March 1, 2022. Octane, Southern California’s leading accelerator announced a plan to leverage artificial intelligence (AI) to create a global AI superhub based in Southern California. The new project, Healthsocal.ai, aims to establish Southern California as a leader and will bring together the best AI companies and health networks that create and deploy the world’s most innovative population health strategy.

The initiative will leverage AI across the healthcare industry, enhance wellness, mental health, traditional medical device including biotech, and pharma with existing AI tech. Additionally, the initiative will provide access to equitable high-quality health care by improving the allocation of resources and measuring the outcome of health across an entire population.

“We have worked diligently as a leadership board to bring this aspiration to reality and are excited to launch healthsocal.ai that will create a positive impact on not only Southern California, but across the country” said Bill Carpou, CEO of Octane. He added, “we have a responsibility to deliver results for the community as we strive to improve the overall health of the regions we serve.”

As part of the launch, Zeeshan “Zee” Subzwari has joined as the Managing Director of healthsocal.ai to lead this initiative. Zee is a multi-faceted Business Development, Technology, and Ecosystem Leader who has spent nearly two decades selling and delivering Data and Analytics solutions for enterprise clients, including leading healthcare and lifesciences companies throughout Southern California that will propel healthsocal.ai and its mission. Subzwari said, “I am honored to lead this purposeful public health initiative that will make a strong community impact by creating a healthier future for Southern California residents and beyond through preventive healthcare solutions powered by AI and cutting-edge technologies”.

“The Samueli Foundation’s grant to help launch healthsocal.ai fits with our mission to be a resource for organizations that empower people to more fully realize their true potential,” said Samueli Foundation Interim Executive Director Michelle Freeman. “We believe that Octane has the capacity to convene experts across the region and attract new talent to make Southern California a world-class hub for health technology development and delivery.”

Initial funding for the launch of healthsocal.ai was provided by The Samueli Foundation. Additional funding will be necessary to reach the full goal and potential of healthsoal.ai. Octane will actively be seeking organizations and input to provide the funding to make this vision a full reality.

The Leadership of healthsocal.ai is comprised of eight individuals based in Southern California, representing influential organizations. They include: Bill Carpou, CEO of Octane; Anthony Chang, MD, MBA, MPH, MS, Chief Intelligence and Innovation Officer, CHOC; Cara Davidoff, Director of Marketing, Octane; Fauad Hasan, Founder & Director Appiell.ai; Chris Huff, Chief Strategy Officer, Kofax; Jennifer McCaney, Co-Executive Director, UCLA Biodesign & Assistant Director, UCLA Clinical and Translational Science Institute; Neil Sahota, IBM Master Inventor, United Nations (UN) artificial Intelligence (AI) Advisor, Chief Innovation Officer at UC Irvine; Todd Terrazas, AI LA.

To learn more about the initiative, please visit healthsocal.ai

About Octane:

Octane convenes and enables the Southern California tech and medtech business ecosystem by connecting people, resources, and capital. We impact our community through LaunchPad, a top-performing accelerator, Octane Enterprise Solutions, a platform to provide companies with capital and growth resources, Ignite Series, in person and on-demand leading content, and Octane Foundation for Innovation, focused on furthering our mission while advancing diversity and inclusiveness.  Learn more at octaneoc.org