No Priors Ep. 140 | With Benchling Co-Founder and CEO Sajith Wickramasekara

In this episode of No Priors, Sarah Guo interviews Sajith Wickramasekara, the co-founder and CEO of Benchling, a software company focused on biotech R&D. Sajith discusses Benchling's role in modernizing scientific processes, from molecule design to data analysis, and its impact on the biotech and pharmaceutical industries. The conversation explores the current macro environment in biotech, including the rise of Chinese biotech companies and the challenges faced by Western firms. They delve into the potential of AI in accelerating drug discovery, the importance of data-driven decision-making, and Benchling's AI initiatives, including AI agents for automating scientific tasks. Sajith also shares insights on company building, the integration of science and software cultures, and the future of AI in transforming the biotech landscape.