The California Life Sciences (CLS) Innovation & Entrepreneurship, FAST California program provides founders of disruptive innovative life sciences companies with a customized advisory program. Each company selected to the FAST program is matched with a group of industry experts with deep domain expertise, who will work with them over twelve weeks to build a compelling commercialization strategy, mentor them in all aspects of building a startup and prepare them to pitch to a curated audience of potential investors and collaboration partners at the CLS Innovation Showcase. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis.
About the Program
A Statewide Program
FAST California provides founders of disruptive innovative life science technology companies with a customized advisory program develop a strong business model and go-to-market strategy, provide guidance on pre-clinical development, regulatory pathway, and provide insights into pharma partnerships, licensing, and exit strategies.
Tailored, expert guidance
A group of curated advisors, each with deep domain expertise, will work with them over twelve weeks to build a compelling commercialization strategy and prepare them to pitch to potential investors and collaboration partners. The program concludes with the Innovation Showcase which provides a unique opportunity to network with industry leaders, investors, and KOLs.
access to capital
In addition to mentorship, additional resources include live and on-demand workshops, savings through complimentary CLS membership and special discounts to participate, pitch and partner at leading industry events.
Key Benefits
✓ no cost + equity free support
✓ 8-12 hours of customized mentorship and training
✓ founder network and peer-to-peer engagement
✓ one-year complimentary cls membership
Who Qualifies?
✓ have less than 12 employees
✓ raised less than $5 million in dilutive funding
✓ early-stage life science companies
✓ based in or with strong presence in california
Key Dates for 2026 Fall FAST Program
July 6, 2026
Applications Close
September 2026
Program kickoff (virtual)
December 10, 2026
innovation showcase (Bay AreA)
Meet the Spring 2026 FAST Cohort
Twelve innovative life sciences companies selected for the Spring 2026 program.
153 Therapeutics
Neurology
Parkinson’s Disease
AddGraft Therapeutics
Rare disease
regenerative medicine
Cerevia Neurosciences
Neurology
dementia
ENU Medicines
immunology
food allergy
Genexgen
immunology
inflammation
Infixion Bioscience
Rare disease
neurology
Nspire
neonatology
medical devices
PebRx
neurology
neurodegeneration
Resilion Therapeutics
Oncology
treatment resistance
sculpta
neurology
aging
Single Dose Therapeutics
neuroscience
neuropsychiatry
ViBo Health
metabolic disease
diabetes prevention
FAST Testimonials
“Participating in the FAST program has connected us with an outstanding group of advisors who have helped us refine how we communicate our value proposition. They also provided invaluable insights and connections that were instrumental as we established our operations.”
Ugar Eskiocak, Voro Therapeutics (FAST 2024 Fall)
“By working with a group of advisors who collectively have the diverse expertise needed to build a successful life sciences company (e.g., clinical, R&D, fundraising, etc.), my co-founder and I have gained a much clearer sense of the roadmap from R&D to commercialization.”
Yue Clare Lou, Sift Biosciences (FAST 2024 Fall)
“The FAST program set our team up with a world-class advisory team that exploded our growth through robust discussion and an amazing network of connections that we were able to leverage. The opportunity to discuss strategy and development decisions with industry veterans was crucial for our team — and the FAST program came from mostly academic backgrounds.”
Marco Lobba, PhD, Catena Biosciences (FAST 2021)
FAST Advisor Community
Our advisor community is a great way to network with likeminded individuals. If you are interested in an advisor or mentor role to work with start-ups or have specific domain expertise to help them, please complete our intake form to help us understand your area of expertise and interest. We tap into our advisor community using the information you provide and will reach out if there is a company that could use your expertise.
