Join us for the launch of Beaker’s Speakers, a new alumni-driven series highlighting KGI graduates making an impact across industries. Our first event features two entrepreneurs who turned their passions into bold ventures.

John Hur, MBS '18, is the Founder of Life Cocoon, a consumer product brand rooted in sustainability and inspired by California’s wild places. After studying Biology at UC San Diego and Biotechnology at the Keck Graduate Institute, John built a career in biotech and digital health, including roles at 23andMe, Illumina, and Agilent, where he managed next-generation sequencing products. Drawing on that background, he transitioned into consumer entrepreneurship, launching Life Cocoon with the mission of creating high-performing, nature-based products that merge science, outdoor culture, and wellness. John has led the brand through multiple pivots, including overcoming early product failures, refining manufacturing, and developing scalable marketing strategies. He is currently participating in the REI Embark Program, a national accelerator for early-stage outdoor brands, while working to grow Life Cocoon into a category-defining company.

David Marash, MSBRD '19, is the Co-Founder and CEO of Machine Bio, a biotechnology instrumentation company using molecular machines to reimagine the pharmaceutical industry’s protein production process. David established his foundation in molecular biology at Claremont McKenna College and broadened his perspective with stints at Stanford School of Medicine, NASA, and OncoMed Pharmaceuticals. His obsession with synthetic biology and biotechnology entrepreneurship inspired him to seek out the perfect launchpad for his endeavors, drawing him to Keck Graduate Institute's bioprocessing program. David founded Machine Bio the day before graduation with a deep appreciation for the challenges of the oversized, traditional protein production methods and a creative approach to shrink them down to a single step. He has led Machine Bio to successfully develop the enabling technology for its next-gen bioreactor and secure industry awards from BioTools Innovator and the Center for the Advancement of Science in Space.

Together, John and David will share their entrepreneurial journeys, lessons learned, and perspectives on innovation, resilience, and creating impact.

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Dog Haus Biergarten in Pasadena is in a busy area with several parking options, including paid parking garages, metered street parking, and private lots. Please use this map to find the best parking for you. https://www.oldpasadena.org/visit/directory/map/234/dog-haus-biergarten

There is also a Metro Line Stop on Line A at the Del Mar Station which is a .2 miles walk from the venue. Please see the Google Map here.