There were no signs of Iron Man, flying armored suits, or other comic book-type next-gen tech toys anywhere on display at the futuristic headquarters of Masimo, a few days after the latest “Avengers: Endgame” movie was released.
Still, the future—of healthcare technology, politics, and the country—was very much on the mind of Chief Executive Joe Kiani last week, when Business Journal Publisher Richard Reisman and I visited the Irvine office of the $7.3 billion-valued company. This office served as the backdrop for fictional Stark Industries in prior “Iron Man” movies.
Kiani—a fixture on our OC 50 list, the latest edition showcased this week—and his firm invests heavily in emerging companies and R&D, looking for the next breakthrough patient monitoring device technology. Its R&D spending last year rose 24% to some $77 million.
11 Health & Technologies, an upstart Tustin-based maker of “smart bags” for patients living lives with an ostomy, has Kiani as a backer, and Masimo is turning its attention to devices to help solve the country’s opioid crisis, a potential game-changing business line, he says. It’s looking make an affordable overdose detection device that can be used at home.
Kiani’s favorite Avenger? Probably Captain America. He’s working with superhero actor Chris Evans on a new, nonpartisan political website called “A Starting Point,” which aims to provide both R’s and D’s the chance to discuss policy positions in a to-the-point manner, to provide to “informed, responsible and empathetic citizens.” It’s expected to launch soon.
The Business Journal’s 25th Women in Business Awards event is on Wednesday, May 8, at Hotel Irvine; a few seats are still available.
Kiani won’t be there this go-around. He’ll be in L.A. that day, where he’s serving as co-host for Joe Biden’s (a longtime friend) first big fundraising event in the state this election cycle. His niece, Ladan Davia, has been a WIB nominee in prior years—the Chapman grad is CEO and founder of Beeya, an AI-driven website for job seekers. Nazli Azimi, CEO and founder of Irvine’s Bioniz Therapeutics, which Kiani backs, is a nominee this year.
A few of the 15 new OC 50 entries will be at WIB, including Aston Martin U.S. boss Laura Schwab, the keynote speaker.
Mike Trout isn’t the only Angel getting accolades the past week.
The 2-time MVP is our OC 50 cover star this week; thanks to the team’s longtime VP of Communications Tim Mead for tracking down Trout for comments in this edition.
And congrats to Mead, just named president of the Baseball Hall of Fame. He starts this summer.
