Earning a PhD in Immunology, excelling in venture capital, and competing as a top-tier equestrian, Chris Smith is anything but a one-trick pony.
But what drives his success across such diverse fields? Is it a story of experience, perseverance, or luck? Or is it the unique combination of all these elements that has paved his way?
To explore these questions, we sat down with Chris to discuss his journey—from his early days in biomedical science to becoming a partner at Brandon Capital.
Chris’s journey into biomedical science wasn’t meticulously planned. When choosing a field of study, he attended an open day at the Agricultural Science department, only to be put off by the smell of agar plates. “I nearly vomited,” he recalls.
Flipping through the course catalogue, he landed on ‘immunology’ and decided that’s what he would do because it looked hard. The challenge appealed to his tenacious nature, and his PhD at the Walter and Eliza Hall Institute (WEHI) propelled him into the world of biotech.
And while strong mentorship played a crucial role in shaping his scientific career, so too did his family’s entrepreneurial background. Even during his PhD, Chris knew a career in business was in his future, and his move into venture capital felt like a natural evolution that would combine his scientific and entrepreneurial ambitions.
He quickly learned that biotech investing isn’t just about the science—it’s also about navigating regulatory hurdles, building scalable businesses, and understanding market dynamics. So, once again, rather than shying away from complexity, he embraced it, joining Brandon Capital to learn something challenging.
Chris’s passion for equestrian sports dates back to his childhood, and during his Postdoctoral Studies at the University of Cambridge, he strengthened his love for the sport even further. At first glance, science, business, and equestrianism seem worlds apart, yet he has discovered surprising parallels.
“In both horses and biotech, you can do everything right and still not get the outcome you want,” he explains. The phrase ‘getting back on the horse’ is more than just an idiom. It’s a lesson in resilience. Whether in venture capital, biotech, or sports, setbacks are inevitable. The key is adaptability.
In horse riding, you must adjust to the horse’s mood and circumstances in real-time. Similarly, rigid strategies can lead to failure in venture capital. The ability to pivot and reassess in the face of challenges is essential, whether responding to unexpected scientific data or navigating business uncertainties.
Chris’s ability to pivot in the face of challenges was critical for Aravax. When the 2022 market downturn hit and our original Phase 2b funding strategy became untenable, according to Aravax CEO Pascal Hicky, Chris didn’t retreat—he recalibrated.
“Chris worked closely with us and Brandon’s stakeholders to craft an alternative path: advancing our Australian clinical trial first, which de-risked the program and preserved capital. That kind of agile, pragmatic leadership is why he’s such a valued partner in biotech’s high-stakes world.”
As a leader, Chris hopes to instil resilience in his team. A crucial part of this is redefining what success looks like. A win isn’t always what you expect it to be.
He draws a parallel from equestrian sports: “With horses, the goal is to end every single day with a win. That doesn’t mean winning a competition. It means making progress, no matter how small it is.” This mindset shift applies far beyond the stables.
In biotech, a ‘win’ could mean reframing negative data into a new opportunity. Here’s ENA Respiratory CEO Christophe Demaison on Chris’s response to unexpected lab experiment results.
“When an experiment that didn’t follow the protocols revealed an unexpected immune-boosting effect, Chris helped us reframe the data as an opportunity rather than a setback. By working with our team and consulting experts, he helped us unlock the insight’s dual potential—guiding ENA’s respiratory focus while identifying the cancer applications that led to Axelia Oncology. ”
Whether in the lab, the boardroom, or on horseback, Chris’s story is a testament to the benefits of not just one skill but of applying a resilient and adaptive mindset across multiple endeavours.
“Science and business, like equestrian sports, are team efforts. The best outcomes emerge from collaboration, which brings together diverse expertise and enables collective problem-solving and overcoming challenges. It’s the synergy of these contributions—where the whole becomes greater than the sum of its parts—that drives true innovation and success.”
