Damien Fleetwood: always an R&D problem to work through
The Biotelliga team takes a collective break over summer – although the plants and microbes the deeptech firm works with will still be on the job.
Dr Damien Fleetwood is CEO of Biotelliga, an Auckland-based company developing natural agricultural crop protection technologies based on fungi.
The company’s solutions are designed to minimise the environmental impacts usually associated with chemical sprays used to protect crops, while also helping grow stronger, more productive plants.
How long are you taking off over the Xmas New Year break?
I’ll be taking at least the time between the Christmas and New Year public holidays, and likely another week in January. It’s been a long year and I am looking forward to doing nothing much for a while!
Where are you planning to go?
We’ll be pretty local this year – a few days with my wife’s family for Christmas in Waihi Beach and down to my mum in the Waikato at some point, but mostly we’ll stick around home. There’s a pretty relaxing vibe in Auckland over that period when it’s quiet.
How do you plan to keep the business going while you do?
Biotelliga closes for a summer break so we’re all on holiday and the business can manage a short shut-down. I think it’s important that everyone has a summer break to unwind. Having said that, we’re a clean crop protection company and the plants and microbes we work with can’t take holidays so our wonderful facility manager will come in a few times to keep everything healthy and ready to hit the ground running in 2024.
In previous years have your holidays been disrupted?
A few years back I had to cancel a family trip to Morocco to be here for a business meeting. My wife and I are still pretty dark about that.
How often will you take work calls or check emails?
We work with a lot of international partners that might not take much time off in December/January so I’ll be checking emails regularly and possibly have a meeting or two, but nothing major.
What was your biggest headache or problem at work in 2023?
We’re a deeptech company so there is always an R&D problem to work through. Like most startup CEOs my biggest headache, though, is making sure there is sufficient funding to keep the business growing as planned. In 2023 I spent a great deal of time on capital raising. We succeeded in that by having amazing partners, supportive directors and a unique and game-changing technology offering.
What’s one thing you want to achieve in 2024?
I’m hoping the Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) will get around to assessing Biotelliga’s application to register our flagship biofungicide product for controlling crop disease and making the environment a little cleaner!
Damien Fleetwood’s answers are part of a two-week series Break from Business as Usual Caffeine is running leading up to and during the Xmas break, featuring startup founders and ecosystem players.
As told to Caitlin Sykes
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