How AI Is Changing The Way Small Biotechs Grow And Compete – Real Talk With Tyson Kamikawa
In biotech, speed and scale can’t come at the cost of security or sanity. As AI tools flood the market, figuring out what’s actually valuable and what’s noise is more critical than ever.
I sat down with Tyson Kamikawa, VP of IT at Syndax Pharmaceuticals, to talk about building biotech companies the smart way with good data, strong systems, and a clear sense of business value. Tyson’s journey spans IBM, defense research, and now launching multiple commercial drugs in biotech.
We get into the real state of AI in the industry, the importance of reducing data sprawl, and why project management is often the unsung hero of IT success. He also shares how his musical side keeps him grounded and what biotech can learn from a great band.
AI is here to stay, but it’s only useful if it serves the mission. If you’re building a team or tech strategy from the ground up, you’re going to want to hear this one. One practical move at a time.
Specifically, this episode highlights the following themes:
- What AI is and isn’t doing for small biotech teams
- Why project management and data simplicity still matter
- How IT creates business value beyond the tools
Links from this episode:
- Get to know more about Steven Swan: https://www.linkedin.com/in/swangroup
- Get to know more about Tyson Kamikawa: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kamikawa
- Learn more about Syndax: https://syndax.com/
==== Time Stamps ====
00:00 – Introduction
01:15 – Tyson’s early career and path to biotech
03:23 – Launching four drugs (and what’s not normal)
06:23 – Evolution of tech: from mainframes to the cloud
07:12 – What AWS outages reveal about cloud consolidation
12:01 – The hype vs. reality of AI in small companies
16:00 – The real business value of IT
22:55 – Why project management is where value gets unlocked
30:29 – The work in the middle: connecting functions
34:39 – Data chaos vs. good governance
40:05 – Will everyone have an AI assistant for their role?
43:39 – Why you never outsource your brain
47:50 – Music, the Ukuleles, and finding balance
