built from indigenously
14:57from our ecosystem.
14:58I think that's a big gap and I think there are reasons for this gap as well.
15:03Right.
15:04Because the investment ecosystem for biotech in India is very nascent.
15:09Right.
15:10So I think you will definitely agree that risk capital.
15:15Sure.
15:16So the Indian investors don't have an appetite for risk capital because biotech involves a
15:21lot of trial and error.
15:23Sometimes the gestation periods are very long.
15:25Right.
15:26For us it took us around five to six years to roll out a product that could fit in the market.
15:31Sometimes in many cases it takes ten years or more for a product to be developed and get out of the lab.
15:39So the gestation periods are very long.
15:41And when you don't have this kind of a risk capital, I think there is going to be dearth in innovation.
15:47And I really feel it will be nice if we wake up and start investing in the biotech sector way ahead of the growth curve.
15:57Right.
15:58Like I think somewhere we've had, we are seeing this kind of mindset.
16:04Okay.
16:05Semiconductors, people were working on semiconductors for long back.
16:08So when it has peaked and done, now we are thinking of investing in semiconductors.
16:13So it will be nice to see people who really have that kind of an appetite and trust and
16:20invest way ahead of the growth curve so that it will be easier for India to be recognized
16:26as an innovation ecosystem rather than a me too or a service kind of ecosystem.
16:32Ecosystem.
16:33Yeah, yeah, I absolutely agree Fatima.
16:36You have won several national awards for scientific achievements.
16:41Which award meant the most?
16:44Okay, that's a tough question, right?
16:46For an entrepreneur who is struggling because every award has been kind of a motivating factor for us.
16:53But I think the one that's very close to me, I would say is the Technology Development Board Award.
16:59For development of indigenous technology that had potential for commercialization because
17:04that was for our COVID-19 sample collection kit.
17:08I think as a scientist in heart, that's the most precious award because that's testimony
17:14of my research translating into a product that really had an impact during a crisis like
17:20the pandemic.
17:21So I think that would be close to your heart.
17:24Yeah, that is close to my heart.
17:26One last question before we jump to the rapid fire round, which is a fun round.
17:31What is your vision for Azuka Labs?
17:34A little long term vision.
17:36Okay, so I think the vision is the same like we started with the vision of building
17:43premium molecular biology products from India.
17:46I think now we want to be the leader in that space primarily in terms of genomics and
17:51personalized healthcare.
17:52I think the world is moving towards personalized healthcare, personalized medicine, personalized
17:59cosmetics and whatnot.
18:00So we have a couple of plans to get into the consumer genomics space and be a global leader
18:10in the space.
18:11I think we are, at present we are the only company having a platform and end to end solutions
18:17when it comes to sample collection and things, the entire workflow solutions.
18:22So the target is to get that global presence and become a leader.
18:28Absolutely.
18:29So we will now jump into the rapid fire round.
18:33There are fun questions.
18:34You have four to five seconds to answer.
18:36I don't have a bell here, but we would love to hear your first thought.
18:42So let's start.
18:44The first question is, what was your first job ever?
18:47Teaching.
18:48I was a lecturer in a college.
18:50Are you a coffee person or tea?
18:52Coffee.
18:53Early bird or night owl?
18:55Early bird.
18:56One thing you cannot live without?
18:59At present, yoga.
19:01Okay nicely said.
19:02It keeps changing.
19:03It keeps changing?
19:04It's subjective.
19:05It keeps changing.
19:06Most used app on your phone?
19:07Whatsapp.
19:08I'm sure it's for everybody.
19:09I was wondering if you would say Instagram, but I thought no.
19:10Probably not.
19:11Because I do business on Whatsapp.
19:12So the most used app is Whatsapp.
19:13Right.
19:14Favourite vacation spot?
19:15Iceland.
19:16And your go-to comfort food?
19:17It's India Pirm and Coke network.
19:18Okay.
19:19If you could have any super power, what would that be?
19:21I don't want any super powers, to be honest.
19:22Okay.
19:23When you have super powers, then you are burdened on your work.
19:24Team iOS or Team Android?
19:25iOS.
19:26Last book you read for fun?
19:27I think I stopped reading for fun.
19:28I think I stopped reading for fun.
19:29Which is very difficult.
19:30If you could have any super powers, you can comment.
19:33OK.
19:34Do you have super powers?
19:35I don't want any super powers, to be honest.
19:38Okay.
19:39If you have super powers, then you are burdened on your side.
19:40How much?
19:41I don't want any super powers, to be honest.
19:42OK.
19:43When you have super powers, then you are burdened on your side.
19:45Team iOS or Team Android?
19:50iOS.
19:51Last book you read for fun?
19:54I think I stopped reading for fun long back okay maybe Robin cook brain was the last book right
20:01by Robin if you have to describe yourself in three words persistent and your favorite ice
20:14cream flavor what unusual skill or talent you have crisis management that's what people call me my dad
20:26calls me steel woman I can handle any crisis without effort if you could meet a historical
20:35figure who would that be Abdul Kalam what's your favorite holiday tradition just chilling being at
20:44my pace and one last question who is your childhood hero nice thank you so much Fatima for joining our
20:55show thank you viewers for watching
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