Relentless The Quest to Cure Alzheimer's | Sacha Schermerhorn, Babylon Bio
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Feb 14, 2026 
Sacha Schermerhorn, founder and CEO of Babylon Bio building therapies for Alzheimer’s, blends rigorous science with scrappy startup grit. He walks through Alzheimer’s research history, why amyloid approaches fell short, tau’s central role, and using AI to connect scattered biomedical clues. He also covers hiring for mission, funding strategies, repurposing drugs, and keeping focus amid failures.
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Raising Money Was Brutal Early On
- Early fundraising was brutal; investors often laughed or disconnected from calls.
- Sacha self-funded experiments and stayed scrappy until aligned investors joined.
Hire For Mission Over Money
- Hire missionaries not mercenaries: screen for passion over compensation and long-term commitment.
- Evaluate candidates via repeated unscripted scientific conversations and long-term fit.
Use Unpaid Science Jams As A Filter
- Invite candidates to jam on science unpaid and observe if they sustain curiosity over months.
- Use their voluntary engagement as a strong proxy for missionary intent.
