Ep 183: "Could Life Sciences Power the Next California Boom?" with Dave Whelan

Is our Life Sciences industry the most under-reported unicorn in California’s industrial dominance? Can Life Sciences innovation survive the USA government’s assault on science? In this eye-opening episode, Rob sits down with friend Dave Whelan, to uncover how LA is rapidly transforming into a major player in biotech and health innovation. They discuss groundbreaking projects like UCLA’s new Research Park, the explosion of AI in drug discovery, and how diversity and storytelling are shaping the future of healthcare and life sciences startups. From political roadblocks to billion-dollar opportunities, this conversation is packed with insights for anyone curious about where health tech is heading—and why LA might just be leading the charge. Feel free to follow and engage with DAVE here:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/djwhelan/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/djwhelanX: https://x.com/djwhelanFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/djwhelanWebsite: https://www.bespokestrategy.com/whelan We're so grateful to you, our growing audience of entrepreneurs, investors and community leaders interested in the human stories of the Entrepreneurial Thinkers behind entrepreneurial economies worldwide. As always we hope you enjoy each episode and Like, Follow, Subscribe or share with your friends. You can find our shows here, and our new Video Podcast, at “Entrepreneurial Thinkers” channel on YouTube. Plug in, relax and enjoy inspiring, educational and empowering conversations between Rob and our guests. ¡Cheers y gracias!, Entrepreneurial Thinkers Team. Chapters 00:00 Introduction to Entrepreneurial Thinkers 04:46 The Evolution of Life Sciences in California 19:03 UCLA Research Park: A New Era for Innovation 28:37 The Vision for Life Sciences Development 33:31 The Role of Universities in Life Sciences 37:23 Navigating Funding Challenges in Academia 47:03 Breakthroughs in Life Sciences and AI's Impact 56:55 Understanding Neurodegenerative Diseases 58:47 Diversity in Innovation and Health Sciences 01:06:37 The Importance of Storytelling in Health Tech 01:11:56 Dave Whelan's Multifaceted Career and Contributions 01:18:04 Key Mistakes in Health Tech Innovation