My life in 3 chapters

Chapter One –

Born from the love of a hospital receptionist and a recently graduated military officer that started with offering a ride home on a rainy day and culminated with my birth and my brother’s three and half years later. Upon my parent’s separation, I started to live my own life and at age 14 left home where I was living with my mom, brother, half-sister, and stepfather. I moved to Veracruz to study aquaculture on a technical high school as I was always attracted to the ocean, and since I was a very young boy wanted to be a marine biologist.

After high school I came back to Mexico City for one year to enroll in the military engineer’s academy in a try to become a chemical engineer, but after that, I realized that my passion was for marine biology and continued into that path by enrolling at the undergrad program at the Autonomous University in La Paz, Baja California Sur. After graduating, started working as Research Associate at an Institute in La Paz, got an opportunity for a one-year internship in Germany to learn about molecular genetics, and returned to La Paz to enroll in a master’s program on marine sciences.  I finished the master’s with honors which helped me to get a full scholarship for my PhD at Scripps Institution of Oceanography, the best school in the world for graduate studies on marine biology.

Chapter Two-

There are no words to describe the sense of pride, accomplishment, and excitement to have been accepted into the doctorate program at SIO with a full scholarship. September 15, 1995, marked the beginning of a pursuit on science and biotechnology that opened a window into the fascinating world of microbes, and ways to harness them. I had the fortune to learn from great minds and warranted my first job upon being the first student in my class to graduate. My first job in a biotech company in San Diego equipped me well to start my second job launching the discovery program at Synthetic Genomics with Craig Venter, who mapped the human genome before. After 8 very intense years I was recruited to a startup company in Boston. On a very rapid ascent on growth and valuation after 3 years I left that company to start Solarea Bio.

The seemingly intuitive idea that fresh fruits and vegetables are healthy in part due to the microbes they contain enabled me to create the idea, build a business plan, assemble an all-star team of entrepreneurs, advisors, and investors. We have created products and experiences that can improve the life of many people in need including postmenopausal women and people with rheumatoid arthritis.

Chapter Three-

The Boston marathon was always on my bucket list. After completing 3 ironman races it seemed somehow attainable. A new injury on my right knee after three surgeries over the last 25 years prompted my doctor to recommend me his best course of treatment which was to get a knee replacement. The orthopedist I was referred said “too old to fix but too young to replace” and gave me a PT program and a possibility to rehabilitate.

I joined a Masonic Lodge on my town, and the Master asked me if I wanted to run the marathon for a charity to help local students and seniors in need. I accepted the challenge and trained. On race day, running, jogging, and walking completed the race, raised funds as well for a local charity promoting active lifestyles as way to improve health. Two years later I’m now training to qualify on my age group, Solarea Bio is entering a commercial phase and I have continued to peel off the secrets of life one layer at the time. I’m starting my 3rd chapter with excitement, enjoyment, and expectation.