Will Alaynick Shares Vision for Founder-Friendly Investing at Bio Bullpen Event
San Diego, CA — At a recent Bio Bullpen gathering, Will Alaynick, PhD, co-founder of Phase Two Ventures, took the stage to share his journey from scientist to serial entrepreneur to early-stage investor. With a background in molecular endocrinology and developmental neuroscience at the Salk Institute, Alaynick has since helped launch multiple startups—ranging from NanoCellect, a compact flow cytometer company, to Arima Genomics, a phasing-focused sequencing firm, and Defined Bioscience, known for animal-free cell culture media.
From Building Startups to Funding Them
Alaynick explained that his transition into venture capital felt like a “Phase Two” of his career. After years of building biotech startups, he saw opportunities to support the next generation of entrepreneurs while avoiding some of the pitfalls he observed in traditional investor-founder relationships. Phase 2 Ventures, a $10 million fund, focuses on writing early checks between $50K and $250K—often the very first investment a startup receives.
Investment Philosophy
When asked what excites him most in the life sciences space, Alaynick pointed to proteomics and the potential to scale protein-level analysis to the throughput and affordability seen in genomics. He emphasized that Phase Two evaluates opportunities holistically: the team, technology, and market readiness must all align. Founders must be “cool people in it to win it” with the grit to “run through or around brick walls” while still being able to build something scalable and supportable post-sale.
Geographic Focus and Founder-Friendly Approach
Although naturally biased toward San Diego, where Phase Two’s network is strongest, Alaynick noted the fund is open to startups nationwide. He highlighted a commitment to maintaining a “civilized, founder-friendly interaction”—an approach designed to help companies grow without excessive interference.
Building Serendipity in the Bullpen
Alaynick described events like Bio Bullpen as “manufacturing serendipity,” creating chance encounters with founders, LPs, and advisors whose missions align with his own. While he can often be found at local San Diego spots like Papa Leco, Alaynick encouraged outreach through LinkedIn or his email at will@phase2.vc, joking that while “fireworks” aren’t necessary, he welcomes genuine collaboration opportunities.
A Lighter Note
The session closed with a playful reminder of Alaynick’s past in music. He admitted he may have been in “the only Seattle band that wasn’t signed” during the grunge era, leaving the door open for curious attendees to track down his elusive CD.
About Phase Two Ventures:
Phase Two Ventures is an early-stage venture capital fund focused on life science tools and technologies. The firm invests in companies that combine scientific innovation with strong execution potential, backing founders with checks sized $50K–$250K at the earliest stages of company formation.