California Technology Council Announces Life Sciences Initiative
CalBio to Support Entrepreneurs, Innovators
SANTA CLARA, CALIF.—June 1, 2016—The California Technology Council today announced the launch of its CalBio Initiative, an effort to support innovators in the life sciences through services and programs designed to improve their chances for success.
The California Technology Council, a statewide trade association serving innovators across industry sectors, created the CalBio Initiative to address the special needs of entrepreneurs in the areas of biotechnology and digital health sectors.
“Our members are working to commercialize innovative products that address issues of human health, the environment, and sustainability,” said Matt Gardner, CEO of the California Technology Council. “They work in technical and highly regulated businesses where founders can gain great benefit by connecting with experienced entrepreneurs and investors familiar with challenges they face.”
The leadership of CalBio is comprised of investors, industry executives, and serial entrepreneurs. With the input of this leadership, CalBio is creating unique and tailored programs for life sciences startups.
“This is the right kind of platform to bring together entrepreneurs with those looking for the next big idea,” said Kinkead Reiling, an entrepreneur and angel investor in the Bay Area. “CalBio not only provides targeted services and programming for life sciences companies, but leverages the full range of CTC’s offerings.”
“Founders often don’t realize just how much help they will need to build a successful, sustainable business,” said Paul Zorner, President of Locus Agricultural Solutions based in San Diego. “With the resources and people of CalBio, we have a group of senior industry professionals who can offer very real, practical experience.”
CalBio offers member value, insights into new and emerging fields, and business development opportunities for other kinds of businesses as well. CalBio also provides its members savings on essential products and services, the opportunity to network with potential funders and partners, and forums to raise their visibility and gain insights into ways to overcome challenges they face.
“The support CTC offers all startups can save them dollars as well as time on everyday products and services, and give that time back to entrepreneurs to focus on their business,” said Mike Ammann, CEO of the San Joaquin Partnership and a CTC member since its inception.
CalBio will convene regular meetings beginning in July, and will maintain a focus on serving startups throughout the state.
“One of the keys to our participation is the statewide nature of CalBio,” said Steve Abbott, director of Inland Empire-based Sensory Innovations, Inc., a medical technology startup. “This kind of focus on delivering support and insights to entrepreneurs everywhere in the state will help us access more tools for our growth.”
CalBio's Advisory Board includes the following:
Kinkead Reiling, Angel Investor
Antoinette Konski, Partner, Foley & Lardner
Ahmed Enany, CEO, Southern California Biomedical Council
Evan Siegel, CEO, GroundZero Pharmaceuticals
Vonnie Estes, Colorado Financial Holdings
Paul Zorner, President, Locus Agricultural Solutions
Andy Jane, Managing Director, Talu Ventures
Michael Shuster, Partner, Fenwick & West
Steve Abbott, Co-founder and CEO, Sensory Innovations
Daniel Levine, Principal, Levine Media Group
Ed Amento, CEO, Molecular Medicine Research Institute
Rahul Pathak, Squire Patton Boggs
H. Daniel Perez, Chairman and CEO, Naia Pharma
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For more information on CalBio, please visit the CalBio Initiative page here.