Giles Shih is a Founder-in-Residence who specializes in Food and Ag Tech at CED. Giles is an experienced life sciences entrepreneur who started, grew, and sold an ag biotech company focused on animal health and nutrition. When Giles first launched his company, BRI (now part of Novus International), in 1999, he quickly realized the importance of having a strong entrepreneurial network. Looking back, he recognizes that CED played a pivotal role in his journey.
“There’s so much you don’t know when starting a company,” he shared. “CED provided access to valuable mentors, advisors, and a community that helped us navigate challenges.”
For Giles, CED is an essential part of the entrepreneurial ecosystem. “Entrepreneurship is a team sport,” he said. “It takes legal, financial, and technical expertise, things you don’t always realize you need until someone points them out. CED connects entrepreneurs with people who have been there before and can guide them through the process.”
One of the most impactful experiences for Giles was participating in Fast Trac Tech, a program that introduced him to business planning and startup fundamentals. “I hadn’t really considered entrepreneurship until I had the opportunity to start my company,” he said. “Through CED, I made key legal and financial connections that were crucial to our growth.”
Another standout moment was attending Venture Connect, where he engaged with high-caliber entrepreneurs, investors, and board members. “I had a conversation with a venture capitalist who talked about ‘not knowing what you don’t know’—that phrase really stuck with me.”
Now serving as a Founder-in-Residence, Giles sees CED evolving to provide more hands-on mentorship. “There’s an increasing need for tactical support—one-on-one meetings, targeted advice, and real-time guidance,” he explained. “CED is making great strides in this area, reflecting what the startup community truly needs.”
For those considering getting involved with CED, Giles’ advice is to “Trust the process and trust the network. At first, I was skeptical—what could CED offer that I didn’t already know? But I quickly realized that the unknowns in entrepreneurship are where CED provides the most value. Be open to learning, take a chance, and engage fully. There will be returns on that investment”
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