When Physicians Meet AI Engineers in the Elevator: Colorado's Life Science Hub Strategy, with Afshin Safavi, PhD

Note: Dan's opening statement that this was the "last" episode in the season was just wrong. This interview was so good that it had to jump the queue.A physician treating patients all day sees exactly what devices and treatments are needed. An AI engineer two floors up could solve that problem in an afternoon. The question is: how do you get them in the same building?In this episode, Dr. Afshin Safavi, founder of Colorado Health and Tech Centers, joins Dan Mazzucco to discuss building innovation ecosystems through strategic real estate development. Their wide-ranging discussion explores a three-tier support model (space, funding, and mentorship) for early-stage companies; why mixing biotech, quantum, AI, cybersecurity, and space companies under one roof creates unexpected collaborations; Dr. Safavi's venture studio model; and the value of lunch-and-learns, among other things.This conversation is for medtech founders skeptical about "value-adds" in innovation hubs.Dr. Afshin Safavi is a founder, councilman, consultant, board member, entrepreneur, and investor in biotechnology, pharmaceutical, animal health, technology, and real-estate sectors with multi-billion-dollar turnovers in biological products and is responsible for multiple drug products in the market today. He is the founder of Colorado Health and Tech Centers (CHTC). Prior to that, he founded BioAgilytix Labs, one of the most successful multi-billion-dollar Contract Research Organizations known internationally. He has extensive experience establishing and leading teams in start-ups, as well as Fortune 500 biotech and pharmaceutical companies. He has worked with clients and companies in more than 30 countries.