I was ticked off.

Being unreasonable can be an advantage, as it allows you to dismiss the doubters, manage the challenges and not let frustration undermine your conviction.

For the past couple of years, I've been chasing someone who I thought likely to become an investor in Right Brain Bio.

He was a financial wiz with experience in repurposing drugs. He ran a fund that seemed aligned with Right Brain's mission and our operational path forward. But I could not make it happen.

Then I met someone who wondered why that very person was not one of my investors. She offered to introduce me. Within minutes of the email introduction, I was invited to meet with this potential investor. I was psyched!

I want to make sure I am fair - it was a friendly, supportive and constructive conversation. The person understood the potential impact of RB-190 and the operational progress we've already made in our pursuit to conquer Parkinson's. He generously walked through my pitch, providing useful feedback. The conversation was going well, until he lowered the boom.

First, he shared that he no longer was part of that fund that seemed to be such a good match. Next, he explained why his current fund would not be interested - as their investment strategy purposefully avoided early stage biotech companies.

Then the conversation shifted to him sharing with me several reasons why Right Brain Bio would not be successful - none of which were scientific or clinical. They were all about how the financial market conditions have shifted investors' interest from companies like Right Brain Bio, just as his fund has shifted, to late stage and AI-fueled opportunities.

This was where I got ticked off. Not at him or the conversation but rather, by his insights about the investment community.

The good news

Here's more evidence that I am the right person to be doing what I am doing to conquer Parkinson's. I was ticked off that beyond the scientific, operational and regulatory barriers to overcome, the financial market is not cooperating for the benefit of Right Brain Bio (or any other biotech startup). I was angry.

A few hours later, as I was reviewing data showing that RB-190 is a safe drug for human use, I realized I wasn't angry anymore. The feedback I'd heard on this call would force any reasonable person to consider abandoning the project.

The good news is that I realized once again that I am not such a reasonable person. This was just another hurdle - not an impenetrable barrier. Instead of accepting defeat and quitting, I had shifted my focus to the next task. And by completing that task, the project moved further forward, towards launching the clinical trials and conquering Parkinson's.