A Powerful Alliance Takes Shape
Two of California’s most influential life science and technology organizations have joined forces. Biocom, the largest life science membership association in the state, and Octane, a leading accelerator and innovation platform for medtech companies, announced a strategic partnership on March 17, 2026. Together, they aim to expand access to capital, accelerator programs, and industry networks for life science and medtech companies across California and beyond.
This collaboration bridges two complementary ecosystems. Biocom brings deep roots in California’s statewide life science community, with offices from San Diego to the Bay Area. Octane contributes its proven record in accelerating early-stage and growth-stage companies in Southern California. Moreover, each organization fills gaps the other has — making this partnership a natural fit.
“Biocom and Octane each bring unique strengths to the life science and medtech innovation ecosystems,” said Tim Scott, President and CEO of Biocom. “By bringing together Octane’s accelerator and investor networks with Biocom’s life science community, we are creating new pathways for entrepreneurs to access capital, partnerships and growth opportunities.”
What the Partnership Delivers
The partnership creates a coordinated, single-path resource for emerging and growth-stage companies. Instead of navigating multiple organizations separately, companies can now tap into both networks simultaneously. Furthermore, the collaboration opens doors that previously required different memberships, connections, or geographies to access.
Benefits for Octane’s LaunchPad Companies
Companies enrolled in Octane’s LaunchPad accelerator program will receive one full year of complimentary Biocom membership. This access includes:
- Policy and advocacy support protecting life science innovation at the state and federal levels
- Workforce development initiatives to build and sustain talent pipelines
- Biocom Group Purchasing programs that reduce operational costs
- Biocom Health Benefits Trust for affordable employee health coverage
Consequently, LaunchPad participants gain resources that go far beyond funding — they gain the infrastructure to build lasting companies.
Benefits for Biocom Members
In turn, Biocom’s 1,700+ member companies and organizations gain preferred access to Octane’s innovation community. Specifically, members will benefit from:
- Preferred pricing for Octane conferences and industry forums
- Engagement opportunities with Octane’s network of entrepreneurs, investors, and corporate partners
- Capital readiness programs to prepare companies for fundraising and strategic partnerships
Additionally, Octane will actively identify high-potential companies within the Biocom community and help them prepare for investor conversations and growth milestones
Connecting California’s Major Innovation Hubs
One of the most transformative aspects of this partnership is its geographic reach. California hosts some of the world’s most active life science ecosystems. Yet, historically, these hubs have operated with limited cross-connectivity. This alliance directly addresses that gap.
Biocom will extend its global membership network into Orange County. Octane, meanwhile, will connect its innovation platform to life science leaders across California, nationally, and internationally. Together, the organizations plan to strengthen pipelines linking San Diego, Orange County, Greater Los Angeles, the Bay Area, Boston, and Washington state.
“Octane and Biocom share a common mission: to help innovative companies start, grow and scale,” said Bill Carpou, CEO of Octane. “Octane’s track record of guiding companies from concept to commercialization, combined with Biocom’s industry influence and connectivity, will accelerate the development and deployment of new life science and medtech technologies.”
Beyond California, this network expands internationally, ensuring that promising companies gain not just regional exposure but also global market access. As a result, innovators at every stage of development can find the right partners, investors, and markets faster than before.
Combined Strength by the Numbers
The scale of this partnership is significant. Biocom represents more than 1,700 member companies and organizations across the life science industry. Octane’s portfolio companies have collectively raised more than $12.1 billion in capital since 2010.
Together, these two organizations deliver a formidable combination of:
- Market access across California and key global hubs
- Advocacy power to protect life science innovation
- Accelerator expertise from concept to commercialization
- Investor networks connecting startups to strategic capital
Their combined reach means companies face fewer barriers — to capital, to talent, and to market adoption — than they would navigating either organization independently.
Two Organizations, One Shared Mission
Importantly, Biocom and Octane will continue to operate as independent organizations under their own brands and leadership. However, they will actively collaborate on programs, membership engagement, and strategic initiatives that reinforce California’s global leadership in life science and technology innovation.
This structure ensures both organizations remain focused on their core strengths while delivering expanded value to their communities. Therefore, members of both organizations stand to benefit from a richer, more connected ecosystem without any disruption to the services they already rely on.
The partnership represents a clear signal to entrepreneurs, investors, and policymakers alike: California’s life science and medtech ecosystems are becoming more integrated, more accessible, and more competitive than ever before.
