Interview with John Dilts and Brent Reinke
Founders, The Biotech Forum

The Biotech Forum made headlines in September 2007, launching with a timely event entitled: “Challenges and Opportunities to Funding and Starting a Biotech Company.” Since the launch, word has quickly spread throughout the Conjeo Valley biotech community garnering the support of leading biotech executives, city officials and corporate partners. The Forum founders, John Dilts and Brent Reinke, took a moment to share their insights into the emergence and evolution of their rapidly expanding networking organization.

Why did you decide to form The Biotech Forum?

JD:  Brent and I developed the concept in mid-2007 given what we was saw going on in the local community.  All the players for creating a new biotech cluster in the region were in place, there simply needed to be some kind of catalyst for bringing those players together in a collaborative way.

BR: Having worked with numerous entrepreneurs throughout our respective careers, we understand how important it is for an entrepreneur to have ready access to the investment community, a network of experienced executives and useful business information about starting and growing a new venture. 

JD:  Brent and I both recognize the incredibly unique opportunity which has been presented to this region to develop a biotech cluster. The Forum was created by us to provide scientists and executives with the resources and network that will be instrumental in helping them start and successfully grow new biotech and healthcare ventures in this region.

How does the Forum serve the local community?

BR: Currently, there are a significant number of highly qualified and experienced biotech scientists and executives who live in our region and are looking to start new life sciences companies. Many of them have close ties to the region and don’t want to be forced to move to the Bay Area or San Diego where more mature biotech ecosystems exist.

JD: Additionally, some of my colleagues had recently transitioned out of Amgen and it was obvious to me that these scientists and executives who would need a place to land locally. At the time, there were only a few places for them to turn for resources and relationships to support their interest in starting or participating in new biotech ventures.

BR: We created the Forum to accommodate these individuals as well as our colleagues in the venture capital industry who want to tap the high quality labor pool that exists here.

Who else is involved in starting the Forum?

JD: Brent and I began by leveraging our respective business networks (Maverick Angels and Gold Coast Business Forum) and selected the individuals that we felt best fit the profile for this new Forum. These included entrepreneurs, scientists, investors and established technology company executives. Word spread fast and the rest is history. Our networking events have been sold out since our first meeting.

BR: We have already received sponsor commitments from professional organizations, such as Merrill Lynch, Silicon Valley Bank and PricewaterhouseCoopers, who are well known for actively working with companies and executives involved in the biotech industry.

What is the purpose of your next conference?

JD: The purpose of all of our events is to help foster relationships in the local biotech community and to encourage our members and event attendees to share valuable resources and contacts in addition to their knowledge and expertise.

BR: Our next event is entitled "The Perfect Storm: Forecasting An Emerging Regional Biotech Industry". This half day event will feature several panel discussions, including a panel of top Bay Area VC funds, senior technology transfer officials from UCLA, USC, Cal Tech and UCSB and former Amgen executives who have started their own biotech companies. Most of the attendees will be senior scientists, executives and investors who are actively involved in the biotech, medical device, healthcare and life sciences industries.

JD: This event will be the fuel that powers the local biotech movement. The exchange of vital needs, resources and know-how will drive this new biotech cluster forward.

What will attendees gain from attending the conference and panel symposiums?

BR: The event will provide attendees an excellent opportunity to network with other key players in the biotech community and will showcase the unique opportunity available to our region for developing a biotech cluster.

JD: Bringing together key players to share their ideas and expertise in this way is unprecedented for this region. This will really be a ground-breaking event and we are very excited to help make it happen.

There’s buzz in the air about a possible Membership base? What is this about?

BR: Yes, the Forum will be a member only organization. To ensure a quality membership, the Forum will have a committee which reviews membership applications of prospective new members who are interested in becoming a part of the group.

JD: A networking group is only as good as the quality of its participants. We felt from the beginning that the Forum had to include the right players to ensure that it represented a positive and productive experience for everyone involved.

BR: Of course, we also welcome our friends from the local city governments and academia who are also committed to support the goals of the Forum. These are the key players who need to interact in a trusted and welcoming environment in order to make the Forum a success.

JD: If interested, prospective members can apply to join via the Forum website or by contacting shelley@thebiotechforum.com. The annual membership fee is $395. In the future, attendance at the Forum events will be by invitation only and on-going participation in the Forum requires that you apply and are approved by the Membership Committee.

Long term, what do you want to accomplish for The Biotech Forum?

JD: Our ultimate goal is to develop a thriving biotech and life science ecosystem in the region north of Los Angeles. Our primary geographical focus for the Forum is the “101 Corridor” that spans from LA County up to Santa Barbara County. These cities are home to an increasing number of biotech companies that include Amgen and Baxter as well as many other smaller but rapidly growing start-ups. We also want to expand the focus of the Forum to include not just biotech activities, but medical device and general healthcare activities as well.

BR: Our intent is to become the lead regional biotech organization for facilitating the growth of a biotech industry in our area.

JD: We have had a great response and we are well on our way. I personally gain a great deal of satisfaction in bringing together intelligent and talented people to achieve something worthwhile for the larger community. To me, the Forum represents the right group at the right time and our goals for this initiative are well within reach.

For more information on The Biotech Forum, contact info@thebiotechforum.com.