The interview was conducted ¡®live¡¯ on 26 December 2009. Interviewee is Dr. Namyong Kim, Chief Executive Officer of Curiox Biosystems Pte Ltd.

1. Genewired: Tell us about your background?

PhD in Chemistry from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), and BSc graduate from the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST).

I have been in the scientific research and technical management biotech instrumentation field for more than 10 years. During 2004 - 2008, I worked as a Team Leader and Senior Research Scientist in Institute of Bioengineering and Nanotechnology, A*STAR.

While in the United States of America, I had the opportunity to work abroad in multinational companies (e.g. Agilent Technologies) and various small-medium enterprises. I was fortunate to learn the know-how to survive in the technology-based business world, and subjects like intellectual property rights, licensing and product development strategies.

Still, I find that building a start-up technology company is extremely challenging, possibly more so in this flat economy.

2. Genewired: Could you share with us the motivation and story behind your startup, CurioX Biosystems?

While working in United States, I felt an intense desire to build an organization. Intuitively, I wanted to make a contribution which, in the long term, would have a positive impact on society. I wanted to experience the opportunity to grow and challenge myself so that the ¡®process¡¯ of life and the startup company will much more meaningful than merely achieving the scientific results and profit outcome.

I also believed that Singapore offered a golden opportunity where the promise of great rewards for medical technologies [startups] in Singapore was achievable. Thus this opportunity must be seized or would be lost (perhaps forever); and the timing is everything (it is now or never!).

During 2004, Singapore appeared the best place for this adventure although I have never visited it. There was strong commitment and support from Singapore¡¯s government and excellent infrastructure. I met a group of like-minded friends, and we managed to start Curiox in 2007. We won the first prize in eighth Start-Up@Singapore business plan competition and received $30,000 (a gratifying amount!). It helped to register the company officially. Soon, we found our investor, Nanostart, who rendered all the help and advice to progress from the idea stage to business plan to marketplace [and beyond].

And there is no turning back!

3. Genewired: What is so interesting about Curiox's DropArray technology?

CurioX¡¯s DropArray¢â technology offers a new way of running bioassays. Bioassay, simply speaking, means to do experiments to examine the characteristics of bio-molecules or bio-materials. We developed DropArray¢â plate, a next-generation platform to replace the then most popular consumable in running bioassays, a microplate.

With DropArray¢â plate, our customers in drug discovery, life sciences, and diagnostics can enjoy many benefits. They can run bioassays with a fraction of samples, average 1/100th, which is critical in areas of handling precious human and animal samples. In addition, the technology enables automation of bioassays with some challenging samples where current technology cannot do so because of its ¡®harsh¡¯ nature. Lastly, the technology reduces the cost and duration of bioassays significantly, by 50 ? 80%.

At this juncture, we have received great interests from academic researchers, biotech- and pharma- companies in US, Europe and Japan. It is exciting and rewarding to see customers benefiting from our technology.

4. Genewired: What have been your most difficult/ challenging times?

Every day is a challenge, but I have to do what is necessary to be done. And at each different encounter and challenge I faced, my character grew stronger and my assets also!

During the business¡¯s pre-startup phase, various difficulties arose. I had to deal with operation issues, equipment maintenance, not having direct access to lab and manpower resources, negotiating our licenses and so many other hurdles.

Now, I have to travel frequently. To quote an example, I travel to a different time zone every 7 ? 10 days over a period of more than a month. At the same time, I have to work with people logging on from different time zones, i.e. a research team in Singapore, customers in the United States, and business partners in Japan. I cannot find time to have enough sleep after long flights. Indeed, I am enjoying every moment of my work! However, I have to admit that such period goes over the limit at times, even from the standpoint of a CEO of a cash-strapped start-up company.

5. Genewired: We know that you have achieved your dream to be an entrepreneur. In the year 2010, what are the new levels of opportunity that you are seeking for Curiox?

To be honest with you, I am not looking at new levels of opportunity.

Realistically, I am looking at my entry-level of opportunity. Since the start of the company, we have not yet accomplished our mission i.e. to put the needs of our customers first ? to benefit customers with many challenges in running bioassays through DropArray¢â technology and products.

This will continue to be our number one opportunity even in the year of 2010.

6. Genewired: What advice do you have for a young entrepreneur/ newbie who is just starting out a life science/ biomed tech company?

I am still in the process of chasing my dream and in that sense, it is important to remind myself what my goals are and why I do what I do. So, it is too early to give advice to anyone.

I would say two things:

- Start early. Whether you are starting on your own or partnership, try to start as early as possible. While managing a startup, be opened and get feedback from other entrepreneurs, advisors and mentors so that you can make an informed decision at every moment though lacking experiences.

- Enjoy the work. The chances are those starting and working at a start-up company will be required to work a crazy number of hours.

In my opinion, one has to enjoy the process (grow the business, make new friends). If it is not fun, what is the point of doing it?

7. Genewired: Is there anyone who may have influenced your outlook on life and business?

Investors X Business Mentors X Friends. And multiply all these by three!

In Asia context, support is always there when you need them. This is because there is strong bonding culture (connections and networks) in the business activities here.

Thus, I am grateful to all the advisors, investors, mentors, and friends, who were there whenever I needed advice, comfort and insights.

8. Genewired: How do you define Success in business?

Success is tough to define. I will say it is magnitude of happiness ? so many layers ? an experienced happiness that turned out to be an excellent value of product realization for customers, good returns for investors and rewarding workplace for colleagues.

I hope we achieve such success someday soon.

Author: Ai San Yip

Photographer: Erwin Chan

¨Ï GeneWired 2010. All rights reserved.

For additional information about CurioX Biosystems, please visit www.curiox.com

Disclaimer: The materials contained in this website are provided for general information purposes only. Whilst every care has been taken to ensure the accuracy of the information provided, the authors accept no responsibility for loss or damage which may arise from reliance on the information contained in this site. The statements and opinions contained on this site represent only the considered opinion of the authors and not intended to represent any real company or government of any country.


About Curiox Biosystems Pte Ltd:

Curiox Biosystems has a vision to accelerate the progress of life sciences and drug discovery through better miniaturization. Curiox is a bioinstrumentation company enabling the miniaturization of bioassays for researchers working in life sciences, drug discovery, and diagnostics. Curiox's patent-pending miniaturization platform, DropArray™, provides up to 25 times savings in sample and reagent consumption, and up to 60 % reduction in assay time. The company is a spin-off from Institute of Bioengineering and Nanotechnology (IBN) backed primarily by Nanostart and Exploit Technologies, the commercializing arm of Singapore's Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR). For further information, please visit www.curiox.com.


For more information, Kindly contact:
Nicole Soo
nicole@curiox.com
180 Ang Mo Kio Avenue 8
Block Q, Unit # 501
Singapore 569830 
Singapore

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