SoCal Community Events & Deadlines

Community Innovation Events

The events listed are not hosted or organized by the Alliance unless specified

July 29, Aug 5, Aug 12

SBIR/STTR Kickstarter Series

Hosted by: UCLA Ventures + CNSI Magnify

Location: Virtual

A professional virtual program designed to help researchers, founders, and early-stage teams better understand the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) funding landscape. Over the course of this series, participants will gain practical insight into how these programs work, what agencies are looking for, and how to begin shaping a competitive proposal strategy.

August 11

LA SaaS & AI Founder + Investor Rooftop Happy Hour

Hosted by: LMU, LA Chamber of Commerce, WTC LA

Location: Playa Vista / LA

NachoNacho – The B2B SaaS & AI + Services Marketplace, Shopline, and Forecastr will host this exclusive LA SaaS & AI Founder + Investor rooftop happy hour event. This event will include sponsored drinks and appetizers. ​This networking event will be exclusively for SaaS/AI: ​Founders (minimum Seed funded and later), ​C-Suites,

​Investors/VCs, ​Tech media.

August 12

Octane Summer Social 2026

Hosted by: Octane

Location: Newport Beach

This exclusive event is our way of thanking our partners and members for their unwavering support in advancing Octane’s mission of creating companies, developing future leaders and entrepreneurs, and enhancing the Southern California community. Mingle and network with the vibrant Octane ecosystem while indulging in delicious food and refreshing drinks. Please note that this event is exclusively for Octane members and partners and Lincoln Property guests and tenants.

August 13

Water Solutions 11: The Water Data Center Nexus

Hosted by: Sustain Southern California

Location: Irvine

As data centers surge in demand, their reliance on water for cooling and operational efficiency has become a critical intersection of technology and sustainability. This event will explore the vital nexus between water and energy, bringing together industry and government leaders, technologists, investors, environmental experts, and innovators. Be part of the collaboration that has driven over a decade of solutions in Southern California! Presale 50% off happening now, so don’t miss out.

August 20

G-Rex Grant Tour

Hosted by: ScaleReady

Location: Los Angeles (Westwood/UCLA)

Hear from leaders bringing hope to patients through advanced cell & gene therapies. You’ll experience inspiring patient and caregiver stories, breakthroughs in solid tumor cancer research, and innovations in ex vivo cell and gene therapy manufacturing.

September 1-2

International Life Sciences & Biotech Conference

Hosted by: Bisnow

Location: San Diego

Two Days, 30+ speakers, hours of networking, cocktail receptions, and endless opportunities for growth and collaboration. The definitive forum where biotech innovation meets real estate strategy. This two-day international conference will gather top biotech executives, developers, investors, researchers and policymakers for two days of insight, dealmaking, and networking at the intersection of life sciences innovation and commercial real estate.

September 14-18

SoCal Deep Tech Week: Scaling American Manufacturing

Hosted by: Various

Location: Long Beach

Where breakthrough meets build-out. One week in Southern California for the founders, funders, and operators moving hard-tech from lab to factory floor to national priority.

September 24

SoCal Deep Tech Symposium 2026

Hosted by: Alliance for SoCal Innovation

Location: El Segundo

Join us at the third annual SoCal Deep Tech Symposium, produced by The Alliance for SoCal Innovation, hosted by DTI at THE BR-DGE and proudly sponsored by Sunstone Management, KPPB, and Caltech.  Our curated event features a keynote and a pair of startup pitch showcases with live Q&A that will provide insights into the unique opportunities and challenges of commercializing deep tech innovations in sectors such as Aerospace & Defense, Advanced Manufacturing, Autonomous Mobility, Robotics, and Cleantech. Stay for the investor panel “Fundraising in Today’s Deep Tech Sector” and networking reception. Register now for Early Bird pricing.

September 24

High Tech Awards

Hosted by: Octane

Location: Irvine

Octane will honor outgoing CEO & incoming Executive Chairman Bill Carpou with the 2026 Vision & Leadership Award — presented for the first time by incoming CEO Janelle Brunette.

Sept 28 – October 1

Long Beach Tech Week 2026

Hosted by: Long Beach Accelerator

Location: Long Beach

The multi-day experience brings together founders, investors, business
leaders, tech experts, business owners, educators, creatives, and civic leaders
across key growth sectors. Events include Kickoff reception, CSU Demo Day, LBA 3rd Annual Investors & Founders Summit.

Sept 29 – October 2

Bioscience LA Week

Hosted by: BioscienceLA

Location: West Hollywood, DTLA, Culver City

The premier annual community summit for LA County’s bioscience ecosystem. Four days of panels, pitches, lab tours, and career-launching conversations across the region. Each day of BioscienceLA Week is built around a different audience. Come for the day that’s built for you, or join us for the full week.

October 14

2026 BioTools Innovator Capstone

Hosted by: BioTools Innovator

Location: San Diego

The one day the life-science-tools community comes together — the founders building the instruments, platforms, and diagnostics, and the investors, strategics, and partners who move them to market.

