Fellowship Program

The LSA Fellowship Program provides an opportunity for graduate-level students, postdocs, medical trainees, and early-career professionals interested in gaining hands-on experience in life science innovation, entrepreneurship, and investing.

Our Fellowship Program is designed to offer:

• Exposure to every facet of the life science industry - Intellectual property, FDA regulations, strategic partnership, healthcare models.

• Network of Peers - Work with other ambitious world-changers of tomorrow who share your passion for life science, industry and entrepreneurship.

• Mentorship from a Large Network of Experienced Domain Experts - LSA Mentors are successful entrepreneurs, executives, inventors, physicians and investors.

• Entrepreneurship Skills - Presentation skills, understanding key investment criteria.

• Think like an investor - Valuation, term sheets, evaluating pitches.

Program Overview

The LSA Fellowship is designed to be a six-month program or one-year program to begin in January or July. However, schedules of Fellows vary and odd-length terms make openings available at other times.

The Fellows benefit from significant training in investment analysis, due diligence, deal flow management, business development and investor-entrepreneur relations. Depending on the domain expertise, a Fellow will apply to be assigned to work with the Bio/Genomics Committee or the Device/Digital Committee.

Fellows should plan for approximate 10 hours a week and should have residence or transportation to the Palo Alto area.

Responsibilities include but are not limited to:

• At the end of the year, Fellows are granted a small stipend depending on the individual’s participation.

• Fellows pay no membership fees. Screening and investment dinners are complimentary.

• Fellows assist in initial deal screening and triage, due diligence, clinical and market investigations, and more. The Fellow is usually the first person to make contact with the company after its application submission. They work closely with the committee chairperson and member deal lead.

• Fellows attend bi-weekly screening committee meetings, seminars, and networking events. Help to run screening meetings.

• For companies that advance into in-person screening and beyond, one Fellow works alongside a member champion (an LSA member who advocates for a serious look at the deal), is point-person for questions about the company and coaches the entrepreneurs through the investment process.

• Fellows coordinate investor participation in external funding events, such as trade shows, demo days, and mentorship events.
  

Desired Skillsets and Education

• Almost all our Fellows live in the San Francisco Bay Area. We will consider remote Fellows, but the application will have to be exceptional and preferable have an existing relationship with our Fellows, former Fellows, or members.

• Fellowship applicants must be currently enrolled in a graduate program or have advanced training or industry experience.

• All applicants must have interests in entrepreneurship and the life science industry, and meet the following qualifications:

  • Strong interpersonal and communication skills.

  • Background in medicine, physical science, engineering, and mathematics.

  • Marketing and business development experience preferred.

  • Strong analytical skills and basic knowledge of finance and economics.

  • Passion for entrepreneurship.

Current LSA Fellows