CAF brings a powerful process to the development of regional or industry ecosystems. Our format combines careful curation with thoughtful engagement design to produce intense, productive discussions and ongoing relationships. We've moved online -- and the cognitive science principles we use to create our events remain intact. Contact us to discuss a regional, industry or professional ecosystem you'd like to see us tackle!
Read on for more information about our prior events!
In 2019 we developed two regional events. We convened the LA Innovation Forum, hosted by Magnify UCLA and sponsored by Alexandria Real Estate and BioLA; and we proudly sponsored and facilitated the SoCal Ecosystem Leadership Forum, convened by the Alliance for SoCal Innovation.
Read on for more information about our prior events!
In 2019 we developed two regional events. We convened the LA Innovation Forum, hosted by Magnify UCLA and sponsored by Alexandria Real Estate and BioLA; and we proudly sponsored and facilitated the SoCal Ecosystem Leadership Forum, convened by the Alliance for SoCal Innovation.
"The all day workshop was professionally facilitated by Dr. Diana Joseph, founder of the Corporate Accelerator Forum who is one of those rare souls who “gets ecosystems” and was able to masterfully engage 50 diverse attendees which included founders, corporates, investors, academic/tech transfer, ecosystem organizations, government and others who defy simple categorization." -- Alliance for SoCal Innovation
Insight decks for both events are available to Members, please contact us regarding membership or to access our reports if you are already a member.
L.A. Innovation Forum, May 29, 2019
"I reflected on my time participating in the LA Innovation Forum. The event was expertly planned and executed from beginning to end. I really appreciated the value the participants from the main stakeholder groups brought and our flexing between strategic and tactical work. You simply have developed a well oiled machine with actionable deliverables and learnings. Brava and thank you for the opportunity."
--Los Angeles investor
--Los Angeles investor
Smash hit event! If you are based in the Los Angeles area and would like to learn more, please contact us -- activities are ongoing.
The startup ecosystem in L.A. carries a different set of possibilities and challenges than more-famous life science hubs. We used the Forum approach to gather players from across the ecosystem and across the L.A. region to come up with insights and actions to energize and facilitate startup innovation. Interested in L.A. and startups? If you're in real estate, startup investment, university, government, corporate or independent startup incubation or you're working on the startup ecosystem directly, you're part of this conversation. Let's talk!
Topics:
*Understanding the ecosystem by role, geography and startup maturity -- what resources are available where, and when? Where do we have abundance, and where do we have open niches?
*Capital -- How do incubators and investors intersect and combine to create impact?
*Talent -- How do we take advantage of the world-class diversity available in Los Angeles? How might we create an L.A. where field-tested execs can stay engaged locally, even as companies ebb and flow?
*The startup journey for the "big flags:" Significant startup can attract attention, capital and talent. What's working in L.A. for companies that have made it? How do we bring attention, and how do we get more?
Attendees:
Alliance for SoCal Innovation
Alexandria Venture Investments
Alfred Mann Foundation
Bayer CoLaborator
BioBuilt
BioCom LA
BioLA
BioLabs
Children's Hospital of Los Angeles
Corning
Hatchspaces
LA BioMed
LA Bioscience Hub
LabLaunch
Los Angeles Economic Development Corporation
Magnify at CNSI, UCLA
MarsBio
Mayor's Office of Economic Development
MedTech Innovator
Mesh Academy, USC
Pasadena BioCollaborative
University Lab Partners
Wavemaker Three-Sixty Health
Thanks to Magnify UCLA and MedTech Innovator, hosts of our optional just-for-fun scavenger hunt at UCLA on May 28th, the night before the LA Innovation Forum.
Design of the Day
8:00 am
Informal Breakfast onsite at Magnify.
Meet leaders and attendees, explore, place yourself on the map, suggest topics for later, get nourished for the day!
9:00 Introductions
Learn who is here, who is like you, who has something to teach you.
9:30 Spectrum Games, Mapwork and Resource Thinking
Maps: LA startup ecosystem participants know we need better ways of understanding and communicating LA's resources. We also know that our geography presents (at least) a perception problem. This morning we'll develop a visceral understanding of the roles in our ecosystem, across geography and across the startup journey. We'll identify abundance, challenges, solutions and insights. And we'll do all this through games and quick conversations! Daniel Tellalian, BioLA, leads the effort to document our findings for the broad audience in need of this information, with Alece Birnbach, Graphic Footprints. Morning breaktime TBD.
12:30 Lunch
1:30 Conversation Round 1: Money and Talent
Group Conversation Hosts:
*Kwame Ulmer, Wavemaker Three-Sixty
*Llewellyn Cox, BioBuilt & MarsBio
*Hallie Kuhn, Alexandria Real Estate
Money and talent are abundant in Los Angeles. Or are they? These three leaders each kick off a separate small group conversation about how we foster, make use of, communicate about and maintain executive talent and investment.
2:30
Lock In the Learning
After each discussion round, we'll share group findings to the full meeting and make them stronger.
Captured by graphic recorder Alece Birnbach, Graphic Footprints.
