Words from the Presidents—Spring 2025
Yuang Song
Co-president of the BALSA Group
Dr. Piya Siripoksup
Co-president of the BALSA Group
Reflecting on 2024
Throughout 2024, The BALSA Group continued to expand its reach and impact under the leadership of the current officer board. We strengthened our relationships with a diverse client base, broadened our professional development offerings, and built new connections within the St. Louis innovation ecosystem. These efforts have sustained our upward momentum and laid the foundation for continued growth.
A Regional Leader in Trainee-Driven Consulting
BALSA once again co-organized the Midwest Healthcare Case Competition (MHCC) alongside MiLEAD and WiSolve. This year’s competition drew over 231 participants (+2.7%) from 67 institutions (+9.8%)—including Stanford, Caltech, Harvard, UCLA, UC Berkeley, Yale, and Cornell—spanning 7 countries (+75%), and was sponsored by leading firms in life sciences and consulting. The MHCC remains a flagship opportunity for trainees to sharpen their analytical skills and engage with professionals across biotechnology, strategy, and venture investing.
Strategic Expansion and New Opportunities
One of BALSA’s strategic goals for 2024 was to engage more deeply with the neuroscience technology sector. We are pleased to report that this objective has been achieved, thanks to targeted outreach. This expansion has allowed our consultants to work on exciting, high-impact projects while supporting innovation in a rapidly evolving field.
Vision for 2025
In 2025, BALSA aims to strengthen its value proposition both as a trusted consulting partner and a premier training ground for early-career professionals. We will continue to evolve our service offerings to meet the needs of emerging startups and research-based ventures, while enhancing the rigor, structure, and support provided to our consultants.
Our strategic priorities include positioning BALSA as a commercialization partner within the St. Louis innovation ecosystem, launching new partnerships to expand our technical and client-service capabilities, and deepening our support for The BALSA Foundation through direct funding in the form of $1000 and $5000 grants for early-stage entrepreneurs from underrepresented backgrounds.
Thank You
To our clients: thank you for your continued trust and collaboration. Your support enables BALSA to grow both as an organization and as a training ground for future leaders in science, business, and innovation.
To our current and former members: your dedication, professionalism, and talent drive the success of The BALSA Group. We are proud of what we have accomplished together and look forward to another year of meaningful impact.