Breaking into the Business of Biotech 2026: From Innovation to Impact

On June 25, 2026 BCLA welcomed students, researchers, entrepreneurs, and biotechnology professionals for Breaking into the Business of Biotech: From Innovation to Impact, an evening dedicated to exploring how scientific discoveries become real-world innovations through entrepreneurship, commercialization, and business development.

Hosted at the newly opened LA BioSpace headquarters, the event brought together leaders from across biotech to share their experiences navigating the journey from academic research to industry, offering attendees an inside look at the opportunities, challenges, and decisions involved in translating science into impact.

The evening opened with a keynote from Damien Perriman, MBA, CCO of eXoZymes, and an experienced biotechnology entrepreneur whose career has spanned startup creation, technology commercialization, and sustainable manufacturing. Drawing on decades of experience, Damien shared the often-overlooked realities of bringing breakthrough technologies to market, emphasizing that innovation is rarely defined by a single discovery but by years of persistence, problem-solving, collaboration, and resilience through setbacks. As he reminded attendees, "Your grit is a very important attribute in this game," underscoring that scientific breakthroughs are ultimately driven by perseverance as much as technical expertise. 

Throughout his career, Damien has worked to commercialize technologies ranging from sustainable materials and renewable chemicals to next-generation manufacturing platforms. Reflecting on these experiences, he emphasized that every successful innovation is shaped by countless iterations, difficult decisions, and the determination to keep moving forward despite uncertainty.

Damien also highlighted that successful biotechnology innovation extends far beyond scientific discovery. Commercialization requires building partnerships, understanding customer needs, communicating value to investors and industry partners, and developing the ecosystems needed to translate scientific ideas into scalable technologies capable of creating meaningful societal impact.

Following the opening remarks, a panel on the commercialization of biotechnology and career paths brought together Bita Bordbar, PhD (Director of Business Development, Meadowhawk Biolabs), Joe de Rutte, PhD (Co-founder and CEO, Partillion Bioscience), and moderator Howard Xu, PhD (LA BioSpace). Panelists emphasized that researchers should consider intellectual property early in the research process to preserve future opportunities for commercialization and investment, highlighting the importance of patents, licensing, and technology transfer in moving discoveries beyond the laboratory.

The discussion also explored that commercialization extends far beyond therapeutics, spanning research tools, technology platforms, manufacturing solutions, and scientific services. Speakers described business development as far more than sales, emphasizing relationship-building, identifying unmet needs, and translating scientific innovation into partnerships that create real-world impact.

The panel also offered practical advice for scientists interested in entrepreneurship or industry careers. The panel encouraged scientists to stay curious, build transferable skills, embrace calculated risks, and remain open to opportunities beyond their comfort zones, noting that successful careers often require learning far beyond science alone.

The discussion concluded with a reminder that careers are rarely linear. Panelists encouraged attendees to remain proud of their accomplishments while remembering that growth comes from continuing to move forward, learning from setbacks, and staying open to new opportunities. As  Bita Bordbar, PhD reflected, "Your next move is more important than your last mistake."

Following the program, attendees continued conversations during a networking reception featuring live music by student musicians from Cal State LA, connecting with speakers, entrepreneurs, and fellow researchers while exploring the new LA BioSpace space. 

BCLA extends its sincere thanks to LA BioSpace for hosting this event and to our keynote speaker, Damien Perriman, MBA; our panelists, Bita Bordbar, PhD, and Joe de Rutte, PhD; and moderator Howard Xu, PhD, for generously sharing their expertise and experiences. We also thank everyone who attended and contributed to the thoughtful discussions and meaningful networking throughout the evening.

BCLA would also like to recognize our core sponsors, Amgen, Teknova, LA BioSpace, and Magnify at CNSI, for their continued commitment to expanding career development opportunities and strengthening Southern California's life sciences community.