September 2024
Welcome to the September edition of our newsletter! We’re thrilled to bring you the latest updates, stories, and insights designed to inspire and inform.
This month, we’ve handpicked content tailored just for you—highlighting the newest industry trends, exciting funding opportunities, success stories, and can’t-miss events. Whether you’re looking to stay ahead or discover something new, we’ve got you covered with valuable information that speaks to your passions.
Earlier this month, Larta Institute, LAEDC, Slate-Z, and SoLa Impact collaborated to present Sustainable Futures: Creating Climate-Resilient Communities as part of Los Angeles’ inaugural Climate Week. The event highlighted how our organizations are addressing this urgent issue through groundbreaking initiatives and impactful work. Beyond being an informative session, it provided a valuable platform for attendees to share their perspectives, express community needs, and outline priorities for local leaders.
We’re grateful to everyone who joined us, and we’ve captured some of the highlights in case you missed it here.
As we move forward, we’re excited to continue driving innovation and making an impact through our programs and upcoming events. Keep an eye out for more updates and ways to get involved!
Thank you for being a valued part of our community and for your ongoing support.
— Events & Opportunities —
BioscienceLA Week:
BioscienceLA Week (formerly LABioTechWeek) is a catalyst for growth, driving workforce development and economic impact across all of Los Angeles County’s diverse communities and celebrating our collective progress in advancing our bioscience ecosystem.
Engage with thought leaders, attend inspiring sessions, and network with fellow innovators. The week’s events are designed to ignite conversations, spark innovation, and build connections that will fuel the next wave of breakthroughs and establish the greater Los Angeles area as an enviable, global, bioscience mega-hub.
🗓️ Date: October 15–18
🕙 Time: Varies
📍 Location: Various
Register to attend here.
Meet Our Team at These Upcoming Gatherings
- BioscienceLA Week: Engaging the Vibrant Bioscience Business Landscape in LA County (October 16, 11AM–7PM, Los Angeles) — Join us to help shape the future of LA County and reframe how we think about biosciences in the region and claim our place as a bioscience powerhouse… in our own unique Angeleno way! Register to attend.
- BioscienceLA Week: Showcasing Bioscience Innovation in LA County (October 18, 1:15PM–5PM, Culver City) — Learn about some of the transformative early-stage technology being developed right here in LA County. We will highlight several bioscience startups and early-stage technologies, with the aim of fostering meaningful connections and facilitating business discussions among entrepreneurs, mentors, investors, industry professionals, and service providers. It’s a fantastic opportunity to network and explore potential collaborations, or simply learn all about what’s new and happening in LA! Register to attend.
- ECO 2024 (December 9–10, Los Angeles) — ECO, hosted by Larta Institute, is a multidisciplinary festival and ecosystem gathering designed to foster innovation for a sustainable planet. By engaging with communities on the frontlines of today’s most urgent climate change and environmental challenges, we aim to identify and accelerate groundbreaking innovations that can make a real impact. Register to attend.
Funding Opportunities
Explore the resources available and apply directly through the links below.
- NSF SBIR/STTR Fast-Track programs provide non-dilutive, fixed-amount cooperative agreements for the development of science and engineering technologies with the potential for societal and economic impacts. The next deadline for full submission is November 5th. Learn more here.
- Breakthrough Energy Fellows is designed to tackle early-stage barriers to climate technology innovation, accelerating discovery and increasing the number of projects and companies working toward commercialization. By providing innovators with research funding and hands-on support, our program ensures projects have the resources and community they need to advance to the next stages of development. Submit your application or nominate a founder by Monday, December 2. Apply now!
— Community Spotlights —
Program: NSF Commercialization Assistance Program
Impact Area: Equitable, Healthy & Resilient Communities
Congratulations to Apptronik for demonstrates humanoid robot Apollo at IMTS!
Apptronik is a spinout from the Human Centered Robotics Lab at the University of Texas at Austin. Founded in early 2016, their goal is to bring forth the next generation of robots that will change the way we live and work. They have built some of the most diverse robots, spanning from exoskeletons to humanoid torsos, biped mobility platforms, and unique robotic arms that lift more than they weigh. The experience and learning from all this work led to the development of Apollo, the world’s most advanced humanoid robot.
Program: Heal.LA
Impact Area: Equitable, Healthy & Resilient Communities
RxPost leverages advanced technology to enhance the efficiency of local pharmacies, transforming potential losses into lifesaving opportunities for community members. Our platform ensures that surplus medications reach those who need them most, preventing waste and promoting a more sustainable healthcare ecosystem. This initiative showcases how technological innovations can directly support the health and wellness of local communities, demonstrating the significant impact that can be achieved when technology and compassionate care converge.
— Community Showcase —
Our Companies in the News
- Gradible participates in the Green Sports Alliance Summit.
- Founder of SEED, Sabrina Williams gets featured in Bold Journey.
- Rx Post gets selected as a top 10 finalist for the Women Founders Network 2024 Fast Pitch Event.
- ReBlood Rx accepted into 757 Accelerate’s Cohort 7
- Kind Designs gets featured on the PodBean podcast in The Contrarian Tide-Turner: Anya Freeman on Leading Kind Designs’.
- Apptronik demonstrates humanoid robot Apollo at IMTS
- Aquaria CEO Brian Sheng gets featured in the The Impact At Scale Podcast
- Rabble Health Partners with Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America to Lead Advocacy on Implementation Science & Patient Empowerment in Asthma
- Suma Recognized in Pacific Coast Business Times 40 Under 40, Prime Health Innovation Challenge, and Anthem Awards
— Our Impact —
and Other Resources
Larta Institute’s 2023 Impact Report
On Larta Institute’s 30th year anniversary, we are proud to share a glimpse into our transformative journey through the lens of our 2023 Impact Report.
Did you know that Los Angeles is on the cusp of a major food justice revolution? Read our Rooted Horizons Report, a groundbreaking research collaboration between Larta Institute and Los Angeles Food Policy Council, funded by California Community Foundation.
— Our Growing Team —
Join our Team
Visit our Careers page to learn more.
Partner with us to support or sponsor Larta’s programs and initiatives!
Contact Carlos Gutierrez, Chief Development Officer, at cgutierrez@larta.org.
Our mission is to foster science & technology innovation for a sustainable planet.
Let’s feed, fuel, and heal the world.
Connect with us.