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With entrepreneurs, no matter if it’s healthcare or medtech, you have to make the most of the opportunities you get. But after the pitches, after the conferences, where can you go for those meetings that could decide the future of your company? Where do conversations that shape businesses take place outside of an office? Here is a far-from-exhaustive list of seven venues to meet for coffee, a power breakfast or lunch cobbled from some entrepreneurs and investors in the healthcare and life science sectors.
Obviously this is East Coast centric. What did we miss? Leave your recommendation in a comment and we’ll add it to the map.
Los Gatos Coffee Roasting Company: You stroll into this coffee shop, get a latte and catch up on some emails. Then, out of the corner of your eye, there’s someone who looks like they want to talk. As it happens she’s starting a new company. She talks to you as if to a potential investor. And no wonder. One investor figured it was a coincidence until she found out the coffeehouse has a tradition of Sunday networking, a place where entrepreneurs meet potential investors and vice versa on Sundays. Situated on the outskirts of San Jose, California, it was started by Teri Hope in 1982 and has evolved into a cozy spot with rolex-bejeweled investors imbibe steaming cups of coffee and tea. But surely this happens everywhere in Northern California, no? Maybe it does, but not necessarily where angel investors are concerned.
BioLabs Pegasus Park Cultivates Life Science Ecosystem
Gabby Everett, the site director for BioLabs Pegasus Park, offered a tour of the space and shared some examples of why early-stage life science companies should choose North Texas.
Although Philadelphia has its share of power dining establishments many of the investors are located closer to the life science hubs outside of the suburban Philadelphia towns of Wayne and Malvern, Pennsylvania.
The Radnor Hotel Located along the Philadelphia region’s life science corridor, the venue rose to prominence during the dot com boom when startups and investors would converge for power breakfasts. One local mover and shaker who advises entrepreneurs said after the bubble burst the venue’s strong association with the technology community left a bad taste and it fell out of favor for a while. But it’s location and association with life science investors makes it a hotspot for investor meetings in the Philadelphia region.
Minella’s Diner: Although it’s known more as a place for breakfasting investors, on the way from or going to the life science hub of Wayne or Malvern. This Wayne, Pennsylvania diner has been a longstanding tradition in a region that doesn’t have many diners. Even rarer — it’s 24-7. Most entrepreneurs are working late hours anyway so it’s nice to have a spot open at all hours to power muse. Pancakes are recommended.
Corner Bakery: One startup advisor swears by this branch of the coffee and sandwich chain at the King of Prussia Mall as his go-to place for power lunches with the entrepreneurs he advises. With free Wi-Fi it also has the convenience of being at one of the biggest malls in America.
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With so many options to choose from I’m always pleasantly surprised by New Yorkers’ ability to zero in on a dining spot and be loyal to it. Here are a couple of places where health IT startups and their mentors converge.
The Grey Dog: The Soho branch of this cozy cafe has a boisterous atmosphere with good coffee, French toast and “Michigan sandwiches.” The coffeehouse goes back to 1996 when its owner named it after his two Labrador Retrievers — one was white, the other black.
Eataly: You have to have an eagle eye to spot a place to sit at this Italian market/restaurant, depending on when you go. But with its reputation as a foodie oasis it might be a great place to win over a potential business partner. Among the business partners who run the joint are celebrity chefs Mario Batali and Joe Bastianich. The American arm of a chain that traces its roots to Turin, its cured meats, cheeses and pasta get rave reviews.
Good Day Cafe: The popular breakfast spot is a longtime favorite of the Minnesota med-tech industry. It’s no coincidence the Good Day Cafe is almost a walk from both Life Science Alley and the BioBusiness Alliance of Minnesota, as well as a stone’s throw from the medical device product design firm RCRI. The location has helped turn the cafe into a destination among Twin Cities restaurants in which a handful of med-tech executives and medical VCs come daily for breakfast and lunch meetings.
[Photo from Flickr user nomilknocry]
