This session will provide practical insight into how to write a winning business plan, as well as provide both a VC’s and an entrepreneur’s perspective on business plans. The presentation will address the nuts and bolts detail of what is important in a plan. If you are planning to enter the UC Berkeley and/or Global Social Venture Business Plan Competitions, this is a session you should not miss.

FEATURED SPEAKERS

Alex de Winter
Partner, Mohr Davidow Ventures

Alex de Winter is a partner at Mohr Davidow Ventures, a venture capital firm with a long history of helping entrepreneurs commercialize innovation.  Alex brings a background in bioscience and technology development to the MDV team. He supports the partnership in evaluating investments in the areas of life sciences and personalized medicine, and biotechnology-based cleantech.

Prior to MDV, Alex spent two years at Pacific Biosciences, where he researched single-molecule DNA sequencing, integrating biochemistry, optics, and nanotechnology. Alex previously worked at 454 Life Sciences (acquired by Roche), where he advanced the biochemistry behind the company's GS20, the first of the next-generation DNA sequencing instruments.

Alex received an MBA from the University of California, Berkeley. He also earned a doctorate in Chemistry from Stanford University, where he studied bacterial photosynthesis. He received his B.A. in English and Chemistry magna cum laude from Amherst College.

 

 

Bruce Cohen
President & CEO and Founder, VitaPath Genetics

Bruce Cohen has spent more than 25 years in leadership positions in life science and high technology companies. He was the founding President and CEO of two early stage biotechnology companies: Cellerant Therapeutics and Acacia BioSciences. He also served as Chief Financial Officer for GeneSoft Pharmaceuticals prior to its merger into Oscient Pharmaceuticals. In addition, he held senior positions in business development and marketing at SEQUUS Pharmaceuticals and Baxter. Mr. Cohen was the President and COO of ViTel International, a privately held, pre-internet electronic messaging company and was a management consultant with Monitor Company working in the health care and high technology sectors.

Mr. Cohen has an MBA, with distinction, from Harvard Business School, and a BA and MA from Tufts University. He was one of the founders of the Tufts Veterinary School and a co-founder of the Health Professions Information Bureau.