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March 27, 2024
12:30 PM - 7 PM
10918 Technology Pl
San Diego, CA 92127
Dr. Kala Fleming is an innovator and engineer on a mission to democratize green jobs. She launched Frontline Gig to connect entry-level talent to green workforce programs and full-time work. In the process, her team is building the largest network of employers providing entry-level and hourly green jobs opportunities. In cities like DC and Baltimore, Frontline works with employers to fill surge staffing openings and to build part-time Climate Corps programs. This bottom-up effort is helping economic development orgs think about new multipliers for hourly work in general and multipliers for hourly work in the green economy.
Previously, she held strategy and research roles at IBM, working with clients to establish differentiated market positions through the use of emerging technologies such as IoT, AI and blockchain. Her seminal TED talk in 2015 on creating digital aquifers inspired a range of forward-thinking water management projects, from Kenya to California, that seek to use more granular water activity data to reduce water scarcity risks.
Dr. Fleming holds a PhD in Civil and Environmental Engineering from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. She has lived and worked in the US, Caribbean, Kenya, Ghana and the Philippines and is a frequent speaker at entrepreneurship, international development and innovation-related events.
Ted Talk: https://youtu.be/78kzzMySOvw?si=qc_HnG2Vxq5VXyvY
Michele Champagne is a technology, operations and corporate strategy leader who drives growth and integration across all aspects of start-up organizations in Food Tech and Biotech. Her broad expertise also includes Regulatory Affairs, pre-clinical/clinical claims substantiation, technology transfer/manufacturing scale-up. Michele is particularly adept at organizational turnarounds, guiding struggling teams to pivot away from a research-centric mentality toward a market- and customer problem-focused plan. Michele earned a B.S. in Medical Technology and a Ph.D. in Molecular Biology. She is a Certified Food Scientist, a FSMA Preventive Controls Qualified Individual, and has training in GMP and Food Safety.
Dr. Ravi Chawla is a scientist and engineer with over 12 years of interdisciplinary training and research experience in chemical engineering and life sciences. His PhD work focused on bacterial biophysics, specifically understanding bacterial mechanosensing - how bacteria detect mechanical surfaces. Most recently, he was awarded the prestigious American Heart Association Postdoctoral Fellowship in Microbiology& Infectious Diseases at Scripps Research, La Jolla. As the founder of ChakraTech, a San Diego-based startup, Dr. Chawla is leading initiatives to bridge climatetech, cleantech, and biotech for sustainable manufacturing of materials and chemicals.
Nik Chekshin completed his undergraduate and masters studies in synthetic and computational chemistry at the University of Oxford and is currently a doctoral researcher in catalysis and computational modeling at Scripps Research. His research is focused on the discovery of sustainable and efficient approaches to the synthesis and modification of bioactive molecules. As an Executive Board member at the Scripps Society of Fellows and Nucleate, he helps build new connections between innovators in academia and industry and promotes early-stage founders in the life sciences. As the founder at ANSELM, he leads the team of scientists developing innovative digital technologies for profitable decarbonization of heat-intensive industries via energy efficiency optimization.
Corrine is a global talent acquisition leader, with a track record of success in recruiting & hiring for emerging industries, especially cybersecurity and data science. Her reputation extends to the alternative wellness space, scaling several 'plant-touching' cannabis companies like Lord Jones, CLICK Spray, and MedMen. Her innate understanding of the challenges, opportunities, and potential in psychedelics goes beyond surface level - she formerly interned at several pharmaceutical companies (including Receptos), completed advanced courses in pharmacological chemistry at UCSD and was a founding partner for a topical CBD brand based in California. Her optimistic advocacy for the growth of the psychedelic industry includes passionate ambassadorship to heighten awareness and understanding of the benefits of psychedelics for people from all walks of life.
Carnellia is the Managing Partner and Founder of Futuryst Ventures and award-winning CEO of Futuryst, a technology innovation and sustainability venture studio that collaborates with startups ,corporations, universities and government agencies. Carnellia is also co-founder of Frequencyy, an AI powered fintech platform for purpose driven founders and impact investors using debt capital as a source for good to advance entertainment at the intersection of activism and deep technology solving some of the world’s most pressing problems. She is a designer, entrepreneur and investor at the intersection of creating positive change in the realms of innovation, sustainability and ventures. Like many, Carnellia envision an equitable, regenerative future – and as an author, speaker, business advisor and venture capitalist, she plays a part in realizing the positive changes she hopes to see in the world.
