Is our Life Sciences industry the most under-reported unicorn in California’s industrial dominance? Can Life Sciences innovation survive the USA government’s assault on science? In this eye-opening episode, Rob sits down with friend Dave Whelan, to uncover how LA is rapidly transforming into a major player in biotech and health innovation. They discuss groundbreaking projects like UCLA’s new Research Park, the explosion of AI in drug discovery, and how diversity and storytelling are shaping the future of healthcare and life sciences startups. From political roadblocks to billion-dollar opportunities, this conversation is packed with insights for anyone curious about where health tech is heading—and why LA might just be leading the charge.

Feel free to follow and engage with DAVE here:

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/djwhelan/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/djwhelan
• X: https://x.com/djwhelan
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/djwhelan
• Website: https://www.bespokestrategy.com/whelan

We're so grateful to you, our growing audience of entrepreneurs, investors and community leaders interested in the human stories of the Entrepreneurial Thinkers behind entrepreneurial economies worldwide.

As always we hope you enjoy each episode and Like, Follow, Subscribe or share with your friends. You can find our shows here, and our new Video Podcast, at “Entrepreneurial Thinkers” channel on YouTube. Plug in, relax and enjoy inspiring, educational and empowering conversations between Rob and our guests.

¡Cheers y gracias!,

Entrepreneurial Thinkers Team.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Entrepreneurial Thinkers

04:46 The Evolution of Life Sciences in California

19:03 UCLA Research Park: A New Era for Innovation

28:37 The Vision for Life Sciences Development

33:31 The Role of Universities in Life Sciences

37:23 Navigating Funding Challenges in Academia

47:03 Breakthroughs in Life Sciences and AI's Impact

56:55 Understanding Neurodegenerative Diseases

58:47 Diversity in Innovation and Health Sciences

01:06:37 The Importance of Storytelling in Health Tech

01:11:56 Dave Whelan's Multifaceted Career and Contributions

01:18:04 Key Mistakes in Health Tech Innovation