Samet Yildirim

Samet Yildirim is a visionary biotech entrepreneur and four-time startup founder with a track record of translating breakthrough scientific concepts into scalable, real-world solutions. As Co-Founder and Chief Business Officer of HexemBio, he is leading the development of a novel platform centered on a synthetic human yolk sac to rejuvenate and expand blood stem cells, with applications spanning transplantation, gene editing, immunotherapy, and longevity. With deep expertise across biopharmaceutical development, advanced manufacturing, and regulatory strategy, Samet has consistently operated at the intersection of science, engineering, and commercialization. He has built and led high-performing, cross-functional teams that deliver measurable impact, from early-stage innovation through clinical and commercial readiness. Prior to founding HexemBio, Samet spent nearly a decade at Boehringer Ingelheim, where he served as Global Head of Technology and Innovation within the Biopharma Business Unit. In this role, he led a global portfolio of over 100 innovation programs, driving advancements in continuous bioprocessing, automation, digital CMC, and next-generation manufacturing technologies. His work included close collaboration with regulatory bodies such as the FDA’s Emerging Technologies Office, helping accelerate the adoption of novel biopharmaceutical technologies across the industry. Following his tenure at Boehringer Ingelheim, Samet founded Y Combinator-backed biotech company Orbillion Bio. At Orbillion, he built the company’s core strategy and operations, advancing scalable cell production and bioprocess development in the cellular agriculture space. Company raised significant venture funding and was ultimately acquired. Samet’s work is driven by a consistent theme: pushing the boundaries of what is possible in biotechnology by not only engineering around cells, but fundamentally improving the cells themselves. He is particularly focused on unlocking new therapeutic paradigms that can extend human healthspan and redefine how diseases are treated. He holds a Master of Business and Science from Keck Graduate Institute and a Master of Science in Biophysics from Ankara University. He also serves on the advisory board of the Amgen Bioprocessing Center at KGI, where he actively supports the next generation of biotech leaders.