Catalyst Capital Symposia
Clinical Tools
The Clinical Tools Symposium is a specialized event focused on the latest innovations and advancements in clinical tools and technologies. Healthcare professionals, researchers, and industry leaders gather to explore cutting-edge diagnostic instruments, treatment methodologies, and best practices that enhance patient care. The event also features a Startup Showcase, highlighting emerging companies and their breakthrough solutions in the medical field. Attendees can engage in expert talks, hands-on demonstrations, and networking opportunities to gain valuable insights.
Agenda
11:30 AM
- Investor Forum (accredited investors only)
12:30 PM
- Check-In & Networking
1:00 PM
- Early Stroke Screening Using SONAS
- Speaker: Thilo Hölscher, MD
1:30 PM
- Non-invasive Imaging of Cell Therapy: Accelerating Product Development During Translational and Clinical Trials
- Speaker: Mya S. Thu
2:00 PM
- Changing the Landscape of Regenerative Medicine: Integrated Mechanical Processing for Enhanced Fat Grafting and Therapeutic Applications
- Speaker: Dr. Derek Banyard
2:30 PM
- Immune-evasive Biomaterials for the Future of Medicine
- Speaker: Westbrook Weaver
3:00 PM - 5:00 PM
- Startup Showcase
5:00 PM - 7:00 PM
- Happy Hour & Networking & Startup Market
Prizes
- $40k in office/lab space
- $25k custom UX design package from the largest femtech incubator in the US
- Exploratory biostatistics package: 3 reports
- Membership to Mayo Clinic Innovation Exchange
- Regulatory kit and Regulatory strategy consulting (Medical Device only)
- $5,000 Legal fees
- Two months campaign on startup program
Learn from Subject Matter Experts
Thilo Hölscher, MD
CEO & Co-Founder of BURL Concepts, Inc.
- Former Professor in Neuroscience and Radiology at UCSD
- Founder of the UCSD Brain Ultrasound Research Laboratory
- Global Key Opinion Leader in Brain Ultrasound and Ultrasound Microbubbles
- Former Director of Germany's 1st Stroke Unit
- Inventor of the SONAS Device
Mya S. Thu
Co-founder and CEO of VisiCELL Medical
Mya S. Thu has significant experience developing and commercializing innovative technologies and has participated in two successful biotechnology start-up exits. She is an inventor of the Visicell core technology published in Nature Medicine; and has more than seventeen years of directly related experiences in theranostic nanomaterials, stem and immune cell labeling, and non-invasive monitoring of cell-based therapy by multi-modality imaging in oncology, cardiovascular, orthopaedic and neurodegenerative diseases. She holds a Masters in Medical Device and Diagnostic Engineering from University of Southern California, and a Masters of Business Administration from the Rady School of Management at the University of California, San Diego.
Dr. Derek Banyard
Founder and CEO of Sayenza Biosciences
Dr. Derek Banyard is the Founder and CEO of Sayenza Biosciences, a pioneering medical technology company transforming fat harvesting, processing, and delivery for aesthetic and regenerative medicine. Frustrated by outdated tools in fat grafting, Dr. Banyard left his plastic surgery residency in 2020 to establish Sayenza. As a surgeon-scientist with extensive research in tissue immunology, biology, and engineering, he has received numerous grants, including from the California Institute for Regenerative Medicine and the Plastic Surgery Foundation. An internationally recognized expert in adipose tissue biology, he holds several patents and has over 100 abstracts and publications. Dr. Banyard also maintains a part-time wound care surgery practice and serves as Executive Director of the Arthur L. Garnes Society, a non-profit dedicated to increasing minority representation in plastic surgery and reducing health disparities. He holds degrees from the University of Virginia, Meharry Medical College, Vanderbilt University, and UC Irvine School of Medicine.
Westbrook Weaver
Co-founder and CEO of Tempo Therapeutics, Inc.
Westbrook Weaver is a co-founder and the CEO of Tempo Therapeutics, Inc – a biotechnology company developing next-generation biomaterials that solve the immune rejection problem in tissue engineering. Westbrook received his PhD in Biomedical Engineering from the University of California, Los Angeles, where he worked to develop microfluidic tools for blood-based diagnostics and novel materials for cellular interfaces. During his postdoctoral work in tissue engineering, Westbrook was the co-inventor of the core technology upon which Tempo is founded and has since devoted himself to building a successful venture to bring this powerful technology to patients and the healthcare market.
MC/MODERATOR
STARTUP SHOWCASE
JUDGES
Daniela Di lasio
Venture Partner | Startup Mentor | Growth Strategist at DNAnx
Daniela is dedicated to empowering early-stage startups by providing strategic insights, funding guidance, and hands-on mentorship. With a deep understanding of business development and scaling operations, she helps founders navigate the complexities of growing their businesses in highly competitive markets. Passionate about identifying disruptive startups with high growth potential, she works closely with them to refine their business models, develop scalable strategies, and secure the necessary resources to thrive. Her mission is to bridge the gap between visionary founders and the capital and networks they need to succeed. She is a hard-working, dynamic, and determined person who strongly believes in transparency, clarity, loyalty, and competence, and she has based her professional career on these values.
