VedaBio

VedaBio is a 35-person, Series A biotechnology company pioneering the use of CRISPR in molecular detection. Based in San Diego, CA, Veda is developing the first molecular detection method with digital-like features: on/off switches, easily programmable, and massively scalable.

How did you hear about Pliancy, and what made us stand out from the competition?

One of our Scientific Advisory Board members referred us to you. I think I interviewed four different IT companies. You definitely weren’t the cheapest option, you weren’t the most expensive—somewhere in the middle. Besides price, everything you offered to us just made sense, and we wanted the level of service that you provided.

Other companies told us we needed this, that, and the other in order to be successful, even though my feeling was that we already had so much equipment and we didn’t want to get more.

When Pliancy came to look at our labs, conference rooms, and server room, it felt different. You told us what we needed and why, but you also told us what we didn’t need. It was a relief to hear, “We can work with what you have.”

Close client-consultant relationships are the bedrock of our support model. Coming from a traditional MSP, did you have any hesitations about being assigned a single Pliancy contact?

It actually sold us on Pliancy more, knowing that there would be one direct person to go to. Having a go-to contact gave us a sense of ease. We knew we could go to Jimmy [Josan, primary consultant] and have that one-on-one perspective. We definitely see eye-to-eye on things and he makes my life so much easier. I can text him, I can call him; talking to him is like talking to a friend.

What was your initial impression of your primary consultant, Jimmy, and how has he integrated with the team at VedaBio?

We immediately felt that Jimmy would fit in well. He comes to the office at least once a week, sits with the team, and talks with us. We know what’s going on in his life; he knows what’s going on in our lives. We have a level of comfort that you don’t develop if you’re only talking to someone through a screen, online, or over the phone. It definitely feels like he’s part of the team. Instead of feeling like a third party, it feels like Jimmy is in-house.

There was a moment we still talk about, about a month or two months after we started working with Pliancy. We had gotten a new piece of equipment delivered, and the delivery company had left it outside the lab. This is a thousand-pound machine; it’s gigantic. We had no idea how we were going to get it in.

Jimmy happened to be there, offered to help, and helped us literally carry this machine into our lab. It didn’t have anything to do with IT or with his job, but he jumped in to help with no hesitation. That told us what we needed to know about Jimmy.

What has been your experience working with other Pliancy team members?

Everyone’s willingness to step in, do the work, and help out has been huge. The rest of the team has taken great care of us in the rare cases Jimmy isn’t available, and it’s great to know that he has that support behind him.

Jon [Schwartz, managing consultant for San Diego & Austin] came by and introduced himself to me in person. I took him around the office so he could see the facility, and he made a point to say, “I’m a lot closer than Jimmy is [geographically], so if there’s ever an emergency, I can stop by.”

Dave [Gargula, consultant] also stopped by last week because our power went out and all of our conference rooms went offline. He emailed me saying he was down the street and could swing by, and I didn’t have to think twice. He handled it like it was no big deal. He’s great, so completely polite and nice, and so easy to work with.

Pliancy consultants just have that level of friendliness and communication. I know Pliancy hires well; I trust that any Pliancy team member would give us the same level of service and build the same kind of relationship with me.

“You told us what we needed and why, but you also told us what we didn’t need. It was a relief to hear, ‘We can work with what you have.’”

How has an in-person IT presence improved VedaBio’s technology experience?

There have definitely been instances where it’s been super helpful to have Jimmy on site. During a board meeting, our presentation stopped working. He happened to be in the office, so I grabbed him. He quickly identified the problem and saved the day. It was huge. 

Even without a fire drill, he’s always busy when he’s in the office. People will pop by and ask, “Hey, Jimmy, can you help me with this?” They’re not end-of-the-world issues, but because he’s here and he can help, it makes all our lives easier to have him take a look. He has been great supporting us on a day-to-day basis. 

At previous companies, and even with our previous IT provider, I never saw our IT partners in person. They were local and could have stopped by—but I never met them once. I would Zoom with them and their cameras would be off, so there was no personal connection. There’s something different about seeing someone’s face and talking to them in person. I think it’s vital to build relationships and have that level of trust. Even when he’s not in, I know that Jimmy is only a text or a phone call away.

How does Pliancy’s knowledge and experience complement your own?

My specialty is not the lab; I run the office and wear a lot of other hats. Jimmy and our Pliancy team have a solid understanding of office space and IT equipment—and they completely understand labs and what labs need. It’s been great for me because he has knowledge that I don’t. If a scientist says the lab needs something, Jimmy can tell me whether that request is necessary or not. He has the right knowledge to be able to push back.

He also has a great sense of confidentiality. I handle HR, so I work with Jimmy on onboardings, terminations, and other sensitive issues. He’s completely professional about everything, and I know I can trust him. He’s helped from a process standpoint, too. When we first started working together, I would email Jimmy every time there was a new hire. He suggested using a form to collect and track the information, which has reduced mistakes and made my life easier during both onboarding and offboarding.

I appreciate that when we have someone new, he literally sits down and sets them up on their first day. Our previous provider never came in-person to onboard new people. It was all done virtually or over the phone, which made the onboarding process more difficult to manage. Jimmy spends time with new hires, teaches them [about our systems], does the whole onboarding spiel. He takes it right off my plate.

Anything else to add?

All I can say is great things. I know that my CEO is super happy that we chose you, and we’d recommend you to any other company that might ask about our experience.

“Pliancy consultants just have that level of friendliness and communication. I know Pliancy hires well; I trust that any Pliancy team member would give us the same level of service and build the same kind of relationship with me.”