Next Phase Newsletter

By Dennis Ford, Founder and CEO of Life Science Nation, Creator of the RESI Conference Series

Life Science Nation (LSN) presents the Program Guide for the inaugural RESI Europe conference in Barcelona, taking place in person on June 17 at the Hilton Diagonal Mar Barcelona, followed by two virtual partnering days on June 18-19. This hybrid event connects early-stage life sciences innovators with global investors.

Highlights include the Innovator’s Pitch Challenge showcasing over 40 cutting-edge companies, expert panel discussions on industry trends, interactive workshops, and an exhibitor showcase.

Check out the guide below and join the forefront of European life sciences investment and partnership. Don’t miss this game-changing opportunity – there is still time to register.

Attention life science fundraising CEOs! Life Science Nation (LSN) wants to present a six-month strategic plan to connect you with over 100 capital investors and licensing partners. RESI Europe, in Barcelona, June 17 in person, followed by virtual partnering June 18-19, will host 250-300 investors. 150 are registered already and more are joining daily. RESI is different from other partnering events: It’s highly interactive. Investors are easily identified by red dots on their badges, allowing you to easily introduce yourself. At RESI, scheduling 15-20 investor meetings and having another 15-20 ad hoc is typical. You can have 30-40 meetings at the RESI Europe June event! If you go to RESI Boston in September with 450-500 investors and RESI JPM San Francisco with 600-650 investors in January, a startup CEO could meet 100+ investors and licensing partner in 6 months! Securing funding and deals is a numbers game, and RESI lets you win like no other conference series. RESI is a dedicated partnering event that is different in the following ways:

• LSN is the only event with a 1:1 ratio of investors to startups. RESI Barcelona will bring 250-300 international investors to the event. These investors are part of the LSN international partnering network and seek seed, Series A, and Series B opportunities.
• LSN brings global investors and licensing partners across the silos of drugs, devices, diagnostics, and digital health.
• LSN is a dedicated global investor and licensing partner event. All the panels and workshops are focused on investors and licensing partners explaining to startups how they source and vet startups.
• The Innovators Pitch Challenge (IPC) guarantees that a startup can pitch to a panel of investors who are fit for its stage of development and product. Each participant receives written feedback from each investor.

By Dennis Ford, Founder and CEO of Life Science Nation, Creator of the RESI Conference Series

Life Science Nation (LSN) has delivered our Entrepreneurial Education fundraising and partnering curriculum to numerous life science tech hubs around the globe. LSN excels in crafting partnering-themed boot camps and webinars tailored to diverse needs, whether in-person, virtual, or hybrid. These programs are finely tuned to suit a cohort member’s development stages and product sets.

LSN has diverse experience and has worked closely with regional bio clusters such as California Life Sciences, incubators like Hong Kong Science and Technology Park, academic institutions like Georgia Tech, and regional accelerators like OBIO Toronto. These initiatives are specifically designed for life science cohorts around the globe on how to prepare and execute global roadshows and partner campaigns.

LSN also equips these cohorts with the necessary skills to effectively prepare for and implement best practices during in-person partnering events. Notable collaborations include the National Institute on Aging (NIA) under the NIH, the Brisbane Economic Development Association (BEDA) in their third consecutive year partnering with LSN, and an upcoming session sponsored by our Brazilian partner, ABIQUIFI-Pharma Chemicals Industry Association. They collaborate with LSN to empower early-stage life science companies to learn the nuts and bolts of how to be successful in the global partnering landscape.

What truly sets LSN apart is our capacity to provide a comprehensive suite of products and services meticulously tailored to startups’ unique needs and challenges. Our startup cohorts’ clients seek Seed, Series A, or Series B funding. The LSN database offers a carefully curated list of current investors and licensing partners that can be matched to the startup’s stage of development and product. LSN has integrated the Salesforce.com CRM system to help startups organize and manage their interactions with these potential collaborators, along with an educational curriculum focused on the nuances of planning and executing a global roadshow. Additionally, we organize five RESI Investor conferences every few months, presenting invaluable opportunities to connect with key players and expand a company’s network outside their home region.

LSN’s offerings are strategically crafted to address the four primary challenges that often contribute to startups’ downfalls when entering the global life science partnering arena. By comprehensively understanding and tackling these challenges, we significantly enhance startups’ likelihood of success in this sector.

