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🧬 Derek Hennecke - Kincell Bio - Part 4 | Building & Scaling Xcelience | Buy-Side vs. Sell-Side of M&A | The Importance of Continuous Learning | Transition into Investing & Board Member Work
Episode 79

🧬 Derek Hennecke - Kincell Bio - Part 4 | Building & Scaling Xcelience | Buy-Side vs. Sell-Side of M&A | The Importance of Continuous Learning | Transition into Investing & Board Member Work

Part 4 of 4. My guest for this week’s episode is Derek Hennecke, a veteran biotech entrepreneur and board member with over 30 years of experience in the CDMO industry, whose mission is to support the biotech revolution and create value for patients, customers, and investors. In addition to his Board work, Derek previously held leadership positions at DSM and was the Founder and CEO of Xcelience, a Florida-based CDMO specializing in preformulation, micronization, analytical services, formulation development, cGMP manufacturing, and more. Derek eventually sold Xcelience to Capsugel (now Lonza) in 2016. His extensive pharma and cell therapy expertise makes for an insightful conversation that founders can learn from.

The Biotech Startups Podcast · Excedr

September 19, 202432m 12s

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Show Notes

Part 4 of 4. 

My guest for this week’s episode is Derek Hennecke, a veteran biotech entrepreneur and board member with over 30 years of experience in the CDMO industry, whose mission is to support the biotech revolution and create value for patients, customers, and investors.

In addition to his Board work, Derek previously held leadership positions at DSM and was the Founder and CEO of Xcelience, a Florida-based CDMO specializing in preformulation, micronization, analytical services, formulation development, cGMP manufacturing, and more. Derek eventually sold Xcelience to Capsugel (now Lonza) in 2016. 

His extensive pharma and cell therapy expertise makes for an insightful conversation that founders can learn from.

Join us this week and hear about:

  • The process of building and scaling Xcelience, from leveraging innovative technology to disrupt the market to navigating the impact of the 2008 Recession
  • Derek’s experience with strategic buy-side and sell-side transactions 
  • His commitment to continuous learning
  • His transition into investing and work as a board member

Please enjoy my conversation with Derek Hennecke.

Find Our Guest, Derek Hennecke, at these links: 
https://www.linkedin.com/in/hennecke/
https://kincellbio.com/

Find Our Host, Jon Chee, at these links: 
https://www.linkedin.com/in/jonchee
https://www.excedr.com

Social & Website
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/excedr/ 
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@excedr 
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/excedr_inc 
Twitter: https://twitter.com/ExcedrInc 
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/excedr 
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@excedr 
Podcast Website: https://www.thebiotechstartupspodcast.com/ 

Enriched Notes:

Topics Mentioned:
Xcelience: https://www.linkedin.com/company/xcelience-llc/
MicroSize: https://www.microsize.com/
Capsugel: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Capsugel
Lonza (Capsugel’s Parent Company): https://www.lonza.com/
Austin Px: https://www.austinpx.com/
Micronization: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Micronization
Biotech Partnerships: https://www.excedr.com/blog/how-biotech-partnerships-support-research
M&A Strategies in Biotech: https://www.mckinsey.com/capabilities/m-and-a/our-insights/life-sciences-m-and-a-shows-new-signs-of-life
Biotech Funding Options: https://www.excedr.com/resources/biotech-startup-funding-options
Marketing and Sales Strategies in Biotech: https://www.excedr.com/blog/marketing-sales-strategies-for-biotechs
How To Run an Efficient Board Meeting: https://www.excedr.com/resources/how-to-run-an-effective-board-meeting
Elephant Slides: https://rapport.bio/all-stories/elephant-in-boardroom

Timestamps:
00:28 Intro
01:48 Disrupting the market with Xcelience
03:34 Derek’s M&A experience and acquisition strategy on the buy-side
04:36 Financing Xcelience’s acquisition of another micronization company
06:32 Derek’s sell-side experience with Capsugel
12:03 Challenges of work and life post-acquisition; Working with Lonza
14:32 Going back to school, starting as an investor, and transitioning to board work
17:35 Bringing confidence and decision-making skills to board member roles
20:21 Running effective board meetings and finding CEO mentorship
26:53 Final reflections and Derek’s advice for founders
30:11 Outro
The Biotech Startups Podcast gives you a front-row seat to the business and science of building a biotech. Hosted by Jon Chee, CEO of Excedr, the show features honest conversations with founders, execs, and investors about their work, their companies, and how they got there. From scientific breakthroughs to startup lessons, each episode explores what it really takes to grow a life science company—from pre-seed to IPO.
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