Next Phase Newsletter

By Joey Wong, Investor Research Analyst, Hong Kong BD, LSN

Life Science Nation (LSN)’s next event, RESI September, is coming up on September 18. The conference will take place at the Boston Park Plaza, located in the heart of Boston – a hub of life science and healthcare innovation.

RESI has consistently provided an exceptional opportunity for entrepreneurs to pitch directly to a panel of active investors and industry experts through the Innovator’s Pitch Challenge (IPC). The IPC has rapidly gained popularity and has become the go-to event for many successful entrepreneurs to fine-tune their pitching skills, receive valuable feedback on their products and technologies and connect directly with seasoned investors.

During an IPC session, participating companies will be given 4 minutes for their presentation, followed by 9 minutes of Q&A. IPC’s unique format and judge recruitment process allows companies to pitch alongside fellow entrepreneurs operating in the same sectors and in front of a panel of investor pitch judges who are immensely experienced in that particular sector. By joining the IPC, companies gain not only significant exposure, but also invaluable connections with influential investors and industry experts.

We are excited to announce a selection of the confirmed companies that will be pitching at RESI September. Don’t forget to submit your application before the deadline on August 9 to join these companies at RESI September IPC.

Confirmed Pitch Companies
		And More…

By Claire Jeong, Chief Conference Officer, Vice President of Investor Research, Asia BD, LSN

Congratulations to all Innovator’s Pitch Challenge (IPC) finalists that participated in Digital RESI March last week. During the 3-day virtual conference, 30+ pitch companies were featured on a dedicated landing page that hosted their supplementary materials and participated in a live Q&A session with a panel of judges, who are active investors or industry experts in the space. They presented their unique and innovative technologies and products to the RESI attendees, and these technologies and products represent the future of life science arena. RESI attendees voted for their favorite pitch companies. Congratulations to the three IPC winners!

1st Place

Recognized as the 2022 Top Emerging Company at BIO International, SiVEC Biotechnologies has developed BactPac™, a live biotherapeutic delivery platform to enable the next generation of nucleic acid and gene editing therapies. BactPac is engineered to produce therapeutic payloads (mRNA, siRNA, proteins, and CRISPR/Cas) and safely deliver these payloads to targeted tissues (e.g., pancreas, lungs, heart and brain) that cannot be targeted by viral vectors and lipid nanoparticles (LNPs). BactPac can generate large and varied therapeutic moieties that have applications in a wide range of disease indications, including cancer, genetic, infectious, and chronic diseases. Using the BactPac platform, SiVEC is developing a first-in-class therapeutic pipeline targeting a range of therapeutic areas, including oncology, respiratory diseases, and rare genetic diseases. SiVEC has secured nearly $4M in NIH SBIR funding, has a strong patent portfolio, and has an early collaboration with a gene-editing company. We are seeking a $7M seed investment.

Check Out SiVEC Biotechnologies’ Dedicated Page

2nd Place

Reglagene is a therapeutics company dedicated to developing transformational therapies for brain diseases. Reglagene’s product RGN6024 demonstrated proof of concept, safely shrinking tumors in a therapy resistant animal model of brain cancer and beating todays standard of care head-to-head. RGN6024 is the subject of a 2023 patent filing, has a concise manufacturing process, and a risk-mitigating, diversified clinical development plan. We anticipate the start of human clinical trials in mid 2024. Reglagene’s second product in development leverages what we’ve learned from RGN6024 biology to target diseases driven by neuroinflammation, such as Parkinson’s Disease.

Check Out Reglagene’s Dedicated Page

3rd Place

Amplified Sciences is a clinical stage life science in-vitro diagnostics company with an ultra-sensitive molecular-sensing platform technology with composition of matter IP exclusively licensed from Purdue University focused on accurately detecting debilitating diseases sooner. Their lead assay for early detection of pancreatic cancer is supported with clinical published data and provides increased accuracy and earlier detection helping gastroenterologists stratify patients at risk for pancreatic cancer. Open $3M Series Seed Preferred, led by OCA Ventures and Elevate Ventures will fund opening of clinical lab, CLIA regulatory milestone, and support commercial launch in 2023 as well as scale additional assays on their ultrasensitive chemistry reagent platform.

Check Out Amplified Sciences’ Dedicated Page

The show never stops. If you missed the opportunity to pitch in March, applications are now open for RESI Boston, June 5-7. Apply to pitch in-person pitch on June 5. RESI Boston June is a hybrid format conference starting with a one day (June 5) in-person conference experience including partnering meeting, investor panels, IPC, workshops and Global Partnering Campaign and Roadshow Preparation classes at The Westin Copley Place in Boston, MA. Followed by two days (June 6-7) of a virtual partnering only event. Pitch applications are accepted on a rolling basis, so get yours in today!

