Join us for an engaging panel discussion, during which accomplished women founders and visionary venture capitalists will share their journeys through the complex landscape of startup growth and investment in Los Angeles. Aspiring founders, early-stage entrepreneurs, or those simply curious about the venture capital world will learn valuable information.

Enjoy discovering how women are shaping the future of entrepreneurship in our region and engage in our post-panel networking. Don’t miss this opportunity to connect with and learn from LA’s leading women in venture capitalism!

Program

6:00 p.m. – 6:15 p.m.  Check-In
6:15 p.m. – 6:30 p.m.  Welcome Remarks
6:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.  Panel Discussion
7:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.  Networking

Speaker Bios

Shenda Baker, PhD, President and CEO of Synedgen, Inc.

Dr. Baker is the President, CEO, and co-founder of Synedgen and a member of its Board of Directors. She was the founding CEO of Synspira, a company that licensed inhaled pulmonary therapeutics from Synedgen and is currently in Phase 2 clinical trials. She is leading preclinical development of the current glycopolymer platform of products that target important diseases of the lungs, eyes, and gastrointestinal tract. She also led the development of a portfolio of FDA-cleared wound care medical devices and oral care products. Prior to her roles in industry, Dr. Baker was a Professor of Chemistry at Harvey Mudd College for over 20 years. Dr. Baker was awarded the CAREER Award from the National Science Foundation and the Presidential Early Career Award from the Department of Energy (DOE). She is serving on the Board of Directors of the Materials Research Society. She has been an active advisor to the NSF, having served on the Advisory board of three different Directorates, to the Department of Energy (DOE), and on the NIH Advisory Council to the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research. Dr. Baker received bachelor's degrees in chemistry and French from Grinnell College and earned a PhD from the California Institute of Technology. She completed postdoctoral research at Los Alamos National Laboratory. Her research expertise includes understanding how polymers interact at surfaces and interfaces, using polymer rheology, neutron scattering techniques, polymer physical characterization, polysaccharide modification and analysis, and nanoscale manipulation of diblock-copolymers for targeted delivery and activity; she is co-inventor of the technology platform of Synedgen. She has more than 50 publications and 15 patent families reflecting this research.

Bassil I. Dahiyat, PhD, President & Chief Executive Officer at Xencor, Moderator

Bassil Dahiyat has been Xencor’s president and chief executive officer since the Company’s incorporation in August 1997. He is the co-founder of Xencor and co-inventor of Xencor’s breakthrough XmAb^® technology. He has led the Company in creating a diverse clinical-stage portfolio of engineered antibodies for the treatment of life-threatening and debilitating diseases. He has established alliances with leading biopharmaceutical companies that have resulted in three marketed drugs. Dr. Dahiyat has co-authored numerous scientific papers in the fields of protein design and drug delivery, is an inventor of over 30 U.S. and numerous foreign patents, and has received scientific awards from the American Chemical Society, the Controlled Release Society, the Protein Society, and Caltech. Dr. Dahiyat also serves as a member of the board of directors of Kodiak Sciences and Terray Therapeutics. He holds a PhD in chemistry from Caltech and a BS and MSE in biomedical engineering from Johns Hopkins University.

Leen Kawas, PhD, Managing General Partner of Propel Bio Partners LLC

Leen Kawas is the co-founder and managing general partner at Propel Bio Partners. Leen is building a biotech-focused fund to support life science innovations, leveraging her experience as an inventor, scientist, and entrepreneur. She came to the US from Jordan in 2008. She co-founded Athira and became CEO in 2014. She led the advancement of multiple late-stage clinical programs and took the company public in 2020 raising over $400 million. She was the first woman in 20 years in Washington State and one of only 22 women founders in the US to take their company public. She has received numerous awards and recognitions, including the Life Science Entrepreneurial Achievement Award (2020), French-American Foundation Leader (2019), and GeekWire Startup CEO of the Year (2019). Leen serves on multiple boards, including Inherent Biosciences and Persephone Biosciences. She is part of the Springboard Network and is a passionate supporter of scientist entrepreneurs, particularly women. In her current position, in addition to capital, her vision is to support impactful research and next-gen innovators, helping people live better, healthier lives. Leen lives in Los Angeles with her husband and two young children. She enjoys music, good food, learning, and engaging in conversations.

Debbie W. Lin, PhD, VP of Strategic Partnerships at Caris Life Sciences

Dr. Debbie Lin has over 20+ years of business leadership experience in multinational environments, having lived and worked in global executive positions in the US, Europe, and Asia. Debbie’s forte is new business model strategy, business development, venture capital in healthcare and medtech with a focus on scientific product development, value proposition refinement, and market access. As Executive Director for Boehringer Ingelheim Venture Fund, Debbie was accountable for digital health investments, board directorship, and digital health strategy setting in North America. Previous to her role at the Venture Fund, she was Global Director of Corporate Development where she crafted new business models for healthcare in major global markets. She has also held operational roles in field-based health economics and medical affairs, working with national payers, regional providers, and opinion leaders. She supported more than five drug launches and a variety of disease indications. Debbie is an adjunct faculty at UCLA Anderson School of Business. She is currently VP of Strategic Partnerships at Caris Life Sciences, a precision oncology diagnostics company, and a venture partner at T.Rx Capital.

Jane Liu, PhD, CEO & Co-Founder of BRT Biotechnologies, Inc.

Jane Liu is CEO & Co-founder of BRT Biotechnologies, Inc. (BRT) and a tenured professor of chemistry at Pomona College. Jane has worked as a biochemist for 20+ years, with 20 publications and multiple awards for her leadership, teaching, and research. As the CEO of BRT, she has organized a complementary team of scientists, consultants, and advisors, filed a PCT application for the company’s platform technology, BRiTeCycle, and raised capital (including an institutional investor) to support these activities. At Pomona, her research program on microbial gene regulation has received grants from the NIH, the NSF, and the Dreyfus Foundation. Jane holds a BA from Swarthmore College and a PhD from Harvard University.

Pricing Information

• Members/Guests: $15
• Non-members*: $45
• Students: $15

*Interested in joining Women In Bio? Click here to learn more about WIB membership and gain access to our video library, mentorship opportunities, and more. 

Please read WIB's Code of Conduct, In-Person Event Waiver, and Refund Policy.

Note: A confirmation email will be sent after registration has been completed. 

Maximum Capacity

100

Parking Information

Limited free parking at the venue and street parking nearby (see map).
 

Sponsor