BK

Bikul Koirala

Entrepreneur | Investor | Mentor | Startups

Fort Collins, Colorado

Work Experience

  • Co-Founder

    2016 - 2021

    Lacuna’s proprietary digital platform creates an integrated network of hospitals and pathologists, provides remote, near instant interpretation of diagnostic images by a veterinary pathologist, and eliminates the physical mailing of specimens to a laboratory for pathology review. Lacuna is now part of Heska Corporation after being acquired in February 2021.

  • Chief Executive Officer

    2018 - 2020

    - Evaluated the Veterinary diagnostic market to position our products and services appropriately. - Established and maintained strong relationships with investors, veterinary industry leaders, clients, suppliers, and team members within the organization. - Led fundraising, financial modeling, and forecasting to build and scale Lacuna in a capital-efficient manner. - Strategically put the right people in the right roles and, most importantly, that they had all the resources to excel. - Built a culture of innovation through open collaboration, radical candor, and meritocratic decision frameworks.

2012 - 2018

  • Co-Founder

    2012 - 2018

    Kduo started in 2010 when I couldn't find any apps for reading news or listening to radios from Nepal, my native country. Starting in 2011, we expanded into 60+ developing countries. Since then, we have shifted our focus to a passion of mine: helping people learn better through technology. Currently, Kduo builds learning apps, mainly for sciences.

  • Sr. Chemist

    2014 - 2015

  • Sr. Research Associate

    2013 - 2014

    • Successfully implemented a rapid amino acid analysis technique for fermentation samples improving sample throughput by 200% and turn around time by 350% • Supported Lab and Pilot scale fermentation groups’ routine and non-routine analytical needs (UPLC, LC-MS, Kit based assays) • Led small molecules identification/characterization to support carbon closure and improve understanding of microbial metabolic pathways • Developed new methods and maintained/troubleshot current ones as need arises • Implemented data visualization tools to help compare strains and fermentation conditions • Trained new researchers on existing analytical techniques • Analyzed and interpreted analytical results to spot trends and identify errors/outliers

  • Research Associate

    2011 - 2013

    • Supported Lab and Pilot scale fermentation groups’ routine and non-routine analytical needs (UPLC, LC-MS, Kit based assays) • Led small molecules identification/characterization to support carbon closure and improve understanding of microbial metabolic pathways • Developed new methods and maintained/troubleshot current ones as need arises

  • Research Associate

    2009 - 2011

    • Led analytical method development (GC, HPLC, GC/LC-MS) and instrument acquisition critical to experimental efforts • Develop and Perform lab-scale and pilot scale experiments aimed at optimizing the methods and equipment of fermentation(Corn, Sugercane, Municipal Waste) and product isolation • Downstream purification design and optimization of fermentation products. • Worked closely with internal/external team to perform proteomics and metabolomics analysis to aid in successful microbial engineering • Developed a novel catalyst systems for the production of guerbet alcohols • Researched and performed ASTM testing on final fermentation products to prepare industry standard product spec sheets • Optimized and performed a wide range of wet chemistry and molecular biology tests to support a dynamic bioenergy research group • Routinely generated required supporting materials for patent and regulatory approval filings • Actively involved in formulation of research goals • Routinely organized, analyzed, and summarized experimental results • Trained technicians in execution of routine analyses and new methods and instruments • Prepare and maintain standard operating procedures (SOP)

  • Analytical Consultant

    2008 - 2009

    • Consulted in analytical method development and instrument acquisition (GC, HPLC) • Prepared and maintained standard operating procedures for analysis of fermentation substrates and products

  • Analytical Chemist

    2008 - 2009

    • Gas and liquid sample preparation for stable Isotope ratio analysis (C,H,N,S,O) • Isotopic analysis of groundwater and surface samples • • Operation and maintenance of Isotope ratio Mass spectrometer

  • Teaching Assistant

    2006 - 2008

    Two years of academic teaching experience in Instrumental and Organic Chemistry Laboratories at Idaho State University. Labs taught include General Chemistry; Introduction to General Chemistry, Organic and Biochemistry, and Quantitative Analysis.

  • Undergraduate and Graduate Research Assistant

    2005 - 2008

    Use of GC-MS techniques for identification of archeological samples via extraction, transesterification, and analysis of fatty acids to determine the source(s) of the residue with the view of increasing our understanding of history and civilization of particular geographical area. Supervisor, Dr. Jeffrey Rosentreter.

  • Research Assistant

    2005 - 2008

    • Performed laboratory research on behavioral and neurochemical studies of ethanol dependence and withdrawal in a lab animal model using techniques like Radioimmunoassay, Gel Electrophoresis, Western Blotting, LC-MS, Immunocytochemistry, and Mammalian hippocampal slice culture • Wrote technical papers, reports, and standard operating procedures • Presented findings in regional and national meetings, and prepared manuscripts for publications • Played active role in design and coordination of experiments and personnel scheduling

  • Program Residence Coordinator

    2005 - 2005

    My duties included welcoming ELS students to Idaho State University, managing their accommodation, providing them with local and campus information, matching them with interested residents as roommates so as to better help them learn English, and helping them cope with the language, cultural, and traditional changes.