Application deadline is Friday, April 21.

Want to be part of RESI Boston June? Register now to save $500 on super early bird rates by April 7. RESI also provides sponsorship and exhibition opportunities to help you increase your brand visibility at RESI Boston June or any future RESI conferences, contact us to learn more.

By Claire Jeong, Chief Conference Officer, Vice President of Investor Research, Asia BD, LSN

The RESI Boston, September 21-23, Innovator’s Pitch Challenge (IPC) finalists are in! The IPC will include 14 sessions for finalist companies to pitch to a judging panel featuring investors and strategic partners. In addition, each company will be presenting a posterboard in the RESI exhibit hall throughout the conference. All RESI attendees will be given 5 pieces of “RESI Cash,” which can be used to “invest” or vote for their favorite companies, and the Top 3 companies with the highest number of votes will be announced at the end of RESI with a prize and newsletter feature.

Participating in the IPC is an unparalleled opportunity for actively fundraising startups to boost their exposure and engage a wider network of global investors and strategic partners.

See all pitching companies:

Interested in learning more about these companies? The RESI partnering system just opened on Monday – it is not too late to register for RESI and engage with IPC finalists and 700+ attendees who will be attending RESI. Sign up here!

By Claire Jeong, Chief Conference Officer, Vice President of Investor Research, Asia BD, LSN

One of the best parts of RESI returning to an in-person format after more than two years is the return of the live pitch session! RESI Boston returns in-person September 21-22, with an additional day of dedicated-digital partnering September 23. Applications to pitch for the Innovator’s Pitch Challenge (IPC) are now open until Friday, August 12! The IPC was created to respond to the need for a digital pitch format. Now it has been modified to bring the value and function to an in-person format.

What Is It?
The Innovator’s Pitch Challenge (IPC) is an opportunity for early-stage life science and healthcare companies to gain additional exposure to conference attendees and pitch directly to a panel of judges, featuring active investors and industry experts. Participating companies pay to host their company materials on the Live Agenda and participate in the live pitch session.

How Does It Work?
Pitching companies will have a dedicated webpage on the RESI Live Agenda, which greatly increases visibility to investors and other registered attendees. Companies can share their marketing collateral such as their slide deck, executive summary, optional pitch video, and more.

Each pitching company will be assigned to an IPC session, with each session featuring four companies, grouped together based on similar sector and/or technology. Companies will be given four minutes to pitch, followed by an additional ten minutes of Q&A and feedback from the judging panel.

Who Should Apply?
Early-stage life science companies actively raising seed capital ($25K – 2M), Series A ($2 – 10M), or Series B ($10 – 50M) use the IPC to get in front of the panel of qualified investor judges in their market segment and pitch their company and product. Early-stage companies are encouraged to apply and submit their pitch deck and executive summary.

By Claire Jeong, Chief Conference Officer, Vice President of Investor Research, Asia BD, LSN

At Digital RESI June, nearly 50 life science and healthcare startups participated in the Innovator’s Pitch Challenge (IPC), a unique pitching opportunity for early-stage companies in therapeutics, medical device, diagnostics, digital health, and R&D/services sectors.

All attendees are encouraged to participate in viewing each finalist’s dedicated webpage, pitching materials, and live session in order to vote for the best pitch at RESI. Everyone from fellow startup founders to active early-stage investors votes for their favorite companies based on the materials displayed on their dedicated landing pages (pitch video, slide deck, executive summary, etc.) as well as their performance in live Q&A sessions, in which founders pitch directly to and participate in a subsequent Q&A with investor judges.

Life Science Nation is pleased to share the winners of last week’s IPC who received the most votes during the 3-day conference. Congratulations to the winners! Check them out below and see the full list of finalists. The IPC returns to an in-person format September 21-22 at RESI Boston! Contact us to learn more and apply.

Surgical Automations, Inc. – First Place
We are building the Tesla for endoscopic procedures. We are developing Automated Endoscopic Robots for procedures such as Upper and Lower GI endoscopy, Cystoscopy and Ureteroscopy, Endotracheal Intubation and Bronchoscopy. Our core technology is AI based Automated Robotic Endoluminal Navigation (AREN) and is supplemented by an IoT infrastructure that enables us to offer an integrated stakeholder experience to patients, physicians and the hospital leadership. The automated scanning of the anatomy is performed in a predetermined fashion ensuring all areas are visualized. During scanning, our AI/ML algorithms that are developed after extensive training on the images, identify the target anatomy and screen for any visual abnormality. If identified and when indicated, the robot will recommend the procedure to perform. Upon confirmation from the physician, the robot will mark a trajectory on the lesion predicting the exact location where the intervention will be done. Upon confirmation from the physician, the robot will perform the procedure. All this is automated and done under the supervision of the physician who has the capability to manually override at any time. Additionally, in addition to providing us with important data for business analytics, the IoT infrastructure and data warehouse also offers value-added interactive interfaces to our stakeholders for a superior experience and engagement.

