Watch the show on television by downloading the SuperCrowd.tv Channel app to your Roku or Amazon Fire TV or e360tv channel app to your Roku, LG or Amazon Fire TV. You can also see it on YouTube.
Devin: What is your superpower?
Jason: I like to think that we are people with big brains and small egos. If we are high-impact, low-ego folks and we keep our eye on the ball, that’s a recipe for success no matter what industry you’re in.
NextGen Scientific is turning an ancient Middle Eastern medicinal plant into a modern platform for cancer drug development and wellness products.
In this episode, I spoke with Jason West, co-founder of NextGen Scientific, a PurposeBuilt100™ company recognized for combining growth with measurable impact. Jason explained that the company operates along two related tracks: Hyatt Life Sciences, its dietary supplement business and Genzada Pharmaceuticals, its drug discovery and development company.
The common thread is chemistry.
Jason described the company’s work with Arum palestinum, a plant that grows wild in the Middle East and has long been used there as a tea. That history is what pulled the scientific team in.
“What caught our attention was that there are references to the use of this plant as a medicinal plant going all the way back to the 9th century AD,” Jason said. “For 1,100 years, it’s been in continuous use.”
That kind of longevity raised a serious scientific question for the team: why would people keep using it for more than a millennium if there were no benefit? Jason said NextGen began studying naturally occurring molecules in the plant, ultimately identifying compounds that became the basis for its oncology research.
The company now has two lead oncology or oncology-related drug candidates. One is an oral capsule in clinical trials at Virginia Commonwealth University for late-stage prostate cancer, with trials expected in the Netherlands and Sweden. The other is a topical cream aimed at actinic keratosis, a precancerous skin condition with tens of millions of cases annually in the United States.
Jason emphasized that the goal is not to replace oncologists but to help them. “We feel like we can be just one more tool in the toolbox of the oncologist, and that’s what our ultimate goal is,” he said.
Congratulations to NextGen Scientific LLC on ranking #46 on the 2026 PurposeBuilt100™ list! We’re proud to recognize the company among America’s fastest-growing mission-driven businesses, celebrating the connection between purpose, innovation, and growth. Meet the Class of 2026 — see the full list of winners →
What I found especially compelling is the company’s dual-path strategy. Drug development can be slow, expensive and risky. By building a supplement business alongside the pharmaceutical pipeline, NextGen has created revenue while continuing the long FDA-focused journey.
That strategy emerged organically. In rural Kansas, word spread that the family was working with a tea tied to cancer wellness. People began asking for it. “By the end of the day, I think we were sending about 40 gallons of this tea out a week just to friends and family,” Jason said.
NextGen Scientific is currently raising capital through a Regulation D offering for accredited investors, targeting just over $10 million. Jason said proceeds will help accelerate clinical trials, open new trial fronts and support marketing for the supplement business.
It is exactly the kind of purpose-built growth story I love to celebrate.
tl;dr:
Jason West’s team is translating an ancient Middle Eastern plant into cancer drugs and supplements.
NextGen Scientific pairs Genzada Pharmaceuticals’ clinical pipeline with Hyatt Life Sciences’ wellness products.
Small-town curiosity created unexpected demand, eventually reaching roughly 40 gallons of tea weekly.
A Regulation D raise seeks just over $10 million from accredited investors to accelerate trials.
Low-ego brilliance helps Jason keep hard conversations focused on data, kindness and learning.
How to Develop Low-Ego Brilliance As a Superpower
Jason’s superpower is Low-Ego Brilliance. He describes it as being among people with “big brains and small egos.” For Jason, the combination matters because “if we are high-impact, low-ego folks and we keep our eye on the ball, that’s a recipe for success no matter what industry you’re in.” He connects the idea to persistence, humility and disciplined focus: “You just have to keep on putting one foot in front of the other.” His advice is simple but powerful: “Take the phone call. Always take the phone call.”
Jason shared a story about meeting with an exceptionally smart but highly skeptical person who seemed to have little patience for NextGen’s science. Rather than taking offense or trying to win a personality contest, Jason and his team stayed calm and redirected the conversation to the data. A meeting scheduled for 15 or 20 minutes stretched to about two hours. By the end, the skeptic had become a friend. Jason summed up the lesson this way: “If you have the data on your side, you don’t need to be too big for your britches.”
Build teams with big brains and small egos; value impact over status.
Keep your eye on the ball, especially when the work is long and difficult.
Put one foot in front of the other rather than demanding instant success.
When challenged, redirect the conversation to evidence instead of emotion.
Be kind to skeptics; you can catch more flies with honey than vinegar.
Take the phone call when you can because there is almost always something to learn.
Stay curious, not judgmental, especially when you assume a conversation will not matter.
