In an exclusive conversation ahead of their panel appearance at SynBioBeta 2025 next week in San Jose, Kristina Simmons, Founder and Managing Partner of Overwater, underscored a critical shift needed in synthetic biology: prioritizing the world’s most pressing problems before selecting the technology to tackle them.

For Simmons, whose career spans investing in and scaling transformative biotech startups, the biggest obstacle to impactful innovation isn’t technological limitations but strategic clarity. "Too many brilliant scientific ideas stay stuck in the lab," she remarked candidly. "Not because they lack merit, but because they aren’t framed around the right problem, positioned to scale, or built to survive today’s market."

This insight forms the foundation of Overwater’s investment philosophy, driving the firm to focus on commercializing technologies that intersect biology with areas like artificial intelligence, data infrastructure, and advanced materials. Simmons sees biology as not just a scientific discipline but a “platform for solving trillion-dollar problems,” capable of addressing critical challenges in climate, healthcare, food security, and beyond.

In her upcoming SynBioBeta talk, Simmons plans to provide guidance for biotech founders navigating today's challenging funding landscape. She will emphasize the importance of narrative in securing investment: "I'll share actionable tips for fundraising in this market: how to communicate technical concepts to generalist investors, how to frame your story around inevitable trends, and how to create urgency without overpromising," Simmons explained. "While this environment is difficult, it also serves as a filter - founders who successfully navigate it will emerge stronger, more focused, and able to move faster.”

Overwater is rapidly becoming known for its bold bets on transformative ventures, illustrating how synthetic biology is merging with broader technological domains to unlock novel capabilities. According to Simmons, the sector’s future lies not in isolated breakthroughs but in integrated innovations where biology meets tech to address macro-level trends. "We’re entering an era where biology intersects profoundly with AI, data, and materials science, creating entirely new types of solutions," she emphasized, underscoring Overwater’s commitment to backing ventures at this intersection.

Above all, Simmons wants the SynBioBeta audience—founders, investors, and industry visionaries alike—to walk away with a clearer, larger vision and practical strategies for execution. "Understanding the macro forces shaping our world and grounding yourself deeply in the problem rather than just the solution," she advised, "is crucial for any biotech founder aiming to achieve meaningful, scalable impact."

Stepping onto the San Jose stage, Simmons embodies her own philosophy: clarity, forward-thinking, and unwavering focus on addressing humanity's most pressing challenges through synthetic biology's transformative potential.