Teaming up with PhagePro: A Chat with Dr. Mimi Yen

Thinkubator Media takes great pride in the companies we support. Through our shared work, we have formed lasting relationships that enrich our team and our clients. It is an honor to support professionals, many of them women, in their growth and success. Our team develops a full understanding of each client and their needs so that we can best support them. 

Dr. Minmin “Mimi” Yen is one of such unique clients who has established herself as a biotech innovator. As a co-founder of PhagePro, Dr. Yen and her team are reviving a century-old medical practice, using phages for virus protection, to revamp the way we synthesize and access vaccines. Their findings have the potential to increase efficiency

A graphic depicting a bacteriophage, the inspiration behind PhagePro.

We first connected with Dr. Yen when the PhagePro team sought to redesign their website and develop clear, compelling copy for the complex biotech startup. She shared that, “one of our biggest challenges was translating complex scientific concepts into accessible, engaging language while remaining technically accurate. Thinkubator Media helped us achieve this without oversimplifying our work or losing credibility." 

Dr. Yen's Experience

"Thinkubator Media brought structure to a process that felt overwhelming. I would tend to get stuck in the nitty-gritty of designing a website - wondering about color schemes, how to code columns, or whether this word was the right choice. They helped us [determine] what mattered most by asking the right questions and then moving efficiently from ideas to execution. This saved us time and resulted in a much more cohesive final product.”

“Throughout our time together, Thinkubator Media acted as true thought partners. Despite the entirety of our work being virtual, the process felt very personal and hands-on; [our] communication was clear, consistent, and collaborative. The Thinkubator Media team took the time to deeply understand our science, mission, and values, thus helping us articulate our story authentically.” 

“Their guidance strengthened not just our website, but our overall narrative as a company, thus leaving us on a stronger foundation. The highly skilled team stood out for their professionalism and warmth. They were responsive, thoughtful, fun, and collaborative throughout the process, which made even challenging conversations about messaging feel easy and energizing.”

Leaving a Lasting Impression

As our work came to a close, Dr. Yen shared that the PhagePro team was left with a lasting impression. “Working with the team helped me better understand how to think about branding as storytelling. Thinkubator Media showed us how to frame our science in a way that connects with different audiences while staying true to who we are."

“Our biggest takeaway was that clear, thoughtful communication can be a force multiplier, especially for mission-driven, science-based organizations like ours. Thinkubator Media helped us see how powerful it is when your message is both precise and accessible.” 

“I genuinely loved working with the Thinkubator Media team. They brought curiosity, care, and creativity to every interaction, and it truly felt like they were invested in our success. I would enthusiastically recommend them to any organization looking to clarify their story and elevate their brand.”

 

Meet the Team: Sri Thumati

Sri Thumati is the photographer for all things Thinkubator Media! Hailing from Somerville, MA, she mostly takes headshots for TM clients. We chatted with her to learn more about the woman behind the lens. 

What’s your favorite part about working with the Thinkubator Media team? 

Lori and the team are so fabulous to work with because they honor creative freedom and respect my skills and knowledge. 

Loving Sri's stance as she captures a powerful image of herself!

What are some of the values at Thinkubator Media that resonate with you? 

Thinkubator Media’s vision of uplifting startups and highlighting innovative ideas resonates most with me. 

What do you enjoy doing in your free time? 

I enjoy hiking and sometimes napping, preferably when I’m stuck under my cats. 

Do you have any hidden talents? 

I make the best cinnamon rolls ever! 

What intention/s are you leading 2024 with? 

To be the best version of myself, especially with my art and photography. 

We look forward to sharing more of Sri’s photography and all things Thinkubator Media with you as we head toward a new year. 

 

Know Yourself to Connect with Others

When it comes to marketing, your message and your vision are at the heart of any successful campaign. Not only is it about what you say, but how you present it to your audience. 

When you’re clear on what you stand for, then it becomes much easier to connect with your audience and folks who need to hear your message. 

Let’s consider the ways to present a strong and clear message on and offline. 

Know Yourself, Define Your Brand

At Thinkubator Media, we take great pride in helping brands highlight their naturally empowering qualities. This can sometimes feel challenging if you’ve been embedded in the research for a long time. We help companies, researchers, and founders pull back and focus on the high-level impacts of their work. 

Consider some of the following questions to start defining your brand. 

The simplicity of these keywords and phrases can be helpful when creating content that is targeted toward your desired audience. When you can actively engage and connect with a crowd that is new to your area of expertise, your brand will be unstoppable. 

Once you narrow your vision down to a few keywords, you can begin strategizing on how to convey these qualities to your audience. 

Know Your Audience

Knowing your audience starts with defining it. Asking yourself or your team a series of questions can help you get a better understanding of who you’re trying to connect with. Consider some of the following questions to get started: 

It can be helpful to define a handful of target groups that can benefit from seeing your content and working with you. Messaging makes it possible to paint a clear picture for anyone who may come across you and your content. 

Present Your Unique Perspective 

At Thinkubator Media, we are big on bringing out the best, most authentic voice from each of our clients. Don’t be afraid to explore new and exciting ways to express yourself to a wider audience.

As we become more consumed and exposed to multiple channels of content and information, it is crucial (and sometimes hard!) to stand out. Aside from joining trending topics, following the crowd can be detrimental to your online presence. 

Rather than being caught in the undertow of endless posts and hashtags, you can strategize the most effective way to present your content by: 

Expressing yourself in a genuine, creative, and aesthetically pleasing manner can make your message pop.