In this episode, I talked with Catello Somma, Partner at Seroba, to learn about his nonlinear journey from academia and biopharma into venture capital—and the realities behind building funds, backing biotech founders, and surviving industry downturns.

Catello shares the turning points that shaped his career: walking away from his PhD to get closer to patients, breaking into VC after years in biotech operations, and the hard decision to leave a fund when partnership opportunities weren’t on the table. He also gives an insider’s view on what people get wrong about venture capital—the pressure of fundraising cycles, the competition for partnership seats, and why the job is far from the traditional perception of “writing checks from a couch.”

And to round things off, he takes on some quick-fire questions, from his daily coffee intake to the advice he wishes he’d heard earlier in his career.

(Find out more in the episode.)

Here’s What You’re In For

• The skills biotech professionals often lack when they first enter VC
• The hard truth about career progression in VC—why few ever make partner
• How the biotech funding downturn is reshaping investor behavior

Timestamps

1:45 – Leaving academia, dropping a PhD, and first steps into industry

4:02 – Pros and cons of entering VC from biotech vs finance-only backgrounds

8:13 – What differentiates Seroba: flat structure, collegiality, and no egos

10:02 – How the biotech recession and closed IPO window reshaped strategies

13:11 – The biggest misconceptions about venture capital work

16:14 – The insecurity of VC careers: five-year fund cycles and job risk

17:29 – Hard lessons: breaking into VC and walking away when promotion wasn’t possible

19:35 – Quick-fire round: coffee habits, books, family life, funniest dinner with Kevin

About Catello

Catello Somma is a Partner at ROA Ventures, where he invests in early-stage life science companies across Europe and North America. His path into venture wasn’t straightforward: after leaving a PhD program to get closer to patients, he built his career in CROs and biotech operations, later completing an MBA to bridge the gap between science and finance.

Before joining Seroba, Catello worked on both sides of the biotech ecosystem, from building operational teams to structuring deals. Currently, he focuses on supporting founders through the toughest parts of the journey: scaling companies, navigating funding cycles, and preparing for exits. Known for his pragmatic approach and emphasis on culture, Catello brings a long-term mindset to venture—balancing the pressures of short-term market shifts with the resilience needed to build enduring biotech businesses.

Connect with Catello:

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/catellosomma/
• Website: https://serobavc.com/

About me

My name is Charles Spence and I lead Discera. After many years working in the life-science recruitment world, I decided to work for myself. Before doing recruitment I graduated with a biomedical degree, have worked in hospitals (including translation work in Seoul, South Korea), and also spent a year working in diabetes research in Stockholm. After doing research and travel, a career in business and science felt the most appropriate.

In 2023, I decided to launch my firm - Discera Search. A firm committed to solving the biggest talent needs of early clinical stage SME biotechs on the East Coast and DACH.

Connect with me:

• LinkedIn: