Editor’s note: Joan Siefert Rose is CEO of LaunchBio, which has a major operation in Durham

DURHAM – As we raise a mug of hot chocolate to welcome November, all of us at Launch Bio are thankful for YOU!

Yippee! We’re 3!

Next month marks our third anniversary, and we have a great  story to tell:

LaunchBio’s signature Larger Than Life Science monthly educational and networking programs are now offered in 6 top biotech hubs: Cambridge, San Francisco, San Diego, New York City, Durham and Los Angeles – with some new locations on the horizon for 2020. Here are some fun facts:

  • 10,850 people have attended our programs since Larger Than Life Science launched in 2018
  • 35% of our attendees are entrepreneurs working in the life sciences
  • 90% of those surveyed say they would recommend Larger Than Life Science to a friend

We invite you to join us a sponsor, contributor or volunteer. LaunchBio is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization, so you will support our mission of building an ecosystem of innovation for the benefit of human health and well-being, AND your donation may qualify as tax-deductible.

Sponsorships for 2020 are available at the national, regional or local level. They provide a chance to reach some of the nation’s most dynamic life science entrepreneurs, biotech industry leaders, investors and researchers. Please contact me at joan@launchbio.org to learn more.

On-line donations can be made here  – simply scroll to the “Donate Now” button.  If you’re interested in making a gift of appreciated stock to charity, we invite you to send a note to info@launchbio.org.

Interested in volunteering at one of LaunchBio’s monthly events? Contact Laura Pyatt at laura@launchbio.org, and let her know where you’re located so we can match you with the right program.

Again, many thanks for your interest and support of LaunchBio’s work and mission. Here are the program highlights for this month:

The Inside Scoop on Biotech Salaries and Bonuses

If you’re recruiting to your team, negotiating your own compensation package, or hoping to add someone to your board of directors, you’ll want to check out Compensation Confidential, offered November 6 in New York City and November 7 in Cambridge. This up-to-the minute survey of pay, benefits, bonuses and incentives among privately held biotechs in top markets comes from compensation expert Jody Thelander, along with legal advice from WSGR and wealth management insights from J.P. Morgan. It’s one-of-a-kind information, so be sure to sign up today.

The Power of Mentorship

Everyone needs a helping hand to build a successful career, as we hear from Women in Science Trailblazers at the November 7 Larger Than Life Science program in Durham. The panel includes leaders from industry, academia and nonprofits discussing the people who helped them along the way and the pivotal decisions they’ve made. The Durham program also includes practical sessions on preparing for medical device clinical trials and Phase 1 manufacturing. And all of this will smell good, as our featured community partner discusses The Science of Bread (and provides some free samples).

Speaking of Science

LaunchBio’s November 14 program, in partnership with BioLabs@The Lundquist Institute in Los Angeles, comes just in time for Thanksgiving: We will give you some tips on explaining your science to non-scientists, so you can tell everyone at the dinner table what, exactly, it is that you’re doing in the lab all day.  The advice, which comes from our friends at Larta, also is useful for talking with potential investors, employees, and partners. A biotech entrepreneur will explain why he’s bullish on LA as a place for startups, and Millipore Sigma will be on hand with some fun interactive games.

Teamwork

Technical skill is important when you’re commercializing a new technology, but it’s not enough to build a successful company. Join us November 20 in San Diego to hear from entrepreneurs and investors who have helped growing companies add skill sets and personalities that go beyond the founding team.  We’ll also feature a session on what it means to build a diverse, inclusive workforce, and you’re encouraged to ask questions and learn about resources available to you.

I hope to see you at one of our programs this month. We are thankful that you are part of LaunchBio’s growing community!

(C) LaunchBio