Biotechnology: Cracking the Code for Continued Industry Growth
	10/16/2002 5:30PM      |  Send this page to a friend.  Westlake Village Inn, Westlake Village, CA
	Program Description:
	The Central Coast MIT Enterprise Forum will present an informative evening program entitled “Biotechnology: Cracking the Code for Continued Industry Growth.” The program will take place on Wednesday, October 16th, 2002, from 5:30 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. at the Westlake Village Inn, in Westlake Village. This program is one in an ongoing monthly series hosted by the Forum focusing on the challenges of raising capital and growing start-up and emerging growth companies and offering high-quality networking opportunities for entrepreneurs and business professionals.\n\nThe evening will open with a keynote address by Pablo Valencia, Director, Office of Technology Transfer at the University of Southern California School of Medicine. Immediately thereafter, Krisztina Zsebo, Ph.D., CEO and President of Remedyne Corporation, a Santa Barbara-based biotechnology company, will present her company’s business plan before a panel of experts representing the biotech industry, academia and the investor community. The panelists will critique the company presentation, offering their advice and insights into the world of launching a successful biotech company in today’s competitive environment. Following the panel discussion, members of the audience will have the opportunity to address questions to both the company and the panelists. \n\nIn the second quarter of 2002, nearly $200 million of venture capital was invested in biotechnology companies from Santa Barbara to San Diego, accounting for 21% of the nationwide biotech investment. This year stands to be a record year for the industry in terms of dollars invested and, notwithstanding the current economic downturn, some experts are predicting continued industry growth. This program will explore recent industry trends, as well as some of the specific issues facing emerging biotech companies along the Central Coast. \n \nThe evening will begin with a keynote presentation by Pablo Valencia, Director, Office of Technology Transfer at the University of Southern California School of Medicine. Mr. Valencia will discuss the current state of biotechnology in the region and the ongoing initiatives to catalyze industry growth within the region.\n\nFollowing the keynote speech, Krisztina Zsebo of Remedyne will present her company’s business plan before a panel of experts. Remedyne is a biotechnology company that is focused on the development of orally available cancer immunotherapies targeting colorectal and non-small cell lung. Infectious disease applications include chronic hepatitis, HIV, human papilloma virus, tuberculosis, and other infectious diseases. The company was founded in 1999, utilizing technology developed at University of California, Santa Barbara.\n\nDr. Zsebo will present her company before a panel of experts, including Mr. Valencia, Bill Adams, Managing Director of Convergent Ventures, LLC, a local venture capital firm focused on the biotech industry, and James Harber, Director, Central Coast Biotechnology Center. Randy Churchill, Director of Business Development in the Emerging Technology Practice of PricewaterhouseCoopers will moderate the panel.\n\nJerry Yankie, co-founder of ThinGap Motor Technology had this to say about his recent experience with the Forum: “ThinGap Motors appreciated the opportunity to present our early stage company to a very attentive group of local business professionals and in return, receive excellent feedback and constructive critique from a highly qualified review panel.” Mr Yankie went on to say: “Any company could greatly benefit from this exposure and experience, our many thanks to CCMIT for providing such a wonderful communication channel and for allowing ThinGap Motors to present our business model.”\n
	When:
	Wednesday, October 16, 2002 5:30 PM
	Where:
	Westlake Village Inn, Westlake Village, CA
	Cost:
	Student $15.00 Regular $30.00 At the Door $40.00 Parking $0.00