Time, Fuel, & Money
Time, Fuel, and Money is a conversation for founders, investors, operators, and high-performers who want to understand the deeper forces that shape how we live, build, lead, and make decisions. Hosted by Deborah Moorad, Karim ReFaey, and Vassili Kotlov, the show blends neuroscience, psychology, business, energy, and human behavior—turning complex ideas into practical, emotionally intelligent frameworks.
Each week, we explore what really drives progress: alignment, awareness, relationships, incentives, momentum, and the hidden energy behind ambition. Through stories from biotech, venture capital, government, aviation, engineering, and everyday life, we break down how time, fuel, and money work together—and how they quietly shape careers, companies, and character.
This is not a hustle show. It’s a clarity show.
A place to think deeper, grow wiser, and operate with more intention—without losing your humanity.
New episodes weekly. Join us and rethink the rules.
Time, Fuel, & Money
Exits, Psychedelics & the Timing That Actually Moves Deals
A pragmatic blueprint for founders navigating partnerships, acquisitions & momentum
Episode 23 examines a billion-dollar psychedelic acquisition as a case study in how biotech deals truly unfold. Deb, Karim, and Vassili explore why lean teams outperform bloated ones, how IND/Phase 1 often becomes the real sweet spot, and how stretched timelines quietly kill cap tables. They map how milestones, burn rate, and credible data influence acquirers — and discuss adjacent areas, like lupus and women’s health, where timing and non-dilutive capital may collide.
This episode helps founders think through exits before they’re forced to.
Topics:
- Deal timing & acquisition psychology
- IND/Phase 1 vs. Phase 2 dynamics
- Momentum risk & milestone clarity
- Lean teams vs. inflated burn
- Non-dilutive capital as de-risking
- Psychedelic medicine & pipeline logic
- Protecting founders through early fail/kill decisions