Feature Article | Leen Kawas on Rethinking Biotech’s Geographic Future: What If Innovation Success Isn’t About Location, But About Who It Serves?
- chance51029
- Oct 16
- 1 min read
Leen Kawas, Managing General Partner at Propel Bio Partners, is challenging the geographic and demographic concentration of biotech innovation. While California and Massachusetts receive nearly 70% of U.S. biotech funding, Kawas focuses on underserved regions and populations, investing in companies like Inherent Biosciences, Persephone Biosciences, and OmniVis. These firms are developing equitable solutions across male infertility, infant gut health, and global disease detection.
Her investment model emphasizes economic efficiency, health equity, and long-term sustainability—proving that groundbreaking biotech doesn’t need to come from coastal hubs. By prioritizing accessibility and inclusivity, Kawas is redrawing the biotech map, showing that the most impactful innovations arise from expanding who and where biotech serves.