Alliance Blog

First Look SoCal Innovation Showcase 2021

The First Look SoCal Innovation Showcase 2021 [virtual]

Sponsored by Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati, KPPB LP, Alexandria Venture Investments, and EastWest Bank

Presented by the Alliance for SoCal Innovation and LAVA

EVENT PROGRAM FULL VIDEOS

DAY 1: LIFE SCIENCE TRACK

Welcome + Keynote

Andy Slavitt, Senior Advisor White House COVID-19 Response Team

“Transformational opportunities in healthcare innovation”


Startup Presentations Session 1: Therapeutics

Aracari Biosciences • MyoGene Bio • OncoXome • Serpass Biologics • Tortuga Biosciences


Startup Presentations Session 2: Medtech/Surgical

ACatechol • Bio-Zipper • eLysis • SAAVI


Workshop for Startups, presented by Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati

“Financing Trends and Strategies: Early Stage Financings”

Zach Myers (WSGR)


Startup Presentations Session 3: Medtech/Device & Diagnostics

Sayenza Biosciences • StyloSonic • Synova Life Sciences • Veriskin


VC Investor Panel Discussion:

“Which way is up? Investing in biotech during a global pandemic and a world turned upside down”

Sanjay Mistry, Head of San Diego John & Johnson Innovation @ Jlabs;
Amanda Cashin, Co-Founder & Global Head @ Illumina for Startups;
Michelle Kim Danely, Senior VP @ Autobahn Labs;
Hallie Kuhn, Principal @ Alexandria Venture Investments;
Ajay Nirula, VP Immunology @ Eli Lilly;
Dave Whelan, CEO @ BioscienceLA (moderator)


Day 2: Technology Track

Welcome + Keynote

George Whitesides, Chair and former CEO, Virgin Galactic

“Frontier tech innovation and the future of commercial space”


Startup Presentations Session 1: Hardware & Devices

EDGE Sound Research • Force Impact Technologies • Milo Sensors • Zxerex Corporation


Startup Presentations Session 2: Computing/Software

Apsy • flashpub.io • SmartSpace AI • Tallyfor • Teuvonet Technologies


Startup Workshop for Startups, presented by Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati

“Startup and Financing Tips”

Kenji Funahashi (WSGR)


Startup Presentations Session 3: Clean/Green Tech

Catapower • CurrentRF • Liquid8 • Mi Terro


Founder Panel:

An unvarnished look at the ups and downs of the founder journey as told by the entrepreneurs who’ve taken the exhilarating challenge of commercializing frontier technology.

Calum R. I. Chicholm, CEO & Founder, SAFCELL;
Ruey-Kang Chang, CEO & President, QT Medical;
Thomas Stone, CEO, Sensorygen;
Achuta Kadambi, Founder, Akasha Imaging;
David Bailey, Partner, KPPB (moderator)