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Episode 148

146. Pump It Up: Benji Leibowitz on DAO-ing Science Differently

· 58:23 · Host: Karl Schmieder & Erum Azeez

In this episode of Grow Everything , hosts Karl Schmieder and Erum Azeez talk with Benji Leibowitz, Co-Founder of Pump Science, about what it really means to be “DAO-ing science differently.” From the early days of Molecule DAO to today’s crypto-native platform for funding longevity and nootropics…

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Chapters

  1. 00:00:00 — Welcome to the Grow Everything Podcast
  2. 00:00:49 — Proposed U.S. budget cuts to research
  3. 00:01:59 — How jargon fuels skepticism in science
  4. 00:02:25 — China's bioeconomy surpassing U.S. in biotech investment
  5. 00:04:31 — Rising gut imbalance in infants: My Baby Biome study
  6. 00:06:35 — Billionaires investing heavily in longevity research
  7. 00:08:21 — Wishing for more entertaining "fun" billionaires
  8. 00:10:26 — Meet Benji
  9. 00:13:07 — Rebuilding healthcare and biotech from scratch (DeSci)
  10. 00:15:15 — From tokenizing biotech IP to Pump Science’s new model
  11. 00:18:09 — Focusing on longevity to attract crypto investors
  12. 00:23:56 — Optimizing experiments with C. elegans worms
  13. 00:27:47 — A high-velocity "casino" model backed by real IP
  14. 00:33:18 — Launching compound tokens on a bonding curve
  15. 00:36:36 — Funding research through small trading fees
  16. 00:40:34 — Gamifying research: rewarding top-performing compounds ("King of the Pill")
  17. 00:43:23 — Using live streams for trust and funding transparency (DeSci)
  18. 00:46:35 — "Fly races" as entertainment and a longevity indicator
  19. 00:48:56 — Excitement for performance enhancement and nootropics (Pump Science)
  20. 00:50:14 — Rapid-fire guest Q&A
  21. 00:51:32 — Advice for newcomers to Pump Science
  22. 00:53:06 — Reflecting on the guest's model for funding science
  23. 00:55:31 — DeSci’s potential to build a parallel healthcare system

Show notes

In this episode of Grow Everything, hosts Karl Schmieder and Erum Azeez talk with Benji Leibowitz, Co-Founder of Pump Science, about what it really means to be “DAO-ing science differently.” From the early days of Molecule DAO to today’s crypto-native platform for funding longevity and nootropics research, Benji explains how decentralized science (DeSci) can rebuild healthcare and biotech from the ground up. By combining bonding curves, tokenized IP, and radical transparency with live-streamed worm and fly experiments, Pump Science is transforming science into an attention game that’s fast, fun, and open to everyone. Tune in to hear how DAO-driven models are unlocking underfunded areas like longevity, attracting crypto investors, and creating a new culture where research is not only transparent but also entertaining.

Grow Everything brings the bioeconomy to life. Hosts Karl Schmieder and Erum Azeez Khan share stories and interview the leaders and influencers changing the world by growing everything. Biology is the oldest technology. And it can be engineered. What are we growing?

Learn more at www.messaginglab.com/groweverything


Chapters:

  • (00:00:00) Welcome to the Grow Everything Podcast

  • (00:00:49) Proposed U.S. budget cuts to research

  • (00:01:59) How jargon fuels skepticism in science

  • (00:02:25) China's bioeconomy surpassing U.S. in biotech investment

  • (00:04:31) Rising gut imbalance in infants: My Baby Biome study

  • (00:06:35) Billionaires investing heavily in longevity research

  • (00:08:21) Wishing for more entertaining "fun" billionaires

  • (00:10:26) Meet Benji

  • (00:13:07) Rebuilding healthcare and biotech from scratch (DeSci)

  • (00:15:15) From tokenizing biotech IP to Pump Science’s new model

  • (00:18:09) Focusing on longevity to attract crypto investors

  • (00:23:56) Optimizing experiments with C. elegans worms

  • (00:27:47) A high-velocity "casino" model backed by real IP

  • (00:33:18) Launching compound tokens on a bonding curve

  • (00:36:36) Funding research through small trading fees

  • (00:40:34) Gamifying research: rewarding top-performing compounds ("King of the Pill")

  • (00:43:23) Using live streams for trust and funding transparency (DeSci)

  • (00:46:35) "Fly races" as entertainment and a longevity indicator

  • (00:48:56) Excitement for performance enhancement and nootropics (Pump Science)

  • (00:50:14) Rapid-fire guest Q&A

  • (00:51:32) Advice for newcomers to Pump Science

  • (00:53:06) Reflecting on the guest's model for funding science

  • (00:55:31) DeSci’s potential to build a parallel healthcare system


Episode Links:

Topics Covered: 

Decentralized science, DAO, longevity, open science, crypto science 

  

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About Grow Everything

Grow Everything reveals the world of biology as technology. Hosts Erum Azeez Khan and Karl Schmieder talk with the founders, scientists, and executives biologizing entire industries — biomaterials from waste, precision fermentation, cultivated food — and unpack how the bioeconomy is solving health and climate challenges. Winner of SynBioBeta's 2026 Impact Award.

See all 202 episodes of Grow Everything →

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