Monica Berrondo

We’re about to simp for Monica Berrondo, this woman’s a straight-up legend in biotech startup land. She’s the CEO and founder of Macromoltek, a badass company based in Austin that’s all about revolutionizing how we design antibodies with some seriously advanced computational stuff. Started this gig back in 2010, and she’s been crushing it ever since, even got into Y Combinator’s W18 batch, so you know she’s legit.

But the story’s way deeper. Monica’s got a PhD in Chemical Engineering from Johns Hopkins, and not just any PhD. She got the NIH Ruth L. Kirschstein fellowship, which is a big deal, for her research on protein structure and function. Basically, she’s been neck-deep in understanding how proteins work since way before she even started her company. She also went to RPI for her undergrad, so she’s got that solid engineering background.

What’s crazy is her process shows she’s all about pushing boundaries. She jumped into biotech with a purpose, to change the game in antibody drug development using her proprietary algorithms and multidisciplinary smarts. She co-founded Macromoltek with Susana Kaufmann, who’s the CTO, and together they’re using some modern tech to solve complex scientific problems. It’s not just a business; it’s her way of making a real impact.

But her story isn’t just tech. Monica’s been a pioneer in the community too. She helped grow Women In Bio in Central Texas, founding the Austin chapter back in 2015, legit, she’s been lifting others up and building ecosystems. She’s been recognized a bunch, Austin Magazine called her Woman of the Year in 2013, and she took home the Founder of the Year award at Austin Startup Week in 2015. That’s no small feat.

Her background includes stints at Rosetta Design Group and work at BYU, proving she’s been in the trenches, applying her skills across various settings. She’s published in top journals like Proteins and PLoS One, she’s not just about startups; she’s a legit researcher who’s crushed it in the academic world too.

Today, Monica’s out here actively shaping the biotech scene in Austin and beyond, blending hardcore science with entrepreneurship. She’s the real deal, someone who took her deep scientific expertise and turned it into a startup that’s actually changing how drugs are made. Honestly, her process just screams passion, grit, and a no-bullshit drive to make stuff happen. That’s what makes her so important, she’s proof that when you combine science, hustle, and community, you can build something truly new.