2.  The Foundation: St. Louis’ world-class bioscience research ◦ St. Louis med schools and non-profit institutions attract over $600M in bioscience R&D funding annually ◦ More than 700 companies and ~15,000 jobs  The Opportunity: ◦ St. Louis as a center for solving the world’s health, food, and fuel challenges 2

3.  Unique convergence of corporate, university, and entrepreneurial strengths that place our region among the world’s great bioscience centers.  Set apart by our culture of straightforward professionalism, capital efficiency, and a supportive and collaborative spirit that enables timely access to the right talent and resources.   This special combination of elements fosters progress unlike anywhere.

4.  New Company Creation and Entrepreneur Support (through the BioGenerator)  Company Attraction (U.S. and international)  Improving Access to Investment Capital (public, angel, and venture capital)  Ensuring Appropriate Physical Infrastructure (labs, incubators, and research districts)  Government Relations and Public Policy (federal, state, & local)  Fostering an Inclusive Pipeline of Entrepreneurs  Communicating the Region’s Strengths.

5.  Venture Capital  Facilities/Lab Space/Greenhouses  New Enterprise Creation 5

6.  Two St. Louis-HQ’d bioscience companies are on the 2014 Fortune 500: Express Scripts (#20) and Monsanto (#197)  38 companies based in the St. Louis region made the Inc. list of America’s 5000 Fastest-Growing Private Companies in 2014.  Two St. Louis hospitals ranked in nation’s top ten by U.S. News & World Report: Barnes Jewish and St. Louis Children’s.

7.  Washington U ranks as the 6 th best medical school in the country and only top 10 medical school between the coasts.  Princeton Review and Entrepreneur Magazine ranked Washington University as 16 th best entrepreneurial program and Saint Louis University at 23 rd.  The Donald Danforth Plant Science Center is the world’s largest independent plant science research institute.

8.  #1 Best Startup City in America by Popular Mechanics  2 nd most favorable city for starting a business according to U.S. Chamber of Commerce.  274 bioscience startups in St. Louis.  St. Louis has over $1 billion in bioscience venture capital under local management.

9.  Germany's KWS recently selected St. Louis for North American research headquarters over San Francisco, Boston, and Research Triangle Park North Carolina.  Kaiima Agri-Biotech selected St. Louis for its U.S. headquarters.  St. Louis’ Cortex Innovation District and the BioGenerator are cited as examples for other cities to emulate by Brookings Institute

10.  Attend Venture Café ◦ Every Thursday from 3-8pm at CIC-St. Louis  (4240 Duncan Ave.)  Attend Bio Meetup  MO Career Center ◦ Many bio jobs are posted there…working to get more startups posting  Accelerate St. Louis  bjohnson@biostl.org