The USC MESH (Medicine, Engineering, Science, Humanities) Academy at the Keck School of Medicine of USC announced today the collaborative agreement with the Larta Institute, a non-profit commercialization assistance corporation. The collaboration is aimed at unlocking the commercialization potential of world-class research at USC and promising technology-based businesses by offering resources so entrepreneurs can strengthen and speed their innovations to the marketplace.
The USC MESH Academy collaborates across the broader USC community and Los Angeles region to strengthen the culture of innovation at USC by facilitating the convergence of disciplines that can meet an unmet need that impacts human health and disease. The collaboration with Larta Institute provides a unique opportunity for USC entrepreneurs to engage with Larta’s extensive network of entrepreneurial resources. Specifically, USC MESH Academy will support Larta’s launch of their Commercialization Training Workshop on October 24-25, 2018 in Los Angeles. In addition, USC MESH Academy will host Larta’s “FeedForward Sessions” on March 13-14, 2019 at USC, during which cohort companies will interact and seek feedback from invited experts from industry, academia and the investment community. Through a selection process, USC entrepreneurs will have free access to these two events where they can interact with Larta’s expert advisors and gain access to the organization’s network to advance their commercialization efforts.
‘In an increasingly interconnected world facing significant health challenges, we must keep accelerating the pace of groundbreaking discoveries and their translation into revolutionary therapies.’ said Dr. Steve Kay, Director of USC MESH Academy. ‘We are honored to collaborate with the Larta Institute to connect USC researchers to local and global entrepreneurs, assist newly-started companies that have very limited operating capital, and support the thriving innovation ecosystem at USC.’
Larta’s commercialization programs have been adopted by US Federal Agencies (NIH, DoE, NSF, USDA, etc.) and governments around the world to equip innovators, principal investigators, and science-based ventures with the tools, network, and insight to build market relevance. ‘Larta acknowledges USC’s considerable academic and technology leadership across disciplines and its current initiatives such as USC MESH, geared at accelerating entrepreneurial development at USC and in the greater Los Angeles region, is a perfectly complements are efforts’ said Rohit Shukla, CEO Larta Institute.
Since 1993, Larta has assisted and transformed 10,000+ innovations into commercially successful enterprises that positively impact the human good. Markets, capital and expertise are distributed across a wide geography, requiring today’s entrepreneurs to fully engage this resource pool beyond their own locations. Larta calls this the “Network-Centric” approach and together with USC, the pool of resources is broadened and strengthened. Larta Institute and USC have forged a strong relationship over the years and this collaboration strengthens that relationship by integrating Larta’s “Network-Centric” approach with the convergence of disciplines within USC’s innovation community.
About MESH
The USC MESH (Medicine, Engineering, Science and Humanities) Academy at the Keck School of Medicine of USC (“USC MESH”) is a joint initiative supported by the Dean of the Keck School of Medicine of USC and the USC Office of the Provost. USC MESH collaborates across the broader USC community to strengthen the culture of innovation at USC by facilitating the convergence of disciplines that can meet an unmet need that impacts human health and disease. The mission of the MESH Academy at USC is to empower the convergence of research in medicine, engineering, sciences, and humanities through educational programs, support for innovation and entrepreneurship, and corporate relations to address challenges in human health and disease. Follow us on Twitter @USCMESH or https://keck.usc.edu/mesh-academy/.
About Larta Institute
Larta Institute, founded in Los Angeles in 1993, is an internationally recognized and mission-driven innovation accelerator that provides a runway of success for world- changing ideas in healthcare, agriculture and energy. Larta Institute and its subsidiary, Larta Inc., have helped more than 10,000 companies transform ideas into commercialized innovations that feed, fuel and heal the world. With a global network of entrepreneurs, mentors, investors, industry leaders, research institutions, government agencies and support organizations, Larta conducts commercialization assistance programs throughout the U.S. and in more than 20 countries. Follow us on Twitter @LartaInstitute
Contact Information
Vasiliki Anest, Ph.D.
Senior Director, Business Development and Industry Relations
USC MESH (Medicine, Engineering, Sciences, and Humanities) Academy at the Keck School of Medicine of USC
1975 Zonal Avenue
Los Angeles, CA 90033
Office: 323-442-1749
https://keck.usc.edu/mesh-academy/
Carlos Gutierrez
Chief Strategy Officer
Larta Institute
1149 S. Hill Street Suite 900
Los Angeles, CA 90015
D 213 538 1453www.larta.org