Source: Urban University

Entrepreneurs play a critical role in our economy. The innovations they develop have a cascading effect on job creation, standards of living, and growth in related industries. Teaching talented individuals to become entrepreneurs themselves and supporting them as they launch their own companies is one thing that universities can do to strengthen the economy in their communities. At California State University, Los Angeles, we understand the importance of this approach, which led us to create LABioStart, a boot camp to train emerging bioscience entrepreneurs in the region.

In partnership with the Biocom Institute and the Los Angeles Cleantech Incubator (LACI), we have been awarded a $500,000 challenge grant from the U.S. Department of Commerce. The department’s Regional Innovation Strategies (RIS) program helps communities create the building blocks that foster economic development through new technologies and job creation.In addition to the flagship LABioStart boot camp, the grant will support additional programs to promote bioscience innovation and facilitate networking in the Los Angeles area. The programs will engage local governments and other partners to develop new training modules in business fundamentals, leadership skills and business competencies specific to bioscience.