AI Is the Hype. Biotech Is the Hope

By: Tugba Oncu | LvlUp Venture Scout

When I hear people talk about the “next big thing” in innovation—AI, robotics, synthetic  biology—it’s hard not to notice how fast the spotlight shifts. Every few years, a new  technology dominates the conversation. But here’s the thing: not all innovation moves fast.  Some of the most meaningful breakthroughs take decades, and those are the ones that  quietly save lives. 

I learned that the hard way. I lost three siblings to preventable diseases. And truthfully, I  wasn’t supposed to survive either. I was born in Cappadocia, in a small rural town in Turkey,  where access to advanced medical care was limited. But one vaccine, developed through  U.S. healthcare innovation and distributed through global health programs, reached our  town just in time. That vaccine saved my life. 

That experience shaped everything that came after. It’s the reason I studied biotechnology,  the reason I believe deeply in science, and the reason I dedicate my career to helping  founders who are trying to make sure stories like mine become less rare. I’ve seen what  happens when science meets persistence and capital meets purpose. It’s not just  business—it’s survival. 

The problem is that venture capital doesn’t always reward patience. Investors often chase  what scales fastest and exits quickest. The current hype around AI is a perfect example.  Money is pouring into algorithms that write essays or generate code, while life-saving  research struggles for attention and funding. Fast Company recently argued that venture  capital may actually be hurting innovation by over-prioritizing growth. I think they’re right.  Innovation isn’t supposed to move at the speed of social media trends. It’s supposed to  move at the speed of discovery. 

Real progress takes time. Research from IMD highlighted that true startup success  depends not just on a great idea, but on eight critical factors: execution, timing, team,  adaptability, and a deep understanding of the market among them. Biotech startups live  this reality every day. They can’t skip clinical validation or regulatory hurdles. They can’t  “fail fast” when lives are at stake. They must be precise, rigorous, and relentlessly patient. 

Investing in biotech isn’t a short-term play—it’s a long-term responsibility. While AI  reshapes our digital landscape, biotechnology is rewriting the human one. It’s finding ways  to cure rare diseases, extend life expectancy, and prevent future pandemics. It may not  deliver exponential returns overnight, but when it pays or, the reward isn’t just financial— it’s human.

Harvard Business Review once wrote that innovation inside large organizations depend on  changing incentives and embracing risk in new ways. The same applies to the biotech  ecosystem. We need investors willing to think beyond quarterly returns and understand  that the real value of innovation lies in endurance. The returns from biotech aren’t  measured in click-through rates—they’re measured in people who get to live another year. 

When I work with biotech founders today, I never forget where I came from. I think about my  siblings, about the nurse who gave me that vaccine, and about the chain of researchers,  policymakers, and investors who made that moment possible. That single act of innovation  rippled through generations—it gave me a future. 

That’s why I’ll keep saying this: yes, AI will change the world, but biotech will keep it alive.  The real challenge isn’t choosing one over the other—it’s remembering which one gives us  the time to build everything else.