“This is it?” asks Dietrich hesitantly.

“That’s right,” answers Steen, “Lygos’ case study in synthetic biology garage space.”

The duo’s plucky optimism is drowned out by mechanics’ drills and squealing tires on San Pablo Avenue, but they get to work, dusty warehouse transitioning to gleaming laboratory in full montage magic.

Someday, this scene may find its way into The Social Network II* as a microcosm of the latest garage industry to inundate VC pitch meeting schedules from Silicon Valley to Cambridge.