JOCAVIO Co. Ltd. – Second Place
JOCAVIO Co. Ltd. was founded in 2021 by Drs. Tomoko and Hiroyuki Inoue together with seasoned industry experts in 2021 with a vision to provide “Hope for the Irreplaceable Lives of Cancer Patients”. JOCAVIO’s core expertise is genetic manipulation of vaccinia virus and the unique coating technology that enable repeated systemic administration of virus vectors. Moreover, we utilize a promising nanobody technology that allows multi-epitope binding for cancer specific tropism. Our primary focus is a novel oncolytic virus that provides not only robust efficacy with multiple targets but also possesses a “kill switch” that inhibits virus replication in case of excess activity. Utilizing our expertise on vaccinia virus, we have a project on SARS-Cov-2 vaccine that would be effective regardless of different variants. This project is an expedited project in needs of effective vaccines and will enter FIH in 3Q 2023 and we expect to complete P2 in 2024. Similarly, some early pipelines in consideration include vaccines that are effective for Zika and Dengue fever. We are looking for investors to help us in seed finance to support FIH in 2024-2025. Also we are keen on a strategic partnership with companies who are interested in co-development of our vaccine projects in APAC countries.

SynCell Biotechnology, Inc. – Third Place
SynCell’s business is focused on making the cutting edge a reality, offering a pipeline of novel antimicrobial products from our patented platform that improves patients’ quality of life, enhances the quality of care, and reduces the burden on society from the costs of antimicrobial resistance.

By Claire Jeong, Chief Conference Officer, Vice President of Investor Research, Asia BD, LSN

Congratulations to the Digital RESI June Innovator’s Pitch Challenge (IPC) finalists! Applications came in from companies representing various sectors: therapeutics, medical devices, diagnostics, digital health, and R&D services. These companies will present at the upcoming conference and will each have a dedicated landing page showcasing their product and technology. Each finalist is assigned to a live Q&A session featuring a panel of investors and industry experts who actively seek to work and partner with early-stage innovations.

Companies participating in the IPC have constantly received positive feedback from our investor network due to their high quality of presentation and ability to answer high-level questions, among other positive elements. These sessions have been valuable for the participating companies in being able to connect with relevant investors, and we look forward to another great round of presentations and engaging Q&A from this group. Learn more about each finalist below.

Are you interested in showcasing your startup to early-stage investors at RESI Boston, September 21-22? Contact our business development team to discuss the IPC format and to see if you are a fit!

Want to learn more? The Business Development team at Life Science Nation is available to answer questions and share additional details to help you meet your partnership goals!
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By Claire Jeong, Chief Conference Officer, Vice President of Investor Research, Asia BD, LSN

Just as a good story is the backbone to any pitch, so the story behind the Innovator’s Pitch Challenge (IPC) explains why it has become a RESI mainstay and one of the event’s most popular sessions with both startups and investors alike. Prior to the Covid-19 global pandemic, pitch sessions were included in the RESI agendas, but not met with the same enthusiasm we now see. In early 2020, the entire life science industry scrambled to figure out how to best adjust and shift perspectives and workflow.

As the world came to a halt, RESI had to pivot, and we reassessed how to best add value to the growing need for early-stage technology assets in life science and healthcare. Pitching is necessary for startups to share their story and increase their exposure to investors and other relevant industry experts. However, there is often a noticeable lack of engagement. At other conferences, we saw companies that had dedicated hours and days to practicing and perfecting their pitch got little value-add beyond the single encounter. Adding this value to a virtual format became our singular goal.

The IPC is unique in that all companies have a dedicated landing page where they can share any relevant company materials, viewable by all conference attendees. All IPC finalists are assigned to a live Q&A session with investor and industry expert judges who actively work with companies in their sector and stage of development and receive early access to each company’s marketing materials, which allows for more targeted, detailed questions. These judges often self-select, so they participate with genuine interest in the participating companies. See what judges have had to say about their participation:

“The Pitch Sessions were a great opportunity to engage with the CEO/Founders of very innovative Life Science startups. Despite the COVID-related transition from in-person to virtual meetings, the RESI team did an outstanding job organizing these sessions, ensuring that the live Q&A was very productive, and facilitating follow-up with these exciting companies.”

Gary Gershony, Life Science Angels / BayMed Venture Partners

 

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Mayank Taneja, OSF Healthcare

William Kuziel, MedPro Investors