This SDEE event was inspired by our members, who shared their experiences of starting and growing companies in San Diego area. Strategies included asking colleagues to share lab space and equipment, funding via SBIR grants or “Friends and Family” sources, making tough decisions on resources and partners and keeping a “can do” attitude throughout the process.

Scott Thacher, SDEE founder & CEO of Orphagen Pharmaceuticals,  shares the story of how early stage entrepreneurs needed an association where they could discuss their issues and find ways to work together. A few like-minded entrepreneurs decided to share business strategies, space, insights and connections, and San Diego Entrepreneurs Exchange (SDEE) was born!

Jiwu Wang, PhD, is President and CEO of Allele Biotechnology, Scientific Director and Professor of The Scintillon Institute, Visiting Professor of Nanjing Medical University and Maternal and Child Health Hospital, and SDEE member. We caught up with Dr. Wang to talk about his experience as an entrepreneur starting and growing a biotechnology company, and how he’s benefited from SDEE.

Sridhar Prasad, PhD, is Founder and Vice President of Research at CalAsia Pharmaceuticals Inc., and SDEE member.

We caught up with Dr. Prasad about CalAsia, as they were recently awarded a $600,000 NIH Phase I SBIR grant. He tells us how he got started and how to persevere.

The SDEE April 17, 2014 event “Get to Know Your Neighbors” provided a unique opportunity for San Diego entrepreneurs to showcase their companies and network with fellow entrepreneurs. This event was sponsored by SDEE and organized at the Janssen Research and Development Center in San Diego, CA. The program included an Open Exhibition and Networking session and a presentation on the “Origins and History of Biotech in San Diego” by Dr. Ivor Royston.

The July SDEE event titled “How to be a Green Entrepreneur” was hosted at the Town Hall Room of Janssen Research and Development Center in San Diego, with a focus on identifying opportunities for developing and sustaining innovation and entrepreneurship in Green Technology. About 100 members attended the event who represented various organizations ranging from non-profit, biotechnology, hi-tech industry, information technology, sustainable product developers and law firms to name a few. The event provided an opportunity to attendees to network with people from different area of business.