Ilana Brand

Ilana serves as senior vice president of business development and strategy for Cooley’s San Diego office. She has 20+ years of experience in business development and ecosystem-building and has helped fuel the San Diego innovation economy throughout her career. Ilana works with startup and growth companies, facilitating introductions to investors, strategists, advisors and talent to help companies thrive.

Ilana previously led global marketing for Cooley’s life sciences practice and helped launch the firm’s global digital health group. Before Cooley, Ilana served as director of innovation programs at CONNECT, a San Diego-based organization promoting entrepreneurship, capital formation and innovation.

Ilana has been a member of the BIO International Convention Program Committee since 2014. She serves as a selection committee member for San Diego Startup Week’s Pitch Competition and as a judge for the Stella Labs’ Women’s Fast Pitch competition, where she was recently recognized as a Corporation Innovation Leader. Ilana is a frequent speaker at industry events. She earned her BA from Brandeis University in economics and sociology.