By Jillian Beck | Cal State LA News Service
Three bioscience startup ventures launched with support from Cal State LA BioSpace participated in the LA BioMed Innovation Showcase in September.
The September 13 showcase in Manhattan Beach was a regional forum for academic institutions to highlight new startups and early-stage technologies. Entrepreneurs, investors, mentors, trade organizations and industry experts heard presentations from 32 emerging companies and gathered for business discussions and networking opportunities.
Synova Life Sciences, CellectGen and Aukera, Inc. were among the startups chosen to deliver pitches at the event. The three firms were launched by graduates of Cal State LA BioStart, an intensive training program for early-stage bioscience entrepreneurs. The project is part of Cal State LA BioSpace, which is leading the university’s efforts to promote a thriving bioscience ecosystem on the Eastside of Los Angeles and in the San Gabriel Valley.
Learn about the selected Cal State LA BioStart companies:
- Synova Life Sciences, founded by Cal State LA alumnus John Chi, created a device designed to safely harvest stem cells and allow them to be used in treatment and for research.
- CellectGen, founded by Robert Gellibolian develops saliva-based technologies that help dentists and patients identify early signs of gum disease in less than 15 minutes.
- Aukera, Inc., founded by Gayle Boxx, is a biotechnology company with a proprietary vault nanocapsule platform designed to help health care and personal care companies improve the delivery of their products.
“These emerging entrepreneurs and their startup ventures represent the future of the bioscience industry in our region,” said Jose A. Gomez, chair of Cal State LA BioSpace and the university’s executive vice president. “We are pleased that they are using their training to create sustainable business models to develop cutting-edge technologies.”
One of the event’s morning speakers was Cal State LA Microbiology Professor Howard Xu. He serves as director of incubator development and programming for Cal State LA BioSpace.
Xu spoke about the university’s efforts to promote bioscience in the region.
Cal State LA BioSpace is supported by grants from Los Angeles County and the U.S. Economic Development Administration. The initiative is also supported by the Los Angeles County Economic Development Corporation, the Pasadena Bio Collaborative Incubator, LA Bioscience Hub, the California State University and Los Angeles County Supervisors Hilda L. Solis, Mark Ridley-Thomas and Kathryn Barger.
Photo: A student looks into a microscope in a laboratory at Cal State LA as Professor Howard Xu supervises. (Credit: J. Emilio Flores/Cal State LA)
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09/13/18