Foghor Kagho
Startup Mentor and Venture Partner at DNAnx
Foghor spent the last decade launching and building businesses in the Southeast Asian startup space. He is an ex-founder of deeptech spin-off health tech companies, as a result of IP commercialisation with Universities and the research institute in Singapore. He is currently a Venture Partner with DNAnx where he uses his understanding of business models, startup strategies, ideation and validation to advise founders in readiness for fundraising. His priority is ensuring startups find product-market fit and attract the right type of investment partner for whatever stage they are in their journey to growth and scale.
Carnellia Ajasin
CEO at Futuryst, Inc.
Carnellia Ajasin is aserial tech entrepreneur, investor, and advisor. She co-founded FrequencyyCapital, a private equity firm investing in entertainment and media, and servesas the CEO of Futuryst, Inc., a tech innovation and sustainability venturestudio. At Frequencyy, she focuses on purpose-driven impact investments inalternative assets, while at Futuryst, she leads a distributed team inco-creating and scaling tech-enabled products that advance business andsustainability. Additionally, she is an Entrepreneur in Residence at GeorgiaTech Incubator, advising growth-stage companies and facilitating mentorship forstartups. Carnellia is also a venture capitalist through Portfolia, a women-ledVC fund focusing on technology, humanity, and sustainability.
Ralph Morales III
Managing Director at Shokunin Ventures
Ralph Morales III is an accomplished leader in the wearables and health tech space, with over 15 years of experience driving innovation and market growth. He has held pivotal roles at companies like Oura, where he led the development of healthcare solutions that generated significant revenue and expanded digital health capabilities. Ralph is a solution advocate for integrating digital biomarkers and real-time health insights to improve therapeutic outcomes and advance health span.
Carlo Casuga
Vice President, Early Stage Life Science and Healthcare at Silicon Valley Bank A Division of First Citizens Bank
Carlo Casuga is a Vice President in the Life Science Startup Banking Practice at Silicon Valley Bank. Based in the San Francisco Bay Area, Carlo’s mission is to help pre-Series A Life Science founders with banking services to help them accelerate their businesses. He also serves as a relationship builder, connecting his clients to accelerators, influencers, service providers and legal channels they need to create the future of healthcare. Carlo joined SVB in 2008 as a service advisor and later served as a relationship advisor for the hardware and fintech teams. He switched to the Life Science team in 2020 and brought his years of client service experience to his clients to ensure they have the best care for their financial needs.
Joseph Horsman
Investor at Madrona
Joe joined Madrona in 2022, focusing on sourcing and evaluating new investment opportunities, particularly at the intersection of life and computer sciences. He also supports the growth and strategy of current portfolio companies. With a background in business development at Roche and Stratos Genomics, Joe has extensive experience in advancing DNA sequencing technologies. He also worked at NanoString and the W Fund, commercializing multi-omic technologies and investing in early-stage startups. Joe’s philosophy emphasizes doing hard things, learning daily, and embracing being wrong. Outside of work, he enjoys outdoor activities like climbing, skiing, running, and biking, and volunteers with the Washington Alpine Club. Joe holds a doctorate in biochemistry from the University of Washington and graduated magna cum laude from the University of San Diego, where he also competed in track and field.
Judges
Sponsors
Startup Market
Catalyst Capital Symposia
Activating Startups
This monthly forum provides a unique opportunity for participants to gain valuable insights into emerging sectors and disruptive technologies that have the potential to revolutionize human health, the environment, and society.
Through engaging discussions, informative panels, and interactive workshops, aspiring and seasoned entrepreneurs and investors can learn about essential concepts, strategies, and best practices directly from industry experts.
By engaging the venture and startup ecosystem, the symposia encourages investors to be activists and empower startups with cutting-edge technology.
Investing in Startups
Join the ranks of investor-activists who not only provide financial backing but also lend their expertise, networks, and influence to nurture startups, catalyzing a collective effort towards a brighter, more innovative future.
Startups: Apply to Pitch
Pitch your startup to an audience of industry experts, colleagues, and seasoned investors to gain valuable insights and feedback, forge strategic partnerships and connections, secure vital funding for your pioneering project, and elevate your startup to the next level!
Apply to pitch at one of the upcoming symposiums.
Connecting with Potential Customers
Sponsorship at Catalyst Capital Symposia provides a range of advantages, such as heightened brand visibility, lead generation, networking opportunities, thought leadership, and early access to emerging technologies.
To explore the ways in which your company can benefit from sponsoring our event, reach out to us for more information.