Just Mesa’n around…

Randy and his team pulled off quite the event for the San Diego Entrepreneurs Exchange (SDEE). What’s their secret sauce? Perhaps it’s being an organization run by local entrepreneurs, for entrepreneurs. Their intent is good-natured, pure collaboration of resources. Or perhaps it was their secret weapon? Speaker Craig Venter.

Duane Roth Auditorium. Full house. The question had been burning in my mind since the dinner we had for Denny’s birthday last December. Q&A. I raised my hand and asked that million dollar question that was on everyone’s mind. “Is the price ever going to come down for those of us who can’t afford $25,000?” Oh, shit. Did I just say that out loud?

The $25,000 price tag I’m referring to? Venter’s latest contribution to the world of precision medicine—the Health Nucleus. Operating out of its flagship facility, Human Longevity Inc. on the Mesa’s east side, Health Nucleus is a comprehensive and personalized health platform. The complete testing service utilizes “whole genome sequence analysis, advanced clinical imaging and innovative machine learning—combined with a comprehensive curation of personal health history—to deliver the most complete picture of individual health.” In short, this test can tell you if there is an aneurysm in your body before it bursts, and detect cancer at stage 0 or 1, not 3 or 4.

Would you take this test knowing it just might save your life? Down payment on a house or life saving test? Fancy car or life saving test? Family vacations for the next five years or life saving test? Shouldn’t your health be top priority? Why is it a luxury that most cannot afford? And at what price does it become “affordable” for the majority of the population?

One author wrote that Venter is getting into the “elite” healthcare business. Ouch. His studies from this test currently include Fortune 500 top execs. That’s cool. But what about us? When will the little fish get that same opportunity, that same access to quality healthcare? Knowledge is power. Venter says it in his own video—he wants to “empower people to have control of their own lives with this knowledge.” So how and when will empowerment be not just for the “elite”?

Venter’s response was frank. A significant part of the high cost was primarily due to the cost of the experts operating the machines and accurately interpreting the data. Hmm, fair enough. And the machinery? Technology? More people taking the test means spread costs and possible reduction of the total cost. Another option, you could lower cost by limiting the number of tests you get. Well, isn’t this a bit of a Catch 22?

I followed up with a few key intros after the event and then walked back in to speak more with Venter. “Hope I didn’t piss you off” was what I was thinking. But he let me know that, for those who cannot afford the $25,000 whole enchilada, there was hope. His point was that it could cost significantly less if you did not do all the tests, and instead did the ones that might be most relevant to you.

I headed into the café to get a quick feel of the audience’s response. Several were impressed by his answer to my question. Local genius Stanley Kim of WinSanTor was frustrated that this technology and other existing tests for earlier detection are not getting to the people fast enough to save lives. How do we fix this? Kim is determined to use his brilliant mind and technology expertise to take on the farming industry.

The talk sparked great conversation and left many inspired. Venter’s number one fan that evening was Mark DiIorio. Many might recall the story of Mark’s arrival to SD. His first job in San Diego came from knocking on the door of a great company (Biomagnetic Technologies) and asking them to hire him. After SDEE’s presentation by Venter, Mark went up and told him the story. He also told Venter that Human Longevity was doing such great work he just might come a-knockin’.

Upcoming events (I’ll be at the fun table…)

• Women in Business Speaker Series Part II: Succeeding
  April 7, 5:00-8:00 p.m., California Institute for Telecommunications and Information Technology
  Bummed to miss this series. Was even asked to be a speaker. Hey! This talk moderated by Felena Hanson, who just wrote a book, mad props, will delve into the juicy subject of how these women operate and maintain their successful business operations. 3 words: Jedi Mind Tricks (JMT). Check it out. Nichole MacDonald, founder and CEO of Sash; Stephanie Venn-Watson, co-founder and CEO of Epitracker, Inc.; Dina Moskowitz, CEO of SaasMAX will give it to you real. Word on the street is that female run companies do much better. Just sayin’. Yep. JMT. We use the force.

• Political Thursday
  April 7, 5:00-9:00 p.m., Museum of Contemporary Art, La Jolla
  Join us for a discussion where it’s okay to talk politics. Political Thursday, the brainchild of Chris Joseph, fearless leader of OurGenY, gives San Diego voters a chance to engage in a conversation about civic leadership. Speakers will include City Council Candidates for the Mesa district Barbara Bry and Ray Ellis, 71st Assemblyman Brian Jones, City Attorney Candidate Gil Cabrera, Congresswoman Susan Davis, Congressional Candidate Denise Gitsham, City Attorney candidate Robert Hickey, and Press Secretary Charles Chamberlayne. Joseph and his crew are putting on a wildly amazing event so be prepared for great conversation and some seriously fun entertainment.

• California Consensus – Peace Through Technology
  April 13, Joan B. Kroc Institute for Peace and Justice
  Picture this. A room filled with the following three groups: 1. Pioneering peace and security researchers. 2. Technologists and funders. 3. Policy makers. Now what do you get? Solutions! CalCon provides the perfect opportunity for the ideas to link to the funds to make it happen and the policy makers who can help put these solutions into action. Heard about this one while at a steering committee at USD and thought, YES! Less talk, more action. These platforms are what SD needs to help accelerate and scale projects that make an impact!

• Cross Border Playbook: How innovative companies succeed in the ecosystem
  April 13, 5:00-8:30 p.m., Knobbe Martens
  What do Taylor Guitars, HardTech Labs, and Endeavor Tijuana and CaliBaja all have in common? Okay, the last one might have been a dead giveaway. These companies are taking full advantage of the talent pool and resources on both sides of the border. Why aren’t you? Pop on up just north of the Mesa, it’s cool, because you won’t want to miss this panel of pioneers. This MIT Enterprise is hosted at the Knobbe Martens Intellectual Property Law Firm. Moderator for this event is cross border rock star Paola Avila. She is known more formally around town as the VP of International Affairs for the San Diego Regional Chamber of Commerce, but we all know this woman wears a cape.

Food for thought…

The Social Club isn’t just a café, it’s a movement. | Photo by Dayna Hoff

How does one know that they have truly created a culture? When they look around their party and see that everyone feels loved and that they belong. When they realize they are no longer just the connector, but rather the catalyst. YES! The BellaV is where all are welcome and where you know you will always find interesting conversation. It is also where you become a connector because you now understand the power of networking. We have learned together that networking not only changes lives, it saves lives.

A huge thank you to all who attended Tuesday night’s 3 Year Anniversary Celebration. What a true testament of community building. Get ready my friends. The Social Club isn’t just a café, it’s a movement.

Tags: Blogs, Life on the Mesa