First Look SoCal Innovation Showcase 2025

Save the date for the First Look SoCal Innovation Showcase on May 20, 2025 at the Skirball Cultural Center in Los Angeles.

The First Look SoCal Innovation Showcase is an annual celebration of the best early-stage teams commercializing deep tech and life science breakthroughs from the top research institutions in Southern California. This is the premiere gathering that celebrates research-based spinouts and connects them with top-tier investors and successful serial entrepreneurs with expertise to help them leap from the lab to market. 

The day’s program will feature a keynote presentation followed by a full program of 24 quick-pitch presentations with investor-led Q&A. Stay for the networking reception to (re)connect with the community.

Limited seats available for a special pre-event founder workshop on Protecting and Commercializing Intellectual Property. More details below. 

Look Forward To…

Connect with investors, peers, and mentors

Unparalleled opportunities to connect with investors, mentors and other support resources crucial for early stage startups. Past years attracted over 300 attendees including over 130 investors such as Lux Capital, Alexandria Venture Investments, Kairos, Wavemaker 360, NXT Biomedical, NEA, Elevation Ventures, FullCycle, Aligned Climate Capital, Mitsubishi Ventures and many more. 

Keynotes

Last year’s opening keynote was Keith Strier, VP of Worldwide AI Initiatives at NVIDIA followed by a keynote from Mike Miller, Director of Product at AWS (Amazon).

Startup quick-pitch presentations

Two concurrent tracks (Life Science and Technology) where each track features 12 startups doing 3-minute quick pitch presentations followed by 9 minutes of moderated Q&A led by a panel of investors, corporates and subject matter experts. See full lineup below.

The largest showcase of university-based deep tech and life science startups

This is SoCal’s premiere gathering of the best startups emerging from the region’s top research institutions so it attracts the region’s community in a rare concentrated program that celebrates the entrepreneur’s journey from lab to market.

Workshop for startup founders (limited seats available)

Learn from subject matter experts in IP law and licensing best practices for protecting and monetizing intellectual property as well as early stage startup commercialization of deep tech and life science innovations.

Networking Reception

Stay for drinks and small bites as we celebrate and connect with attendees and speakers.

Free Parking

Parking is available in the Skirball’s North Parking garage, located underground at the north end of the Skirball’s main driveway, approximately 150 yards north of our Main Entrance. Parking is also available in the East Parking garage, located across Sepulveda Blvd.