Next Phase Newsletter

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

The agenda for RESI Boston 2026 is here, offering attendees an in-depth look at the conversations shaping the future of early-stage life science investment. Taking place September 22–23 at The Westin Copley Place in Boston, followed by virtual partnering days on September 25, 28, and 29, the expanded two-day in-person conference delivers more opportunities than ever to connect with investors, strategic partners, and industry leaders.

This year’s program reflects the evolving priorities of the healthcare investment ecosystem, with sessions designed to help innovators better understand today’s fundraising environment while building the relationships needed to move their companies forward.

Day one begins by exploring why Boston remains one of the world’s premier biotechnology hubs before examining key topics including partnering with health systems, how venture investors evaluate early-stage therapeutics, securing pharmaceutical partnerships, corporate venture capital strategies, digital health innovation, and the growing influence of family offices in healthcare investing. The day also features the Global Family Office Bioforum (GFOB), an invite-only private networking lunch that brings together select family office investors for high-value discussions and relationship building.

On day two, programming shifts toward emerging investment trends with sessions highlighting angel investing, women’s health, impact investing, and the increasingly important role of mission-driven capital. The conference concludes with two Reverse VC Pitch sessions, where investors take the stage to present directly to entrepreneurs, providing attendees with valuable insight into investment priorities, fund strategies, and what investors are actively seeking in new opportunities. The day also features the exclusive Global VC Connect Lunch, creating another dedicated opportunity for venture capital investors to build meaningful connections.

As always, RESI programming is designed to provide practical insights rather than theory. Whether attendees are preparing for their next fundraising round, pursuing strategic partnerships, or looking to better understand today’s investment landscape, every panel is curated to deliver actionable perspectives from experienced investors and industry leaders.

Combined with RESI’s partnering platform and three additional days of virtual meetings, the conference offers a comprehensive environment for companies seeking to advance fundraising and business development efforts.

Join the RESI Speaker Lineup

Are you an investor or strategic partner with valuable insights to share with early-stage life science companies? We are looking for dynamic speakers to join our RESI panels. Click here to submit your Speaker Interest Form today!

Registration is now open, with super early bird pricing currently available. Companies planning to attend are encouraged to register early to secure the best available rates and begin preparing for one of the most anticipated life science investment events of the year.

Register today and join the global life science investment community at RESI Boston 2026.

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

The Innovator’s Pitch Challenge (IPC) returned to RESI San Diego 2026, bringing together some of the most promising early-stage life science companies for one of the conference’s signature events. Designed to connect early-stage innovators with active investors and strategic partners, the IPC provides a platform for companies to showcase breakthrough technologies while gaining valuable exposure and feedback.

Each finalist delivered a six-minute presentation followed by a live Q&A with an investor judging panel. Throughout the conference, participants also met with investors during one-on-one partnering meetings and networking sessions, extending conversations well beyond the pitch stage.

The IPC winners are determined through a combination of investor judge evaluations and RESI Cash voting. Judges evaluate each company based on the strength of its technology, investment opportunity, presentation, and responses during Q&A, while attendees allocate RESI Cash to the companies they believe demonstrate the greatest investment potential. Together, these scores recognize companies that impressed both the judging panel and the broader RESI community.

Congratulations to the overall winners of the RESI San Diego 2026 Innovator’s Pitch Challenge: 

1st Place: Nanotrace

Nanotrace combined the best attributes of chemotherapy, nanoparticle delivery mechanisms, and the latest advancements in gene therapeutics to build a revolutionary oncology platform. Based on our team’s decades of research in these fields, and the maturation of nanomedicine, our product is a novel targeting platform which recognizes cancer cells by its very blueprint – gene expression. In part by using AI, that highly specific recognition is programmed to release a chemotherapeutic payload inside a cancer cell while leaving healthy cells unaffected. Our platform will transform how we treat not only cancer but a whole spectrum of genetic disorders. Nanotrace is founded by Dr. Will Briley, PhD Molecular Biology from Northwestern; Dr. Paul Weiss, renowned nanoscientist, distinguished UCLA professor, and a UC Presidential Chair; David Spector, an experienced founder and formerly of Sequoia Capital, Google, and MIT; and, Chief Medical Advisor, Dr. Krishna Komanduri, Department Chief & Head of Hematology & Oncology, UCSF.

2nd Place: Pinion Immunotherapeutics

Pinion Immunotherapeutics is a Maryland-based biotechnology company focused on developing novel immunotherapies for chronic viral infections and virus-driven cancers. Its proprietary AI-driven mRNA platform generates immunotherapies targeting HPV-related precancer, AML, EBV, and HSV, designed to activate CD8⁺ T cells while inducing virus-neutralizing antibodies to achieve durable immune control. Pinion operates as a lean, high-impact virtual company, deploying capital directly to science and clinical trials, not overhead. Our leadership team brings deep expertise across mRNA platform development, FDA regulatory strategy, clinical trial design, and immunology. Our programs target indications with large addressable populations, no curative standard of care, and high economic burden, where mRNA immunotherapy offers a genuine path to functional cure.

3rd Place: FELIQS

Feliqs is a clinical-stage ophthalmology company developing innovative therapies for retinal and corneal diseases with significant unmet medical needs. The company is advancing a diversified pipeline targeting conditions including retinopathy of prematurity (ROP), pterygium, and dry age-related macular degeneration (Dry AMD), addressing diseases that currently have limited or no effective treatment options. Leveraging novel mechanisms targeting oxidative stress, fibrosis, and angiogenesis, FELIQS is developing patient-friendly therapies designed to reduce dependence on invasive procedures while improving long-term visual outcomes. Through its innovative ophthalmology pipeline, FELIQS aims to preserve vision, prevent blindness, and improve quality of life for patients worldwide.

In addition to the overall winners, several companies earned the highest combined judge and RESI Cash scores within their individual pitch sessions. Congratulations to these outstanding innovators for delivering exceptional presentations and capturing investor interest throughout the competition.

Every company that participated in the Innovator’s Pitch Challenge demonstrated the innovation, passion, and entrepreneurial spirit that continue to define the RESI community. Congratulations to all of this year’s participants.

Will Your Company Be Next?

Applications are now open for the RESI Boston Innovator’s Pitch Challenge, taking place during the expanded two-day, in-person RESI Boston conference this September during Biotech Week Boston.

The IPC is more than a pitch competition. It is an opportunity to present your company to active investors, receive expert feedback, gain additional visibility through poster presentations and partnering meetings, and compete for recognition among the global life science investment community.

Whether you’re preparing for your next financing round or looking to build strategic partnerships, the Innovator’s Pitch Challenge can help elevate your fundraising efforts.

Applications are now open. Apply today and take the stage at RESI Boston.

Tags: AI, books, business, education, entrepreneur, entrepreneurship, facebook, finance, food, health, Healthcare, investing, marketing, news, social-media, startups, technology, travel, twitter, venture capital, writing