Mission Statement

Our mission is threefold:

  1. To provide data-driven consulting solutions to promote sustained growth of emerging technologies and scalable business,

  2. To provide hands-on experience in the business of science and technology, focusing on the developing of transferable knowledge and skills for post-graduate professionals, and

  3. To support, expand, and shape entrepreneurship and innovation in the St. Louis region and beyond.

Our Story

The Biotechnology and Life Science Advising Group (BALSA) is a nonprofit organization founded in December 2010 by a group of biomedical PhD candidates and postdoctoral fellows from Washington University School of Medicine (WashU) in St. Louis, MO. The goal of the group is to supplement academic training by providing real-world experience in the science of business and development of transferable professional skills to better prepare members for both academic and non-academic career paths. BALSA further aims to offer a bridge between academia and industry, fostering collaborations between local universities and companies, to strengthen the young and vibrant startup community in St. Louis.

100+

Number of Active Members

Our consultants stem from WashU, Saint Louis University, and the broader St. Louis community.

Since its inception, BALSA has grown to encompass approximately 100 active members from WashU, Saint Louis University (SLU), and the St. Louis professional community. Consultants come from a myriad of backgrounds including cell biology, neuroscience, immunology, microbiology, genetics and genomics, cancer biology, plant biology, chemistry, engineering, business and law. While members enter with little experience in professional consulting, BALSA harnesses the analytical power of graduate students and postdocs by teaching them to apply the systematic, critical thinking approach of the scientific method to business problems to generate innovative, data-driven solutions for clients. Consultants learn the market research skills necessary to deliver these recommendations through teamwork and peer-to-peer mentoring with experienced project managers and advisors.

Since 2011, BALSA has engaged with more than 150 independent clients, including startups, universities, mid-large size companies, investment firms, consulting firms, and more. We have provided consulting services to companies across 11 US states as well as a few international institutions. BALSA teams have completed more than 300 projects on a wide variety of topics including market research, technology development, competitor analysis, business plan development, and consumer facing materials.

Words from our President

The recent accession of the 2024 executive board necessitates recognition of the accomplishments and growth that occurred in 2023. During 2023, BALSA thrived under the leadership of the 2023 officer board by continuing to provide value for a diverse clientele base, expanding professional development opportunities for members, and interfacing with the local St. Louis community through outreach and philanthropic initiatives. Because of these efforts, BALSA achieved continued success in 2023 and the positive trajectory has inspired new leadership to build upon the momentum.

Initiatives set forth by the 2023 board expanded the BALSA brand among the community and created a myriad of professional development opportunities for members. The BALSA Group continued its role as an organizing member of the 2023 Midwest Healthcare Case Competition (MHCC) along with two other trainee-led consulting groups, MiLead and WiSolve. This year’s competition consisted of more than 225 participants across 61 institutions and 4 countries boasting sponsors from top life-science industry companies and consulting firms. This competition is a unique opportunity for individuals to participate in a fast-paced problem-solving competition and showcase themselves among professionals across a range of fields including scientific R&D, business strategy and development, consulting, and venture capital. This past year also brought the inauguration of the professional development fund which we have made available for experienced members of the organization. These resources are provided to members to increase access to preparatory materials such as case studies, courses, and seminars that assist in the transition to the next professional chapter. During 2023, The BALSA Group website was also revamped which has increased digital traffic, improved overall branding, and allowed members to navigate and access the professional development resources provided more easily. BALSA also expanded its clientele base in 2023 through outreach initiatives such as tabling and canvassing at St. Louis TechWeek where relationships fostered during this event led to new Clients with diverse projects allowing for the growth of the organization’s capabilities and reputation.

In 2024, I am excited and inspired by our internal and external initiatives to push BALSA even further in the coming year. We are excited to push the capabilities of BALSA by expanding the range of projects through recruitment of new Clients and continued collaboration with returning Clients. We are especially interested in expansion in the neuroscience tech space as the recent expansion of the WashU neuroscience building on Duncan Ave has sparked growth in the area. We are also excited to build our relationship with The BALSA Foundation and have recently participated in the spring pitch competition where both $1K and $5K grants were given to incredibly talented new entrepreneurs from underrepresented backgrounds. Internally, we are also looking forward to improving our DE&I efforts through formal training sessions among our members. Our monthly happy hours are already off to a great start where we’ve connected and networked with new and potential members to ensure recruitment of quality and committed individuals. I am excited to see new faces at our upcoming May happy hour at Platypus. We are also in the process of updating our member resources to aid in the transition process from grad school/postdoc into permanent positions. This includes updated resume and cover letter tips and templates, interview prep materials, and information on different career paths.

I would like to take a moment to acknowledge all our clients for their continued support and trust in The BALSA Group. We strive to provide value through rigorous research, data analysis, and effective communication to ensure the success of each project. Your promotion and advocation for our group brings in new clients, providing more opportunities for professional development and growth with the organization, and for this, we are incredibly appreciative.

BALSA has become an established brand whose value is recognized by the broader St. Louis scientific community and the continued success of our organization is a testament to our membership quality. Because of this, I would like to close with an acknowledgment to past and present members of The BALSA Group. Our current and former consultants, project managers, advisors, and officers drive the success of the organization, and I am continually inspired by their commitment.

Onward and upward,

David Price
Presidents of The BALSA Group