By following Jason’s example and advice, you can make low-ego brilliance a skill. With practice and effort, you could make it a superpower that enables you to do more good in the world.
Remember, however, that research into success suggests that building on your own superpowers is more important than creating new ones or overcoming weaknesses. You do you!
Guest Profile
Jason West (he/him):
Executive Vice President, NextGen Scientific
About NextGen Scientific: NextGen Scientific is a biotechnology and life sciences company dedicated to advancing innovative oncology research and developing evidence-based therapeutic solutions. Focused on cancer research, tumor biology, precision therapeutics, and plant-based pharmaceutical and bioactive compounds, the company works to bridge the gap between scientific discovery and real-world healthcare impact. Through translational medicine, preclinical research, intellectual property development, and a disciplined, research-driven approach, NextGen Scientific is building novel, scalable solutions designed to advance the future of cancer care and therapeutic innovation.
Operating at the intersection of biotechnology, healthcare innovation, and commercial strategy, NextGen Scientific has developed a dual-entity model that combines biotechnology development with a revenue-generating wellness platform. Alongside its oncology pipeline, the company brings science-backed nutraceutical and metabolic wellness products to market, creating a sustainable engine to support continued research and growth. As NextGen Scientific expands its oncology pipeline, patent portfolio, and commercialization strategy, it remains focused on translating promising science into safe, effective, and impactful health solutions.
Website: investinnextgen.com
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/nextgen-scientific
Biographical Information: Jason West is a seasoned executive and entrepreneur with extensive leadership experience across biotechnology, pharmaceuticals, life sciences, chemicals, and business development. He currently serves as Executive Vice President of Genzada Pharmaceuticals and NextGen Scientific, while also serving as Chairman of Geo-Chemicals, LLC and Chief Executive Officer of Hyatt Life Sciences. His career reflects a strong combination of scientific knowledge, legal expertise, and executive leadership, with a focus on building and guiding organizations at the intersection of science, innovation, and commercial growth.
Earlier in his career, Jason spent 15 years with Jacam Chemical Company, including more than seven years as President and seven years as Vice President and General Counsel. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Biology from Sterling College, a Juris Doctor from Vermont Law School, and an MBA from Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Management. With experience spanning scientific research, law, corporate leadership, and strategic management, Jason brings a multidisciplinary perspective to advancing innovative businesses and life sciences initiatives.
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/jason-west-b33b7a163
Support Our Sponsors
Our generous sponsors make our work possible, serving impact investors, social entrepreneurs, community builders and diverse founders. Today’s advertisers include PurposeBuilt100™ Winners and supercrowd.tv. Learn more about advertising with us here.
Max-Impact Members
(We’re grateful for every one of these community champions who make this work possible.)
Brian Christie, Brainsy | Cameron Neil, Lend For Good | Carol Fineagan, Independent Consultant | Eric Coury, Arthia AI | Joey Hayes, thru | John Berlet, CORE Tax Deeds, LLC. | Justin Starbird, The Aebli Group | Ken Steele, Rotarian | Lory Moore, Lory Moore Law | Marcia Brinton, High Desert Gear | Mark Grimes, Networked Enterprise Development | Mike Babbit | Coledger Solutions | Mike Green, Envirosult | Nick Degnan, Unlimit Ventures | Paul Lovejoy, Stakeholder Enterprise | Pearl Wright, Global Changemaker | Scott Thorpe, Philanthropist | Sharon Samjitsingh, Health Care Originals | Add Your Name Here
Upcoming SuperCrowd Event Calendar
If a location is not noted, the events below are virtual.
Join the SuperCrowd Impact League! You can be recognized for making impact investments via Reg CF. See how your activity compares to your peers. It’s free. Win valuable prizes. Start now!
SuperCrowd Impact Member Networking Session: Impact (and, of course, Max-Impact) Members of the SuperCrowd are invited to a private networking session on September 8th at 8:00 PM ET/5:00 PM PT. Mark your calendar. We’ll send private emails to Impact Members with registration details. Upgrade to Impact Membership today!
Apply for the Superpowers for Good Live Pitch: Are you raising capital through Regulation Crowdfunding? Apply by September 2 for the September 30 Superpowers for Good Live Pitch. Selected founders pitch free to investors and gain exposure through SuperCrowd.tv, e360tv, social media, and our 10,000-subscriber newsletter. We especially encourage social entrepreneurs, women and underrepresented entrepreneurs to apply.
Visit Our Complete Community Event Calendar
If you would like to submit an event for us to share with the 10,000+ changemakers, investors and entrepreneurs who are members of the SuperCrowd, click here.
Manage the volume of emails you receive from us by clicking here.
We share educational information—not investment advice. Some links may generate compensation. See our full disclosure.
We use AI to help us write compelling recaps of each episode.
