​Join us to find out how innovating to investing has been completely overhauled throughout key research-based industries like life sciences and agritech. We will be joined with current builders and investors who are dealing with these effects first hand.

​Randy Berholtz is a former biotech CEO, founder, and venture capitalist with bi-coastal experience across the industry. Previously, he was a member of the San Diego Tech Coast Angels (BioMedTrak group) and the Life Science Angels out of Menlo Park, and is currently a senior advisor for Mesa Verde Ventures.

​Rashed Alkhlaifat is a current founder exploring the intersection of sustainability, AI, and real estate. Former solartech founder, Rashed is currently building autonomous gardens for residential and commercial applications.

​Our Hosts:

​The Basement at UC San Diego is an innovation and entrepreneurship hub open to students from all disciplines who want to explore ideas and develop them into impactful ventures. The Basement provides mentorship, connections with serial entrepreneurs and industry experts, funding opportunities, hands-on workshops, and collaborative spaces that support every stage of the entrepreneurial journey. Through its two flagship programs, The Basement fosters creativity, community, and a spirit of innovation:

• ​Blackstone LaunchPad supports students actively building early-stage ventures by providing mentorship, guidance, and resources to accelerate their entrepreneurial journey.

• ​Innovating for X (i4X) brings together multidisciplinary teams to tackle real-world challenges from corporate, government, and nonprofit partners— gaining workforce-ready experience while developing disruptive solutions.

​To learn more:
Website: https://thebasement.ucsd.edu/
Follow Us: Instagram: @ucsdbasement and LinkedIn: The Basement at UC San Diego