3:00
Break
3: 15
Conversation Round 2: Raising Big Flags
Group Conversation Hosts:
*Jasson Crockett, Mayor's Office of Economic Development
*Dina Lozofsky, BioCom
*Brian Benson, Magnify
The number of major startup wins in the our space coming Los Angeles is fairly small. What's possible if LA produces more significant exits? How will we encourage that process?
4:15
Lock In the Learning
4:45
Close
5:00
Wine reception, sponsored by Silicon Valley Bank!
The startup ecosystem in L.A. carries a different set of possibilities and challenges than more-famous life science hubs. We used the Forum approach to gather players from across the ecosystem and across the L.A. region to come up with insights and actions to energize and facilitate startup innovation. Interested in L.A. and startups? If you're in real estate, startup investment, university, government, corporate or independent startup incubation or you're working on the startup ecosystem directly, you're part of this conversation. Let's talk!
Topics:
*Understanding the ecosystem by role, geography and startup maturity -- what resources are available where, and when? Where do we have abundance, and where do we have open niches?
*Capital -- How do incubators and investors intersect and combine to create impact?
*Talent -- How do we take advantage of the world-class diversity available in Los Angeles? How might we create an L.A. where field-tested execs can stay engaged locally, even as companies ebb and flow?
*The startup journey for the "big flags:" Significant startup can attract attention, capital and talent. What's working in L.A. for companies that have made it? How do we bring attention, and how do we get more?
Attendees:
Alliance for SoCal Innovation
Alexandria Venture Investments
Alfred Mann Foundation
Bayer CoLaborator
BioBuilt
BioCom LA
BioLA
BioLabs
Children's Hospital of Los Angeles
Corning
Hatchspaces
LA BioMed
LA Bioscience Hub
LabLaunch
Los Angeles Economic Development Corporation
Magnify at CNSI, UCLA
MarsBio
Mayor's Office of Economic Development
MedTech Innovator
Mesh Academy, USC
Pasadena BioCollaborative
University Lab Partners
Wavemaker Three-Sixty Health
Thanks to Magnify UCLA and MedTech Innovator, hosts of our optional just-for-fun scavenger hunt at UCLA on May 28th, the night before the LA Innovation Forum.
Design of the Day
8:00 am
Informal Breakfast onsite at Magnify.
Meet leaders and attendees, explore, place yourself on the map, suggest topics for later, get nourished for the day!
9:00 Introductions
Learn who is here, who is like you, who has something to teach you.
9:30 Spectrum Games, Mapwork and Resource Thinking
Maps: LA startup ecosystem participants know we need better ways of understanding and communicating LA's resources. We also know that our geography presents (at least) a perception problem. This morning we'll develop a visceral understanding of the roles in our ecosystem, across geography and across the startup journey. We'll identify abundance, challenges, solutions and insights. And we'll do all this through games and quick conversations! Daniel Tellalian, BioLA, leads the effort to document our findings for the broad audience in need of this information, with Alece Birnbach, Graphic Footprints. Morning breaktime TBD.
12:30 Lunch
1:30 Conversation Round 1: Money and Talent
Group Conversation Hosts:
*Kwame Ulmer, Wavemaker Three-Sixty
*Llewellyn Cox, BioBuilt & MarsBio
*Hallie Kuhn, Alexandria Real Estate
Money and talent are abundant in Los Angeles. Or are they? These three leaders each kick off a separate small group conversation about how we foster, make use of, communicate about and maintain executive talent and investment.
2:30
Lock In the Learning
After each discussion round, we'll share group findings to the full meeting and make them stronger.
Captured by graphic recorder Alece Birnbach, Graphic Footprints.
3:00
Break
3: 15
Conversation Round 2: Raising Big Flags
Group Conversation Hosts:
*Jasson Crockett, Mayor's Office of Economic Development
*Dina Lozofsky, BioCom
*Brian Benson, Magnify
The number of major startup wins in the our space coming Los Angeles is fairly small. What's possible if LA produces more significant exits? How will we encourage that process?
4:15
Lock In the Learning
4:45
Close
5:00
Wine reception, sponsored by Silicon Valley Bank!
Hallie Kuhn, Principal, Alexandria Venture Investments
Hallie Kuhn is a Principal at Alexandria Venture Investments. Formerly, Hallie was a Principal at LS Polaris Innovation Fund, where she focused on seed and early-stage biotech investments. Concurrently she served as Chief of Staff for Amy Schulman, a partner at Polaris Partners, supporting operations and business development for several Polaris portfolio companies. Notable transactions include leading the sale of Olivo Laboratories to Shiseido Inc. in 2017 and establishing an $80 million Chinese joint venture. Prior to this role, Hallie was a Senior Consultant at ClearView Healthcare Partners. Hallie holds a Ph.D. in Systems Biology from Harvard University and prior to her graduate work was a Churchill Scholar at Cambridge University. She is a recipient of a National Science Foundation Graduate Fellowship, National Defense Science and Engineering Fellowship and Harvard Ashford Fellowship. She holds a B.S. from Harvey Mudd College.