• Understanding the Target Audience: Many early-stage companies lack clarity regarding their target audience. Venture capitalists (VCs) operate across different stages, each with distinct preferences and investment criteria. LSN equips startups with the knowledge to discern between early-stage, mid-stage, and late-stage VCs, enabling them to focus their efforts on engaging with investors aligned with their stage of development and product maturity. Our entrepreneurial education curriculum is dedicated to organizing and executing successful global roadshows.
• Regional vs. Global Dynamics: LSN educates early-stage companies on navigating the global early-stage partner landscape, refining their narrative, and devising a coherent strategy for their global roadshow. Fundraising is inherently a numbers game, necessitating an international outlook to access an adequate pool of potential investors suited to their needs. Startups often overlook the global market potential for their technology assets, limiting their fundraising prospects. LSN guides startups in broadening their horizons and understanding the diverse opportunities beyond their regional boundaries.
• Crafting Compelling Stories: Startups transitioning from academia often struggle to articulate their unique value proposition beyond generic problem/solution presentations. LSN emphasizes the importance of weaving personal narratives into pitch decks, highlighting the entrepreneur’s journey and the intrinsic qualities that make them investable. LSN addresses the prevailing trend of inadequately prepared pitch decks and offers guidance on crafting impactful narratives that resonate with investors.
• Developing a Strategic Game Plan: Launching and executing a global fundraising campaign requires more than a problem/solution/addressable market pitch deck. We advocate for a holistic approach encompassing the fundamentals of sales, marketing, and business development. Startups must develop concise taglines, elevator pitches that capture investors’ attention, and personal narratives that underscore their credibility and potential as partners. Our training programs cover these essential aspects, equipping startups with the tools and strategies to navigate the competitive landscape effectively.

Contact us (k.deyo@lifesciencenation.com) to learn more about LSN Entrepreneurial Education program.

By Dennis Ford, Founder and CEO of Life Science Nation, Creator of the RESI Conference Series

Life Science Nation (LSN) has delivered our Entrepreneurial Education fundraising and partnering curriculum to numerous life science tech hubs around the globe. LSN excels in crafting partnering-themed boot camps and webinars tailored to diverse needs, whether in-person, virtual, or hybrid. These programs are finely tuned to suit a cohort member’s development stages and product sets.

LSN has diverse experience and has worked closely with regional bio clusters such as California Life Sciences, incubators like Hong Kong Science and Technology Park, academic institutions like Georgia Tech, and regional accelerators like OBIO Toronto. These initiatives are specifically designed for life science cohorts around the globe on how to prepare and execute global roadshows and partner campaigns.

LSN also equips these cohorts with the necessary skills to effectively prepare for and implement best practices during in-person partnering events. Notable collaborations include the National Institute on Aging (NIA) under the NIH, the Brisbane Economic Development Association (BEDA) in their third consecutive year partnering with LSN, and an upcoming session sponsored by our Brazilian partner, ABIQUIF-Pharma Chemicals Industry Association. They collaborate with LSN to empower early-stage life science companies to learn the nuts and bolts of how to be successful in the global partnering landscape.

What truly sets LSN apart is our capacity to provide a comprehensive suite of products and services meticulously tailored to startups’ unique needs and challenges. Our startup cohorts’ clients seek Seed, Series A, or Series B funding. The LSN database offers a carefully curated list of current investors and licensing partners that can be matched to the startup’s stage of development and product. LSN has integrated the Salesforce.com CRM system to help startups organize and manage their interactions with these potential collaborators, along with an educational curriculum focused on the nuances of planning and executing a global roadshow. Additionally, we organize five RESI Investor conferences every few months, presenting invaluable opportunities to connect with key players and expand a company’s network outside their home region.

LSN’s offerings are strategically crafted to address the four primary challenges that often contribute to startups’ downfalls when entering the global life science partnering arena. By comprehensively understanding and tackling these challenges, we significantly enhance startups’ likelihood of success in this sector.

• Understanding the Target Audience: Many early-stage companies lack clarity regarding their target audience. Venture capitalists (VCs) operate across different stages, each with distinct preferences and investment criteria. LSN equips startups with the knowledge to discern between early-stage, mid-stage, and late-stage VCs, enabling them to focus their efforts on engaging with investors aligned with their stage of development and product maturity. Our entrepreneurial education curriculum is dedicated to organizing and executing successful global roadshows.
• Regional vs. Global Dynamics: LSN educates early-stage companies on navigating the global early-stage partner landscape, refining their narrative, and devising a coherent strategy for their global roadshow. Fundraising is inherently a numbers game, necessitating an international outlook to access an adequate pool of potential investors suited to their needs. Startups often overlook the global market potential for their technology assets, limiting their fundraising prospects. LSN guides startups in broadening their horizons and understanding the diverse opportunities beyond their regional boundaries.
• Crafting Compelling Stories: Startups transitioning from academia often struggle to articulate their unique value proposition beyond generic problem/solution presentations. LSN emphasizes the importance of weaving personal narratives into pitch decks, highlighting the entrepreneur’s journey and the intrinsic qualities that make them investable. LSN addresses the prevailing trend of inadequately prepared pitch decks and offers guidance on crafting impactful narratives that resonate with investors.
• Developing a Strategic Game Plan: Launching and executing a global fundraising campaign requires more than a problem/solution/addressable market pitch deck. We advocate for a holistic approach encompassing the fundamentals of sales, marketing, and business development. Startups must develop concise taglines, elevator pitches that capture investors’ attention, and personal narratives that underscore their credibility and potential as partners. Our training programs cover these essential aspects, equipping startups with the tools and strategies to navigate the competitive landscape effectively.

