Alice Chen

So check this out about Alice Chen – this is the real deal. She’s a boss in biotech, not just some random scientist. She’s a YC alum from W21, which already says she crushed it early on. But what’s really wild is her process, she’s been in the game for over 20 years, diving deep into developmental biology, stem cells, tissue engineering. Basically, she’s been tinkering with how life is built at the most fundamental level.

Before she jumped into starting her own thing, she was all over the place, leading research at big names like Organovo, BioTime, and Stemgent. She’s been in the trenches, figuring out how to reprogram cells, build tissues, and push the boundaries of what’s possible. That’s a solid track record, showing she’s not just academic; she’s all about turning science into real stuff that can change lives.

Then she co-founded Trestle Biotherapeutics, which is about bioengineering kidneys for folks with kidney failure. Holy shit, that’s advanced. Developing bioengineered organs isn’t just tech, it’s a game changer for millions. And Alice? She’s the CSO, the brain behind it all. Her research and experience make her perfect for this: she’s seen it all, authored over 20 papers, and knows how to turn complex science into practical solutions.

What’s dope is that her story isn’t just about building tech. It’s about motivation, she’s been chasing this dream of making a real impact, pushing the boundaries of what’s possible in biotech. Starting something like Trestle isn’t just about making money; it’s about solving a huge problem that affects so many people. That’s why she jumped into YC, she knew she had something special, and she crushed it in the batch.

So, yeah, Alice Chen is the real deal. A scientist turned founder who’s got the skills, the vision, and the grit to change the future of medicine. No cap, she’s someone you wanna keep your eye on, she’s not just building a company, she’s building a better world.