SoCalBio

About Innovation Catalyst

SoCalBio’s Innovation Catalyst program is designed to assist early and mid-stage life science companies (Biotech, Medtech, Diagnostic, and Digital health) success in Southern California for over 25 years. Our program is designed to support founders, offering a unique opportunity with no equity or fees required for participation. 

Applications for the 2025 cohort are now open

Since 1999, The SoCalBio Annual Investor & Partnership Conference has showcased over 700+ companies, resulting in over $15B in follow-on funding being contributed to our local innovation ecosystem.

Selected Past & Present Investors

Innovation Catalyst Program Overview

Our Catalyst committee, comprised of accomplished experts in life sciences, Presenting to our catalyst committee will improve your networking, funding advice for equity and nonequity dilutive funds, access to funding via our annual investor conference is offered to potential success and innovation-demonstrating firms. The goal is to improve healthcare, create jobs, and boost economic growth in the region. It’s a valuable resource for life sciences companies that enhances their prospects and guides them toward a significant industry impact.

Up Coming Innovation Catalyst Session

Date Event
Feb. 3
Applications Open
Feb – Aug

Companies Screening Sessions:

Held every second to last Thursday

Sep
Applications Close
Late Sep
Presenting Companies Announcement
Oct 1-2
27th SoCalBio Annual Investor Conference

Screening Committee

The Innovation Catalyst offers prominent visibility at key conferences and media, access to healthcare investors, stakeholders, and decision-makers, a network of mentors and peers, and participation in a tailored virtual curriculum.

Program Benefit

Companies will have access to corporate executives, investors, providers, payers, FDA, NIH, DoD, and other stakeholders. Companies receive one complimentary registration to the SoCalBio Annual Investor Conference in October. All selected companies will receive complimentary SoCalBio membership for 2025.

Annual Investor Conference

As part of our mission, over 20 companies will be selected to participate in the SoCalBio Annual Investor Conference. Each selected company is guaranteed one one-on-one networking meeting with investors at eh conference. 

2024 Cohort

SoCalBio Innovation Catalyst Committee

Committee Co-Chair

Gary Lazar, MD

Gary Lazar, MD

President & CEO, Soundstim Therapeutics, Inc.

PETER BLAISDELL PHD.

PETER BLAISDELL PHD.

Member Scientific Advisory Board, Immunotherapy Company

Committee Members

Roger Anderson, PhD.

Roger Anderson, PhD.

Biotech Consultant

Bud Bishop, PhD.

Bud Bishop, PhD.

President, Pasadena BioCollaborative Incubator and SoCalBio Board Member

PETER BLAISDELL PHD.

PETER BLAISDELL PHD.

Member Scientific Advisory Board, Immunotherapy Company

Chris Bostick

Chris Bostick

Vice President, OCV

Calvin Chen

Calvin Chen

CEO, CrossLinkBio; Investment Committee, Cove Fund

George Colindres

George Colindres

Senior Counsel, Perkins Coie LLP, Los Angeles

Steven Corr

Steven Corr

Partner, Jones Day

William Dolphin, PhD

William Dolphin, PhD

Investor & Serial Entrepreneur

Lara Dueppen

Lara Dueppen

Partner, Perkins Coie LLP

Earle Hager

Earle Hager

Managing Partner, The Neutrino Donut, LLC

Winn Hong

Winn Hong

Sr. Director, Engineering and Business Development, AMI – USC

David Hood

David Hood

President & CEO, DH3 & Associates

Wendie Johnston, PhD

Wendie Johnston, PhD

Exe. Director, LA/Orange County Biotech Center

Jerry Joseph

Jerry Joseph

Verity Associates

Parisa Khosropour

Parisa Khosropour

Healthcare, Medical Device and Diagnostics Advisor

Jerry Knotts

Jerry Knotts

President, Central Coast Venture Forum

Richard Koffler

Richard Koffler

Founder, Greenwings Biomedical

Mohammad Kondri, MPH, MBA

Mohammad Kondri, MPH, MBA

Trade Commissioner, Life Sciences & Medtech, Consulate General of Canada

Gary Lazar, MD

Gary Lazar, MD

President & CEO, Soundstim Therapeutics, Inc.

Hal Lieberman

Hal Lieberman

Sr. Associate, Exceleration Management

Thomas Lobl, PhD

Thomas Lobl, PhD

Entrepreneur-in-Residence, AMI-USC

Jörg Lorscheider

Jörg Lorscheider

Director of Sales & Marketing, Omnica Corporation

Zohar Loshitzer,

Zohar Loshitzer,

Principal, OCV; Board of Directors, OSSIO, Ltd

Steve Maylish

Steve Maylish

CEO, Fusion Biotech

Charles McWilliams

Charles McWilliams

Sr. VP, VWR

Mordechai Nosrati, MD

Mordechai Nosrati, MD

USC Keck School of Medicine

Alex Rabiee

Alex Rabiee

Vice President of Business Development, Provention Bio

Mark A Siegfried

Mark A Siegfried

Director, CBIZ & Mayer Hoffman McCann P.C.

Stephen Williams, PhD,

Stephen Williams, PhD,

Partner, Catalyst Advisors, LP

Michael Wise

Michael Wise

Partner, Perkins Coie, and Secretary of the SoCalBio Board of Directors

Mark Wittman

Mark Wittman

Consultants-Clinical Affairs, Beyond Lucid Technologies

Alvin Viray

Alvin Viray

Associate Director, UCI Applied Innovation

Greg Zikos

Greg Zikos

Entrepreneur-in-Residence, AMI-USC