October 22

Scripps Research Biotech Innovation Summit

Hosted by: Scripps Research Institute

Location: San Diego

In its third year, the Scripps Research Biotech Research Summit aims to foster strategic partnerships between academia and industry and accelerate innovation across the biotech spectrum. Under the guidance of the Strategic Investment Committee, this year’s program includes engaging sessions focused on empowering scientific talent and forging meaningful connections. This event provides an exclusive opportunity to engage with world-class scientists who are pioneering exciting early-stage innovations.

October 27-30

Grace Hopper Celebration 2026

Hosted by: AnitaB.org

Location: Anaheim

Grace Hopper Celebration is the world’s largest gathering of individuals in tech. Each year, thousands of women leaders, innovators, and allies come together to learn, connect, and accelerate representation and opportunity in technology.

Whether you attend in person or virtually, GHC is where careers grow, ideas take shape, and community becomes real.

October 27-28

Octane Medical Innovation Forum

Hosted by: Octane

Location: Irvine

Octane’s Medical Innovation Forum is an annual event that brings together investors, startups, and healthcare leaders to explore the forefront of innovation in ground breaking medical technologies. This year’s theme is “The Future of Human Health” and will explore innovations and disruptors in diagnostics, devices, technology, therapeutics and aging science. Don’t miss the keynote from Dr. Diana E. Ramos, California Surgeon General.

November 4

SoCal MedTech Symposium 2026

Hosted by: Alliance for SoCal Innovation

Location: Irvine

See startup founders quick pitch then respond to in-depth Q&A from a panel of investors and subject matter experts. We begin with the First Look SoCal MedTech Innovation Showcase which features very early stage startups commercializing IP created at top research universities throughout Southern California. This is your opportunity to get a glimpse of tomorrow’s tech before it hits the market. The second showcase will feature early stage MedTech startups seeking Seed and Series A funding who are referred from the region’s top accelerator programs and ecosystem support organizations. An investor panel will provide further insights into fundraising in today’s MedTech sector before we celebrate at the networking reception.

November 5

AUTM on the Road

Hosted by: AUTM

Location: Pasadena

AUTM on the Road brings the power of the AUTM community directly to you. This one-day, in-person experience brings together your tech transfer community to connect, share insights, and tackle timely challenges — without the time and expense of long-distance travel. Each stop is rooted in the local ecosystem, blending national-level expertise with region-specific perspectives.

Innovation Program Deadlines

SoCal Venture Pipeline Program Deadline: Ongoing SoCal Venture Pipeline Program Startups receive targeted introductions to investors through our unique no-cost program (no fees, no equity, totally free). SoCal entrepreneurs raising institutional funding are carefully selected and directly introduced to capital providers from our deep nationwide relationship network. Accepted startups may also receive funding through our Catalyst Fund.

Submission Deadline: July 22 (still open as of 7/23)

Larta Institute’s Heal.LA Program

Heal.LA is an eight to twelve month, nationally acclaimed and award-winning innovation hub, advancing medical devices, digital health, pharmaceuticals and biotechnology innovations that improve the health and wellness of Los Angeles communities. We connect entrepreneurial ventures with Los Angeles’ remarkable ecosystem of partners, customers, and investors, providing the guidance, validation, and catalytic funding needed to turn promising ideas into real-world impact.

Submission Deadline: July 24

Amgen-Biolabs LA Golden Ticket Award

As a sponsor of BioLabs LA at the Lundquist Institute, Amgen is privileged
to award one promising start-up company with a year of free lab space –
and more! Here’s what you can expect with an Amgen Golden Ticket in hand: One-year FREE lab bench and membership at Biolabs LA at the Lundquist Institute; Access to shared amenities and services provided at the Lundquist Institute; Access to Amgen’s and Biolab LA’s network of scientists, business experts, and mentors.

Submission Deadline: July 30

BizFed Advocacy Academy’s Summer Cohort

Hosted in partnership with Sen. Susan Rubio, this cohort will: Connect directly with state and local leaders, including State Senators, policymakers & agency officials, Gain hands-on advocacy experience and learn how to effectively influence decisions, Become eligible for a completion stipend, helping remove barriers to participation. You’ll also build a powerful network across business, government and community and leave with the skills and confidence to make an impact.

Submission Deadline: Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis from mid September to late October

Nucleate’s Activator Accelerator

The Activator is the world’s largest open-access, equity-free biotech accelerator for early-stage founders. Our structured program guides founders through team formation, venture-building workshops, and expert mentorship—culminating in pitch showcases and global community connections.

Submission Deadline: September 16

UCSD Medtech Accelerator (IGE)

This program will help UCSD affiliated startups (students, faculty, alumni) navigate the complex processes of bringing medical innovations to market. Tailored for teams and startups across the spectrum of product and business development. Applicants can enter at any point in the sequence.