In every conversation I have with life sciences executives across Southern California, one theme continues to surface. Companies are innovating, hiring, raising capital, and advancing science at an impressive pace. Yet many leaders still feel disconnected from the broader ecosystem operating around them.
There is a shared need for visibility, collaboration, and support, especially for companies building outside more traditional life sciences hubs. Many CEOs, CFOs, and founders are surprised to learn that a well-established organization already exists to offer that structure. That organization is SoCalBio.
SoCalBio has quietly been supporting growth throughout the Southern California region for nearly thirty years. It is time to put a spotlight on the value it delivers and the impact it continues to make across the bioscience sector.
What SoCalBio Is and Who It Serves
The Southern California Biomedical Council is a nonprofit membership organization representing life sciences companies across six counties in the Greater Los Angeles area. It serves biotechnology, medical device, diagnostics, digital health, research institutions, investors, and partner organizations that share a commitment to advancing innovation, job creation, and commercialization.
Membership includes startups, clinical-stage companies, mature enterprises, and the academic and investment partners who shape the future of the field. It is one of the few regional organizations that bridges all areas of the industry in a meaningful way.
Closing Gaps for Growing Companies
Many executives assume that joining an industry association requires a significant financial investment. For early-stage and emerging companies, that perception often keeps them on the sidelines. Membership dues in comparable organizations can range from twenty to fifty thousand dollars a year, a cost that can be prohibitive.
The goal of SoCalBio is to lower barriers so that scientists, founders, and small teams can participate while they grow. Affordable membership creates access, and access fuels innovation. It ensures the smallest companies benefit from the same ecosystem advantages available to the largest enterprises.
Programs That Strengthen the Region
SoCalBio continues to evolve along with the industry, and it provides targeted support where companies need it most:
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Startup support and access to capital: Pitch forums, investment showcases, and curated introductions give young companies an opportunity to connect with investors and strategic partners who can help accelerate their progress.
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CEO and CFO learning environments: Executive roundtables provide candid dialogue around topics such as fundraising, valuation pressure, supply chain planning, compliance, and commercialization pathways.
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Education and workforce development: Programming connects educators, industry leaders, and students to build the talent pipeline that Southern California needs to sustain expansion.
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Early exposure for future innovators: The BioGENEius Challenge Series introduces high school students to real biotechnology research and expands the talent funnel long before most students consider a career in the field.
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A Voice at the Policy Table
Policy shaping science, manufacturing, or workforce investment often happens without direct company involvement. For many organizations, there is no dedicated resource tracking legislative changes or representing their interests.
SoCalBio fills that gap. It actively engages regulators, economic development groups, elected officials, and community leaders to advocate for the business conditions required to sustain innovation, scale manufacturing, and bring new therapies and technologies to market.
For organizations that do not have a government affairs function, SoCalBio provides representation and influence that would otherwise be out of reach.
Delivering Tangible Business Value
One of the most meaningful but often overlooked benefits of membership is operational cost efficiency. The Group Purchasing Program aggregates member buying power so organizations can secure preferential pricing on the products and services they use every day.
The results speak for themselves. In 2024, SoCalBio members saved over twenty-four million dollars through leveraged purchasing. The impact extends beyond consumables and equipment. It touches facilities, HR services, travel, and other operational cost centers that materially affect cash flow and runway.
Bringing the SoCal Bioscience Community Together
Southern California has the research, the entrepreneurial talent, the academic institutions, and the commercial potential to be recognized as one of the country’s most important bioscience regions. The challenge has always been cohesion. With companies stretching across six counties, the ecosystem can operate as segmented markets rather than a unified engine.
SoCalBio brings those voices together. It promotes the identity and capabilities of the region and ensures that the companies working here are not operating in isolation.
How to Get Involved
If you are operating in the life sciences sector in Southern California, I encourage you to learn more about SoCalBio and what it offers. Participate in a roundtable, join a committee, engage with the network, or explore membership opportunities. When companies across the region connect and collaborate, we multiply our impact.
If you would like to get involved or want to learn where to start, I would be glad to help point you in the right direction.
Jake Vander Zanden
Partner
jake@mbexec.com
949.541.5000
Jake Vander Zanden serves as a Partner and leader of McDermott + Bull’s Technology + Life Sciences Practice. Jake spent over 25 years as a turnaround and growth leader completing business transformations as a senior executive at companies like Allergan, Medtronic, and more. He has lived and worked throughout Asia, Africa, and Europe, and managed businesses in all the major regions of the world. Jake’s success has come from his ability to quickly and continuously develop high performing teams and guide their achievement of company changing initiatives, regardless of country, language, culture, or product group.