Innovation Catalyst

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

President & CEO, Soundstim Therapeutics, Inc.

Gary S. Lazar, MD is Co-chair of the Innovation Catalyst Committee of SoCalBio. Gary is a medical oncologist who spent his practice life at UCLA. He has spent the last 30 years in various roles in medical startups, including 10 years in the venture capital business. Prior to joining the investment business, he was an entrepreneur and a senior executive at a NASDAQ-listed company in healthcare services.