Biotech, Business & a Lakers Win: BCLA x UCLA HBA Happy Hour

On May 1st, BCLA partnered with the UCLA Anderson Healthcare Business Association (HBA) for an evening that brought together two worlds that don’t always intersect enough: science and business, both essential to shaping the future of biotech.

Hosted at Jameson’s in Culver City, the event quickly filled with energy as early-career scientists, researchers, and MBA students connected over a shared curiosity: how do we better bridge discovery and impact? With food and drinks flowing and the Lakers game playing in the background (and ending in a win!), the atmosphere felt lively, relaxed, and distinctly LA.

The conversations throughout the evening naturally touched on translational science, career pivots, and the increasing need for cross-functional collaboration in biotech. Attendees exchanged perspectives on everything from discovery and commercialization to innovation and strategy, creating an especially engaging mix of ideas.

More than just a networking event, the evening showcased the value of connecting people with different perspectives but a shared interest in advancing biotech. The mix of scientific and business-minded conversations created an environment that felt both insightful and collaborative.

BCLA extends its sincere thanks to everyone who joined us and contributed to such an engaging evening. We are especially grateful to our core sponsors, Amgen, Teknova, LA BioSpace, and Magnify at CNSI for their continued support in building and strengthening the Los Angeles biotech community.

We’re excited to continue creating spaces like this, where connections spark ideas, and ideas turn into impact.