SCI Ventures (Episode 133)
Guest: Adrien Cohen
In this episode, we reflect on the power of showing up—not just physically, but with purpose, passion, and skill. We're just getting back from Madison, Wisconsin, where our incredible advocates continue to show up for spinal cord injury legislation there.
Our guest today is Adrien Cohen, the head of SCI Ventures - a philanthropic venture fund for spinal cord injury. Adrien dove into this work after his brother sustained a spinal cord injury, bringing his unique expertise in biotech, fundraising, and venture capital to the table. His story is a compelling example of how personal passion combined with professional skill can drive real change.
We cover a lot of ground in this episode, including how Adrien got from family crisis to biotech innovation, the challenges and opportunities in funding novel therapies, and why showing up matters—and how each of us can contribute in our own way.
Listen on: Spotify | Apple Podcasts | Soundcloud
Bumper music: Dig a Hole by Freaque
Guest Bio
Adrien Cohen is a tech entrepreneur and investor based in the UK. He has co-founded two companies that became unicorns: Tractable AI, one of the world’s largest computer vision companies, and Lazada, the leading e-commerce player in South East Asia acquired by Alibaba for $3bn. When Adrien’s brother Fabrice sustained a spinal cord injury 4 years ago, Adrien went on a journey to understand how to best help. He saw cutting-edge research in labs—but no clear path to bring it to patients. That personal journey sparked SCI Ventures – the first venture philanthropic fund that Adrien currently leads as Founding Managing Director.
SCI Ventures was initiated by the Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation and has garnered the support of leading institutions around the world that co-founded the initiative: Shepherd Center, Wings for Life, Spinal Research and Promobilia. Adrien graduated with a Master’s degree in Business from HEC Paris and from Tsinghua University in Beijing, and has been named by the FT as one of the UK’s top 100 entrepreneurs.
Connect with Adrien Cohen here:
- Email: adrien@sciventures.com
- Website: www.sciventures.com
- LinkedIn: @SCI Ventures | @Adrien Cohen
Related Coverage
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Launch highlights growth of venture philanthropy to boost search for treatments and cures.
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Global early-stage fund to catalyze development of the next generation of treatments. Backers include the leading spinal cord injury foundations in the U.S., U.K., and EU
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A $40 million London-based fund backed by the Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation, among others, today unveils its first major investment – and Cambridge AI drug discovery company Healx is the beneficiary.
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