Life Science mentor network to coach Tennessee entrepreneurs

Life Science Tennessee, a statewide nonprofit, is launching a mentorship network to connect entrepreneurs with experienced professionals in life science and help them develop new companies in the field.

The Life Science Tennessee Statewide Mentor Network, funded by a grant from Launch Tennessee, will focus on at least five life science entrepreneurs affiliated with the nine business accelerators in the state. Advising will include intellectual property rights, marketing and capital raising.

“The Life Science Tennessee Statewide Mentor Network will bring model programs to Tennessee that have seen great success elsewhere in the country,” Steve Bares, Life Science Tennessee chairman and executive director of Memphis Bioworks, said in a statement. “We have form-fitted our mentor network to meet the needs of our current base of award-winning accelerators and Tennessee’s most promising entrepreneurs.”

The life science industry, which creates an estimated 40,000 jobs in 1,200 companies in Tennessee, faces challenges related to funding, commercialization and workforce development that Life Science Tennessee seeks to address through this initiative. The program is based off a San Diego-based program, called Springboard, that has supported more than 3,000 companies.

“We see this program as a way to strengthen the mentor network throughout the state by connecting industry-specific life science entrepreneurs with high-caliber mentors who have domain expertise,” LaunchTN CEO Charlie Brock said.

For companies completing the program, they will present business plans at Life Science Tennessee’s 2015 conference in Nashville, Sept. 28-30, to industry leaders and investors.

Reach Jamie McGee at 615-259-8071 and on Twitter @JamieMcGee_.