Pitch. Launch. Grow. Applications Open

Are you a life science start-up? Pitch to win FREE lab space for 1-year.

Launch Your Innovation

University Lab Partners (ULP) announces the 4th annual launch of Orange County’s pitch competition for life science startups, Pitch. Launch. Grow.

Applicants have the opportunity to apply for one of three tracks: life science, medical technologies and pediatric devices. The life science track includes companies developing technology in the fields of drug discovery, pharmaceuticals, and therapeutics. The medical technologies track includes companies developing medical devices, diagnostics, and digital health innovations.

Two (2) winners from the Medical Technologies and Life Science track will receive priority admission and/or renewal to ULP, 1-year sponsored lab space at ULP.

One (1) winner from the Pediatric track will receive priority admission and/or renewal to ULP, 1-year sponsored lab space at ULP, and a $2,500 cash prize.

Finalists will be selected by a panel of startup experts including early-stage industry strategic partners and investors. The finalists will pitch live at the Demo Day on August 13th, 2024, in Irvine, CA where the winners will be announced. 

Applications open May 8, 2024, until June 16, 2024.
Applications have been extended until June 23, 2024 at 11:59 PM PST.

Applications are now closed.

Interested in partnering with ULP on Pitch. Launch. Grow. fill out the form here.


3 Tracks

Life Science

The life science track can include companies operating in the fields of drug discovery, pharmaceuticals, and therapeutics offering innovative products and services. These solutions are designed to improve patient outcomes, accelerate research, and enhance the overall efficiency and effectiveness of healthcare systems.

Medical Technologies

A medical technology company has developed unique solutions to address challenges faced by patients, healthcare providers, and the broader healthcare industry. The medical technologies track includes companies developing medical devices, diagnostics, and digital health innovations.

Pediatric

Pediatric medical device development faces unique challenges as children often differ from adults in size, growth, development, body chemistry, and disease propensity. Due in part to these issues, only a small number of medical devices approved are labeled for pediatric use. 

To address this health inequity, the FDA funds the Pediatric Device Consortia (PDC) grants program to advance pediatric medical device development. These nonprofit consortia provide a platform of experienced regulatory, business planning, and device development services such as intellectual property advising, prototyping, engineering, laboratory testing, and grant- writing, to foster advancement of medical devices for pediatric patients. In addition to key advising services, the consortia also provide critical funding to innovators to directly advance these projects.


3 Tracks with Prize Packages

2 Life Science Winners

Priority admission or renewal to University Lab Partners and 1-year ULP lab space (one (1) - 6ft lab bench) valued at $29,400.

2 Medical Technologies Winners

Priority admission or renewal to University Lab Partners and 1-year ULP lab space (one (1) - 6ft lab bench) valued at $29,400.

1 Pediatric Winner

Priority admission or renewal to University Lab Partners and 1-year ULP lab space (one (1) - 6ft lab bench) valued at $29,400.

$2,500 Prize from CTIP, an FDA-funded pediatric device accelerator.

One hour of virtual mentorship from Terence Sanger, MD, PhD, Chief Scientific Officer at CHOC Research.


Timeline

May to June - Applications Open
  • May 8, 2024 - Applications Open
  • June 16, 2024 - Applications Close
  • June 23, 2024 - Applications Extension Close
July - Judges Review Proposals
  • July 22, 2024 - Finalist Announcement
August - Demo Day
  • August 13, 2024 - Winners will be announced at the in-person demo day.

Contest Official Rules and Terms

 

Event Partners

InsperityLogo_HR-Difference-Tag_CMYK (1)-1
 

Our tagline, HR that Makes a Difference™, defines what we do. It emphasizes that human resources is a key driver of growth and contributes to a business’s bottom line. This is what sets Insperity apart.

Insperity has a long history of improving the success equation of small and midsize businesses across the country – because when businesses succeed, communities prosper.

And in today’s changing business environment, it’s our privilege to take care of an organization’s most valuable asset: its people.

HATCHspaces_Logo-3
 

HATCHspaces ®, LLC is a Los Angeles-based real estate development platform focused on simplifying the process of scientific innovation by creating purpose-built life sciences facilities for companies emerging from academic and incubator networks. With properties in various regional submarkets, HATCHspaces’® mission is to deliver the life science community state-of-the-art lab facilities at varying scales, allowing regions to retain early-stage bioscience and biotechnology start-ups emerging from research environments.

NexCore Group Logo
 

NexCore Group is a national healthcare real estate investment and development company that focuses on acquiring, developing, owning and managing healthcare facilities including medical office buildings, wellness facilities, ambulatory surgery centers, single and multi-specialty physician buildings, life sciences facilities, seniors housing communities and transitional rehabilitation centers. NexCore has completed $4.7 billion in healthcare real estate transactions throughout 29 states, developed and acquired over 14.3 million square feet of healthcare properties across the country and currently manages over $2.9 billion of healthcare facilities spanning 7.3 million square feet. The company has been recognized repeatedly as one of the Top Healthcare Real Estate Developers in the U.S. by Modern Healthcare and HREI.

Sunstone Logo

 

Sunstone Management is a diversified private capital firm located in Southern California that invests in diverse early-stage technology entrepreneurs who seek to build great companies. We believe in the aspirational power of the American economy to attract and inspire investors and entrepreneurs from throughout the world. We deliver new and exciting opportunities for economic growth through the creation of innovative public-private partnerships, and our unique experience across government, education, and private sectors.

choc_logo_2020 (1)

 

Children’s Hospital of Orange County (CHOC), a pediatric healthcare system based in Orange County, California, is committed to being a leading destination for children’s health by providing exceptional and innovative care. CHOC’s growing community includes two state-of-the-art hospitals in Orange and Mission Viejo and a regional network of primary and specialty care clinics serving children and families in four counties.

CHOC offers several clinical programs of excellence providing the highest levels of care for the most serious pediatric illnesses and injuries, physical and mental. CHOC’s research and innovation institutes are focused on translating real patient needs into real-world treatments so every child can live the healthiest and happiest life possible.

Wilson Sonsini Logo

 

Representing the Pioneers and Disruptors Associated with Market-Changing Innovation in Technology and Life Sciences

The unique history of Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati closely traces the birth and evolution of Silicon Valley.

For more than 60 years, Wilson Sonsini has represented technology pioneers associated with virtually every milestone innovation, as well as life sciences trailblazers shaping the future of healthcare.

Today, Wilson Sonsini is synonymous with ushering promising and innovative technology and life sciences companies through their business life cycle.

And as our clients have grown, so has our firm. We now represent some of the largest companies in the world—and thousands of the smallest ones, too.

Event Details

Community Event

Sunday, June 23, 2024

12:00 AM

Attend the Demo Day

Upcoming Event

November 19, 2024
06:00 PM - 06:30 PM

I-CREATE Accelerator + Prize Challenge - Live Q&A Session 1

Register Now

Apply for residency today

Do you have a great company in the bioscience or medtech industry? Do you need wet-lab and/or fabrication space to develop and test your product?

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November 20, 2024
06:00 PM - 06:30 PM

I-CREATE Accelerator + Prize Challenge - Live Q&A Session 1

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November 20, 2024
09:00 AM - 09:30 AM

I-CREATE Accelerator + Prize Challenge - Live Q&A Session 2

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