dot.LA Dives In: Frame Co-founders Discuss How They Built the Mental Wellness Network
Kelly O’Grady, chief host & correspondent for dot.LA speaks with Kendall Bird and Sage Grazer, co-founders of mental wellness network, Frame, which seeks to help people find a form of therapy and a therapist.
U.K. Midlands Engine and the Department for International Trade Webinar
On July 16, 2020, Dave Whelan, the CEO of BioscienceLA, led a conversation with U.K. Midlands Engine and the Department for International Trade. The session begins with a video featuring local life sciences leaders, followed by recent LA announcements, concluding with an interactive Q&A.
Techstars LA Class of 2020; What It's Like to Run an Accelerator During a Pandemic
On July 13, 2020 Techstars LA announced the ten startups that will make up its 2020 class, the first cohort to go remote due to COVID-19. Ben Bergman from dot.La, reports on how Techstars LA is evolving their programming to adjust to these challenging times.
Podcast: Biotech in LA & how founders not in health-tech should raise during COVID
In this episode of Fundraising Radio, BioscienceLA CEO David J. Whelan explains how founders working in bioscience and health tech can use this pandemic to their advantage during their fundraising and how other founders should adjust.
Kernel Raises $53M to make the Human Brain Easy to Read
Rachel Uranga of dot.LA reports that Kernel announced Thursday it's raised $53 million in a Series C round led by General Catalyst with other investors including Khosla Ventures, Eldridge, Manta Ray Ventures, Tiny Blue Dot and Kernel founder and CEO Bryan Johnson. Kernel is working to make the human brain, with all this inner workings, easy to read.
LA-based Xencor and Atreca Enter Strategic Collaboration
On July 8, 2020, Xencor, Inc. (NASDAQ: XNCR), a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company developing engineered monoclonal antibodies for the treatment of cancer and autoimmune diseases, and Atreca, Inc. (Atreca) (NASDAQ: BCEL), a clinical-stage biotechnology company focused on developing novel therapeutics generated through a unique discovery platform based on interrogation of the active human immune response, announced via Business Wire that the companies have entered into a collaboration and license agreement to research, develop and commercialize T cell engaging bispecific antibodies as potential therapeutics in oncology.
Reports show LA bioscience sector continues to grow
Recent reporting by Howard Fine of Los Angeles Business Journal find that Los Angeles’ bioscience sector continues to grow and thrive. According to Fine’s report, “L.A.’s bioscience sector generated $44 billion in economic activity and nearly 196,000 jobs last year, increases of 4% and 2.5%, respectively, over 2018, according to an annual report released last month by an industry advocacy group.”
LA County's strategy to support local biotech startups
In a recent article reporter Rachel Uranga of dot.LA explores the efforts and investments made by the County of Los Angeles to grow the bioscience ecosystem in Los Angeles, including its recent $15 million matching loan to MarsBio, a venture fund focused on early stage bioscience startups.
CHOC Children's Research Institute & University Lab Partners launch high school STEM program
The CHOC Children’s Research Institute and University Lab Partners (ULP) have come together to developed a new science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) program - the Medical Innovation and Entrepreneurship. This program is geared towards inspiring Orange County high school students to become the next generation of biotech innovators.
UCLA partners with Autobahn Labs 'virtual incubator' with drug maker and VC based on new model
According to reporting by Ron Leuty of San Francisco Business Times UCLA has joined into a partnership with German drug maker Evotec SE, Palo Alto Samsara BioCapital, and family fund KCK Ltd. to launch the Autobahn Labs virtual incubator. The novel incubator is based on the concept of a bridge model to fast-track early-stage academic research into startup companies.
Life Science Industry in Los Angeles generates $44.2 billion annually, supporting nearly 200k jobs
The 2020 Life Science Industry Report produced by BioCom finds that in Los Angeles County the industry provides 195,820 jobs (direct, indirect, and induced) and economic activity of $44.2 billion in 2019. For the state of California, the life sciences industry provided 1.4 million jobs and $372 billion in economic activity.