Luís Valente of iLoF.
Tell us about yourself?
Business manager, strategist, and entrepreneur with a drive for using innovative and creative strategies to solve complex problems
Forbes 30 under 30 for Science and Healthcare, with a background in Computer Science, I have spent several years focusing on innovation and improving strategies in companies from Tech to Healthcare.
My passion for entrepreneurship led me to create my first business at 18, founding and operating several ventures specializing in optimized demand prediction, lean operations, and design for growth.
A deep belief in the power of Technology as the core driver for democratizing Personalized Medicine had me co-founding iLoF: a fast-growing deep tech company using AI to build a cloud-based library of disease biomarkers and biological profiles.
Currently on a mission to accelerate adequate treatments for millions of patients living with complex, heterogeneous diseases around the globe.
What do you think is the single biggest misconception people have when it comes to startups?
I believe one of the biggest misconception (especially as a deep tech company) is that “it’s all about the tech”. It’s actually not – it’s about what problem we are solving (focus on the market need), and who is solving it (focus on the team).
Most often than not, failing to acknowledge that is actually the biggest issue.
If you could go back in time to any moment from your journey, and give yourself one tip, what would it be?
Hiring decisions are a bit like shopping for new clothes: if you don’t absolutely love it the moment you first see it, it’s probably not going to be the right choice on the long run.
What makes you stand out as an entrepreneur?
Persistancy and optimism are certainly traits that I believe quite helped me on our journey. It also quit helped me to have the possibility to work with other amazing entrepreneurs/CEOs before.
To see how others succeed (or try to) is actually a very effective way to learn how to do your job better.
What are some of the best working habits you’ve gained over the past couple of years?
Building consensus solves more problems than it creates, and is usually a good way to move forward (especially with key decisions).
Give us a bit of an insight into the influences behind the company?
iLoF was influenced by other great entrepreneurs and companies working hard to build on the vision that unfortunately the same treatment doesn’t work for every patient, leaving millions of persons with untreated complex, heterogeneous diseases.
Companies like 23andme have been doing a wonderful job collecting massive amount of data on patients biological profiles, and are certainly an inspiration for us to be better, faster and bolder.
Where do you see your business in five years?
We see ourselves helping hospitals make more accurate clinical decisions regarding giving the right treatment to the right patient, while working with biotechs and pharmas to help more and more personalized treatments get to patients faster.
What do you think the biggest challenge will be for you in getting there?
Collecting large enough amounts of data is certainly one of the key actions we are focusing on. For that, we are establishing partnerships with key institutions in 3 continents in our push to amassing more and more biological profiles.
Talk to us about your biggest success story so far?
Certainly the ability to attract a unique mix of entrepreneurs, scientists and investors from different backgrounds and countries, brought together on the same vision of revolutionizing personalized medicine.
We work on the intersection between physics, biology and data science and attracting world class profiles on all those areas was certainly a key competitive advantage.
How do clients and customers find you? Are you much of a salesperson for yourself?
Most of the BD process is still mostly led personally by the founders. Spending time with them, understanding their needs and pains is part of the key actions founders should take.
What one tip would you give to fellow startup founders?
Make sure you are solving a big enough problem. It will be a key competitive advantage both hiring and attracting capital.
And finally, what do you hope the future brings both you personally, and your business?
We hope to positively impact the life of millions of patients on a positive way. Creating a better world is what entrepreneurship is all about – and if you are able to achieve that, all the rest will follow.