Neal Bloom is a serial entrepreneur, community builder, and investor. He previously built large aerospace systems and talent marketplaces. A previous startup he founded, Portfolium, connected students to careers through visual resumes which fed data to universities and employers. It was acquired by Instructure ($INST). Neal has been building startup ecosystems for over a decade to create better environments to build a tech business. He has led Startup San Diego and runs Fresh Brewed Tech, and the Tacos and Tech Podcast.
Neal is an angel investor, limited partner (LP), and co-manages Interlock Capital, an investment community. The Interlock community of experienced tech builders find, evaluate, fund, and support the best technology companies through the venture fund and angel investor syndicate.
Zac Dobbin is the Program Director of Cleantech San Diego’s Southern California Energy Innovation Network (SCEIN), a California Energy Commission funded program that provides innovative energy startups in San Diego, Imperial, San Bernardino, and Riverside counties with access to commercialization services. The program has helped over76 companies bring their energy innovations to market. Prior to joining Cleantech San Diego, Zac worked with the Port of San Diego’s Aquaculture and Blue Economy Incubator. Zac holds an MBA from the University of San Diego and a Bachelor of Commerce in Entrepreneurship from Dalhousie University.
Dr. Mo Kagalwala received his Ph.D. in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology from the Southern Illinois University School of Medicine and MBA from UCSD Rady School of Management. Dr. Kagalwala completed postdoctoral fellowships at MD Anderson Cancer Center and the Salk Institute. In 2020, he moved to Immuneering Corporation as Head/Sr. Director of Neuroscience Development where he played a pivotal role in advancing two drug pipelines, and straddled business development leading to successful pharma partnerships, including an IPO exit. Later, Dr. Kagalwala co-founded AlleoLabs, an early-stage biotech company focused on developing precision medicine for CNS diseases. His research topics mainly include Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, and other neurological disorders over the last 19years. Dr. Kagalwala enjoys mentoring next generation of entrepreneurs at the Basement and StartR programs at UCSD.
As Investment Partner with a geographic focus in North America and Europe in early to growth-stage technology companies, Albert works on deal evaluation, underwriting, value-add activities and capital formation for our various funds and portfolio companies. Sway Ventures invests in companies addressing inefficiencies in enterprise and consumer markets. As a California headquartered Ventures Capital firm specialized in software startups, we invest in Fintech, Proptech, Retail Tech, and Supply Chain Tech. Albert is specialized in Supply Chain Tech, and some notable investments to transform how the industrial and logistics sectors operates are Fetch Robotics, Slingshot Aerospace, Noble.ai, Onscale, and Everythng.
Jackiee Williamson leads sustainability and inclusivity initiatives for the Biocom California Purchasing Group, ensuring suppliers and members in life science have the knowledge, tools, and resources needed to incorporate sustainable business practices into their daily operations. She is a certified Project Management Professional (PMP®) and has a strong background in project, event, and partner management within the nonprofit sector. She obtained a Bachelor of Science in Public Health from Indiana University and a Certificate of Specialization in Business in Society from Harvard Business School Online. She currently serves on the board of OUTbio San Diego, a nonprofit organization that empowers LGBTQIA+ professionals in life science and affiliated industries through networking, education, advocacy, professional development and peer support.
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The future of Biology is Digital and AI stands at the forefront of this transformative journey! We invite you to join us for an enlightening day of discovery, networking, and inspiration, where we delve into the realm of AI-powered Digital Biology and its profound influence on the future of Biotechnology, Pharmaceuticals, and Life itself!
AI Digital Biology is reshaping the life sciences economy through modeling, computational biology, omics data, and synthetic biology. It has the power to not only save lives but also mitigate pollution and maybe expedite the pace of evolution.
Come support startup companies in the AIDBio space. We extend a warm invitation to all biotech, pharma, academics, entrepreneurs, and investors to be a part of the AI Digital Biology Era. Connect with leading AI industry experts, and engage in passionate discussions, sharing your insights and perspectives with our vibrant community.
Are you ready to supercharge your innovative startup in the cutting-edge fields of Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning? Don't miss this golden opportunity to bring your vision to life!
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!
