Illumina Accelerator: San Francisco

For a young scientist straight out of university, it is not an easy task to begin a career in the field that you love. After completing hundreds of online applications, and emailing countless researchers, it became apparent to me that in order to do research I would need to create a job for myself. With a fellow Ryerson University molecular biology graduate, we have created a business that brings science education to the general public, and provides them with access to individual health care solutions through individual DNA sequencing.

 

In order for our business to get kick started, we need to be a part of a business accelerator, and particularly one involved with health care ventures. We applied for an amazing business accelerator in San Francisco called the Illumina Accelerator. Our detailed application recently passed the selection screening process and we have been invited to San Francisco for an in person interview at Illumina headquarters. This is an amazing, once in a life time opportunity for 3 main reasons;

 

1. Illumina is the “gold standard” for genetic sequencing

2. They will provide the funding and resources for us to launch our business in Canada

3. We will be able to network with scientists and entrepreneurs in the Silicon Valley, the home of many successful start-ups!

The funds will be used to cover the costs for myself and my co-founder to travel to San Francisco for this interview on March 24th. We would need to RSVP and purchase our tickets no later than March 20th.

We have already gotten so far, and attending this interview is imperative for entry into the program. This once in a life time opportunity would mean the world to us, and would give two young, devoted scientists the opportunity to turn their dreams into reality.