FAST Track Partners
The Chiesi FAST Discovery Award recognizes the aspiring life-science companies and entrepreneurs who are driving scientific innovation to cure rare disease and developing novel tools and platform technologies for applications in nucleotide therapeutics. All FAST submissions will be reviewed by Chiesi, and one awardee will be selected to receive the Chiesi FAST Discovery Award, a fast-tracked spot in the Fall 2026 FAST California program
The Servier FAST Discovery Award recognizes the aspiring life-science companies and entrepreneurs who are driving scientific innovation in areas of high unmet need, including hard-to-treat diseases in oncology and neuroscience, as well as those pursuing research in translational medicine, drug development technologies and drug delivery platforms. All FAST submissions will be reviewed by Servier, and one awardee will be selected to receive the Servier FAST Discovery Award, a fast-tracked spot in the Fall 2026 FAST California program.
FAST MedTechcolor track
The CLS MedTech/Color collaboration stems from a mutual desire to advance the representation of persons of color in the medical device industry by supporting founders through funding and mentorship from industry leaders. Butterfly Biosciences was selected to participate in the 2025 Fall cohort.
FAST Women in Bio track
California Life Sciences (CLS) is proud to partner with Women In Bio (WIB) to champion and elevate women entrepreneurs in the life sciences sector. Since 2022 in collaboration with various WIB chapters, six women-led startups have been fast tracked into the FAST program. Once again, CLS has teamed up with the WIB San Francisco Bay Area chapter to fast-track a women-led startup into the Fall 2026 FAST cohort—continuing our commitment to fostering inclusive innovation and leadership in biotech.
Sponsorship Opportunities
Innovation Champion
$30,000
$30,000
- Startup Advisory Program | FAST California: Recognition over a 12-month period, supporting 24 start-ups in their fundraising and commercialization journey.
- Innovation Showcase: Recognition as a sponsor of the Innovation Showcase held biannually at the conclusion of the FAST program (June & December). Audience attendance of 300+ life sciences stakeholders including industry representatives, investors, key advisors, and experts.
- Thought Leadership Webinar: Opportunity to develop and lead an educational webinar, in partnership with CLS, to help engage start-ups and CLS member companies. Content must be of educational benefit to the CLS community and not constitute a solicitation of services.
- Exclusive Benefit for Service Providers: Opportunity to provide a meaningful in-kind award to one FAST applicant of your choosing (subject to their acceptance of the in-kind award) from the Spring or Fall applicants and deliver brief remarks when presenting the award at the Innovation Showcase.
Ecosystem Partner
$5,000
$5,000
- Startup Advisory Program | FAST California: Recognition for two FAST cohorts over a 12-month period, supporting 24 start-ups in their fundraising and commercialization journey.
- Innovation Showcase: Recognition as a sponsor of the Innovation Showcase held biannually at the conclusion of the FAST program (June & December). Audience attendance of 300+ life sciences stakeholders including industry representatives, investors, key advisors, and experts.
FAST Discovery Award
Starting at $30,000
Starting at $30,000
Exclusive for Life Sciences Companies
- Includes all benefits listed in the “Innovation Champion” sponsor package
- Exclusive sponsorship of a competition seeking emerging technologies in sponsor’s area of interest as part of the FAST California program. CLS will market, promote, and manage the details of the competition. The sponsor will review and select the winning company to receive their Discovery Award.
- Sponsor company name recognition included in the award title (ex: “Company Name” FAST Discovery Award)
Opportunity to present the award at the in-person Innovation Showcase
This sponsorship package is highly customizable to meet your business needs. Contact Shikha Sharma, PhD, Senior Director, Innovation & Entrepreneurship at [email protected] to learn more.
FAST Growth Award
Starting at $15,000
Starting at $15,000
Exclusive for Service Provider Companies
- Includes all benefits listed in the “Ecosystem Partner” sponsor package
- Opportunity to provide a meaningful in-kind award to one FAST applicant (subject to their acceptance of the in-kind award) from the Spring or Fall applicants.
- The sponsor will select the winning company to receive their FAST Growth Award.
- Sponsor company name recognition included in the award title (ex: “Company Name” FAST Growth Award)
- Opportunity to present the award and deliver brief remarks at the in-person Innovation Showcase
