Jen Herbach, founder and CEO of Adventris, discusses her company's work on developing cancer vaccines that educate the immune system to recognize and combat cancer cells, focusing initially on the KRAS mutation prevalent in lung, colon, and pancreatic cancers. She shares Adventris's plan to submit an application to the FDA to begin clinical trials in early 2027, with a long-term vision of preventing cancers. Jen also recounts her experience at Y Combinator, which helped her refine the company's story and investor communications, and how Brian Chesky's talk on "founder mode" inspired her to get more involved in the scientific details of her company, leading to increased productivity and better team alignment. Additionally, she highlights the importance of maintaining board control to protect the company's scientific strategy and decision-making autonomy, even if it means taking a lower valuation in future funding rounds.
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