Matías Peire, GridX | How to Build a Factory for Science Startups

The audio and video are in Spanish. These notes are a translation.

This week, I spoke with Matías Peire, a leader in deeptech innovation with more than 20 years of experience creating and managing technology companies. In 2013, Matías started a research process to develop a model that links science with Venture Capital. After three years of intense work, he cofounded GRIDX in 2016.

As Cofounder and CEO of GRIDX, Matías leads the company’s strategy and fundraising. Under his leadership, GRIDX is transforming the deeptech landscape, driving innovation and fostering pioneering science companies.

We talk about:

The Vision behind GRIDX and Scientific Talent in Latin America
What the Challenges of Building a Company outside Academia Are
What the Opportunities in the Scientific World Are
Whether There Is an Entrepreneurial Community in Science and Technology
The Opportunities for Science Startups in Latin America
Future Vision and the Impact of GRIDX on Latin American Science

Youtube Timestamps*

[3:56] - The Vision Behind GridX: Harnessing Latin American Scientific Talent

Matías saw opportunities in the Argentine scientific world, where there was a process of repatriating investment. He identified that there was no one in venture capital in this sector and started exploring the opportunities there.

How does Matías arrive at the idea of GridX in the first place? And how does he identify that someone is good scientific talent if he himself is not a scientist?

Matías was an outsider, since he started out working in electronics and software for digital video and realized he needed to find an unoccupied niche because of his experience.

What did Matías do in the first 3 years to understand this world of science?

Matías recounts that his first year was exploratory, looking to connect venture capital with the scientific system of Latin America. During this period, he identified opportunities and validated hypotheses about competitive talent in the region.

Any lesson Matias would highlight for someone who wants to dive fully into an industry or sector they know nothing about?

[18:43] - Building GridX: From Concept to Company Building

Matías explains that GridX’s initial idea was to help scientists become founders and raise capital on their own. However, he realized that scientists in Latin America face many challenges and biases, which made this transition harder.

What is GridX’s vision? What led Matías to choose the Company builder model?

Matías points out. Multinationals do not demand local innovation, since they replicate models and products developed at their headquarters.

Does this have to do with universities playing an active role in connecting academia and industry? Why?

Matías describes a rigorous selection process to identify the right people for each cohort at GridX.

How does Matías identify the right people to bring into each cohort each year? What kinds of attributes does he look for?

These profiles, according to Matias, are able to act as an interface between the scientific world and the market, more interested in transformation and long-term impact than in quick gains.

[46:05] - The Importance of Science and Technology in Productive Transformation

GridX’s Build Company model does not end after the check. It ends when that startup raises its seed round.

How do the companies that are part of GridX mature afterward? What kinds of investors tend to fund the next stage of these businesses?

Few investment funds get biotech or deeptech right because they do not understand the strategy Matías explains.

What are the things startup investors understand the least about Biotech and Deeptech?

[56:18] - Close and Final Reflections

What does Matías do as the program unfolds to evaluate whether GridX wants to invest or not?