Biohouse

Warrior Spirit. Startup Spirit.

How to survive a long crisis without losing your core.

After a long period of war, prolonged uncertainty, and one of the hardest environments biotech startups have faced in recent years, many founders are operating under constant pressure. Teams are tired. Fundraising is slower. Global investors are more hesitant. And in many cases, survival itself has become the challenge.

Sources:
Protect runway — but protect your core:
Lou Shipley, Harvard Business Review — 5 Ways Startups Can Prepare for a Recession (2022)
Nitin Nohria et al., Harvard Business Review — Case Study: How Should a Start-Up Cut Its Burn Rate? (2023)

Communicate early, clearly, and consistently:
McKinsey — How to communicate effectively in times of uncertainty (2020) McKinsey — A leader’s guide to crisis communication during coronavirus (2020) McKinsey — Leadership in a crisis: How leaders can support their organizations during the COVID-19 crisis and recovery.

Build resilience into the system
McKinsey — Raising the resilience of your organization (2022)
McKinsey — What is psychological safety? (2023)
Harvard Business Review — High-Performing Teams Need Psychological Safety—Here’s How to Create It (2017)
BioPharma Dive — Biotech ‘megarounds’ hold steady as startups, VCs wait on IPOs (April 3, 2025)
BioPharma Dive — A longer ‘winter’: Public funding slowdown heightens pressure on biotech startups (June 20, 2025)