Our next installment of the NextTech Speaker series features Mitch Levinson, Founder and CTO of Cerebrotech Medical Systems.

Mitch has been on the ground floor of 6 medical device startups over the past 20 years, twice as the first technical executive to lead R&D, twice as the Founder/CEO, and twice as the first board member prior to first-round funding or hiring the CEO. One thing that has become clear to him is that all of these start-ups are unique. They require a different approach to every strategic aspect of the company: product development, financing, regulatory, staffing, commercialization.

A common mistake for an entrepreneur is to think that they can do the same thing they did at their last successful startup (or someone else’s successful startup), and it will work again for their new project. Or, that they know what NOT to do because it didn’t work in the past at another company. Mitch sees this routinely with VCs and other board members who think they know what needs to be done because they have had to make a similar decision at another company. Often these past experience biases get in the way of seeing what needs to be done in THIS company at THIS time in THIS environment.

Consistent with our NextTech format, an entrepreneur interviewer will elicit more details from Mitch about how to make uniqueness a strength and take questions from the audience.

Our program is as follows:

6 pm- 6:45 pm - Food, beverages, and networking
6:45 pm - 7:45 pm - A conversation with Mitch Levinson
7:45 pm - 8:30 pm - More networking

About NextTech

The NextTech Speaker Series connects Bay Area founders, investors, executives, and technology developers with the life sciences community in the Tri-Valley and greater East Bay. Each NextTech speaker brings a unique perspective on how to succeed in an innovation economy evolving beyond Silicon Valley.

Who should attend?

Scientists, technologists, and business professionals working in industries or research that relies on deep science such as the life sciences, energy, materials, and information technology who are entrepreneurs or have entrepreneurial ambitions.

Why should I attend?

This event is designed to relay information, inspiration, and networking opportunities with the speaker and other entrepreneurs.

Event Affiliates

About California Life Sciences Association (CLSA)

California Life Sciences Association (CLSA) is the state’s largest and most influential life sciences advocacy and business leadership organization. With offices in Sacramento, San Diego, South San Francisco, Los Angeles, and Washington DC, CLSA works closely with industry, government, academia and others to shape public policy, improve access to innovative technologies and grow California’s life sciences economy. CLSA serves biotechnology, pharmaceutical, medical device and diagnostics companies, research universities and institutes, investors and service providers throughout the Golden State. CLSA was founded in 2015 when the Bay Area Bioscience Association (BayBio) and the California Healthcare Institute (CHI) merged. Visit CLSA at www.califesciences.org, and follow us on Twitter @CALifeSciences, Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and YouTube.