By Dennis Ford, Founder and CEO of Life Science Nation, Creator of the RESI Conference Series

The life science industry is a hotbed of innovation and groundbreaking research, but its startup success rate paints a sobering picture, ranging from 1 to 5%. What lies behind this alarming statistic? As CEO of Life Science Nation (LSN) and the mastermind behind the Redefining Early Stage Investments (RESI) partnering conference, I have witnessed firsthand for over a decade the multifaceted complexities that plague the entrepreneurial journey and produce these dismal metrics for life sciences startups. Below is a table that outlines the challenges for startups launching a fundraising campaign.

Despite these challenges, I remain optimistic about the future of life science entrepreneurship. The key lies in mastering the art of fundraising—a process that demands a nuanced understanding of global markets, investor relations, and strategic messaging. Launching a successful fundraising campaign requires meticulous planning and execution. Cultivating a targeted list of potential partners and investors tailored to the startup’s stage of development and product offering is crucial. This approach starkly contrasts the indiscriminate spamming tactics often employed by ill-prepared startups.

Herein lies the significance of initiatives like Life Science Nation (LSN) and the RESI partnering series. These platforms provide invaluable resources and networking opportunities for startups seeking to navigate the complex landscape of fundraising and industry partnerships. LSN offers Entrepreneurial Education Classes for Preparing and Executing a Successful Global Partnering Campaign. A database of investors and licensing partners that fit your stage of development and product and can be integrated with your CRM, and the international RESI conference series that get you out of your region and into the international marketplace where you can attend in-person meetings and also virtual meetings with a bevy of potential investor from around the world.

Mastering the Art of Fundraising

Securing funding necessitates a nuanced understanding of global markets, investor relations, and strategic messaging. LSN products combined with the RESI partnering series offer invaluable resources and networking opportunities for startups navigating the complex fundraising landscape. By embracing strategic fundraising methodologies, startups can amplify their chances of success amidst the industry’s burgeoning innovation.

By Dennis Ford, Founder and CEO of Life Science Nation, Creator of the RESI Conference Series

Life Science Nation (LSN) presents the Program Guide for RESI South, taking place in person on Monday, March 25, followed by two days of virtual partnering on March 26-27! This hybrid conference will take place at The Whitley Buckhead Hotel in Atlanta, and we are excited to release the digital version of the RESI Program Guide. Check out the various panelists, exhibitors, and workshops participating in this RESI. In addition, make sure to check out the Innovator’s Pitch Challenge, where over 40 companies will pitch to a panel of investor judges.

It is not too late to attend if you seek capital investment or licensing opportunities. Register today.

By Dennis Ford, Founder and CEO of Life Science Nation, Creator of the RESI Conference Series

Life Science Nation (LSN) and our RESI partnering events are a deal-sourcing engine and sales funnel for any service provider with products for early-stage life science companies. The global platform LSN has developed gathers early-stage life science startup entities when they leave academia with a tech transfer license and matches them up with capital investors and licensing partners who do Seed, Series A, and Series B deals over five to ten years. LSN touches and serves twelve thousand global startups (the sell-side) whom we match up with four thousand capital investors and licensing partners (the buy-side). LSN can integrate a service provider into the buy-side and sell-side communities we have built. Below is the program guide from RESI JPM 2024, where LSN hosted six hundred startups and six hundred investors and licensing partners, and every one of those companies needs products and services on their journey to commercialization.

Life Science Nation has over a decade of expertise in helping match startup companies with capital investors and licensing partners. All the scientist-entrepreneurs need to gather knowledge about how to prepare and execute a global partnering campaign. If you are an early-stage life science company translating research, the juxtaposition is academic researchers moving from research into funding and scaling a commercial product. Once funded, that is where LSN’s service provider network enters the picture and can sell its products to the startups. By regularly attending RESI you develop a pipeline of targets for your products.

LSN works with startups to cover the nuts and bolts of preparing and executing a global fundraising campaign. Once they are prepared for a fundraising campaign, LSN provides a global target list of investors and licensing partners that fit their stage of development and product. Service providers play a large role in helping startups succeed, helping them avoid expensive pitfalls. LSN runs five RESI partnering conferences annually around the planet, and RESI provides a platform for startups to leverage and execute their campaign. If you are a service provider, attend RESI events to establish a pipeline of leads and opportunities to meet one-on-one with the early-stage founders.  Many service providers also meet with investors who attend RESI and offer discounted services to the portfolio being managed by the investors.  A win/win for everyone.