Next Phase Newsletter

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

The Life Science Nation (LSN) team is gearing up for next week’s highly anticipated RESI Europe conference in Barcelona. With a curated program featuring 9 insightful panels, attendees can expect to gain the latest perspectives on early-stage life science and healthcare investment opportunities.

LSN has assembled diverse panelists representing various investment groups, including seed funds, corporate venture capitalists, early-stage therapeutics, and oncology innovation leaders. These experts will share their strategies, approaches to early-stage investment, perspectives on industry landscapes, insights into startup ecosystems, and much more. As a truly global conference, RESI Europe will also welcome numerous international investors and cross-border investment groups, fostering dynamic discussions and facilitating valuable networking opportunities.

The primary goal of the RESI panels is to facilitate constructive conversations between investors and fundraising CEOs. Attendees can expect to receive tactical advice on effective capital-raising strategies and partnership acquisition, empowering companies to navigate the fundraising journey successfully. These must-attend panels present an unparalleled opportunity for founders and CEOs to engage directly with investors, expand their networks, and gain invaluable insights to propel their businesses forward.

Join the panelists below at RESI Europe:

Click Here to See More Investor Speakers

By Momo Yamamoto, Investor Research Analyst, LSN

This week, Life Science Nation (LSN) hosted our June Investor Fireside Chat which brought together four investors from different parts of the world discussing how early-stage life science investments in the first half of 2024 have looked like so far. We were happy to welcome Farzad Abdi-Dezfuli, Partner from Sarsia, Jenna Aronson, Principal from Two Bear Capital, Tom Gibbs, Investment Director from Debiopharm Group, and Rick Jones, Partner from BioAdvance. The investors gave their thoughts on trends of 2024 and insight to startups looking to fundraise.

By Greg Mannix, Vice President International Business Development, General Manager Europe, LSN

Biocat will host a lunch keynote session at RESI Europe 2024 on June 17 at the Hotel Hilton Diagonal Mar in Barcelona. The session, titled “Catalonia’s Advanced Therapies Ecosystem: Shaping the Future of ATMPs in Europe,” will take place in the Ballroom, starting at 12 PM. Leading experts will discuss the pivotal role of Catalonia’s advanced therapies ecosystem in driving innovation and clinical advancements in Advanced Therapy Medicinal Products (ATMPs) across Europe. This session, organized by Biocat, will delve into the region’s innovative landscape, highlighting groundbreaking research, investment opportunities, and cutting-edge developments.

The esteemed panel will be moderated by Robert Fabregat, CEO of BIOCAT, and features prominent figures in the field:

• Fina Lladós, Vice President General Manager Iberia at Amgen
• Silvia Martín-Lluesma, Clinical Senior Manager of Advanced Therapies at Vall d’Hebron Institute of Oncology (VHIO)
• Antoni Matilla, Cofounder and Director of Biointaxis
• Lluís Pareras, Founder and Managing Partner at Invivo Ventures
• Esteve Trias, Executive Medical Director at Leitat Technological Center

Attendees will gain invaluable insights into how Catalonia’s collaborative efforts and strategic initiatives propel Europe to the forefront of advanced therapies. This session is a must-attend for investors, researchers, and industry professionals committed to advancing the field of ATMPs and shaping the future of healthcare. Don’t miss this opportunity to engage with key players and learn about the future of advanced therapies in Europe! If you haven’t registered for RESI Europe yet, you can register now to secure your spot.

By Karen Deyo, VP of Product, Israel BD, LSN

ApexBrasil and Abiquifi, government and pharma organizations in Brazil, worked together to hand-pick 10 startups to represent the amazing Brazilian innovation ecosystem in the life sciences at BIO this week. Brazil is making an effort to bring their technologies abroad, and each of the companies attending have either established or are establishing a US presence in an effort to expand.

Life Science Nation (LSN) partnered with this group to help the companies get ready for BIO, with 5 virtual sessions outlining how to position themselves with their story and their marketing collateral and how to maximize their partnering experience. This was followed by two in person days, with a day of pitch practice followed by a ‘Shark Tank’ session of the companies pitching to a live audience. Check out the participating companies below!

Aptah Biosciences: We are developing the first and only compound that corrects multiple faulty RNAs (coding and noncoding) and resulting toxic proteins at the same time.

Bioptamers: Development of ADC (antibody drug conjugates)-like target cancer therapies using aptamers instead of antibodies.

Gen-t: Genomics data platform that leverages genetic diversity of the Brazilian population to accelerate biomedical research and development of life-science companies.

miRscience Therapeutics: RNA therapies focused on age-related diseases. The first indication is sarcopenia.

Naiad: AI/ML based small molecule therapeutics design and development focused on GPCRs (oncology and psychiatry).

Peptidus Biotech: AI/ML based development of bioactive peptides for animal and human applications.

Science Biotech: Biotech specialized in the development of cardiovascular disease focused assets

Vyro Biotherapeutics: The first oncolytic therapy based on genetically modified zika vírus. Glioblastoma is the first indication.

Wecare: Develops and commercializes innovative functional skin products to oncologic patients.

XenoBR: Development of genetically engineered pigs that their organs are suitable for human transplantation.

By Cameron Hurlburt, Director of Business Development, LSN

Life Science Nation (LSN) staff hear daily from the early-stage companies that cash is king and that they do not have the funds to travel across the globe to attend partnering events… a very bleak picture. On the other hand, LSN sees that many countries and regions with life science innovation ecosystems are funding and subsidizing costs for select cohorts of startups.

Cash for startups surfaces when government, academia and industry collaborate to create funded programs. Thus, we have The Tales of Two Cities. The money goes to the lucky few considered the best of the best, and the majority are left fending for themselves. Welcome to the golden age of life science; thousands of amazing startups with game-changing technologies are forced to figure it out or perish, accounting for a 90%+ failure rate.

The world of the startup CEO, devoid of the elite status moniker, is a constant battle for funds. They resort to every possible means: seeking help from friends and family, applying for more credit cards and even getting a second mortgage. They rely on spouses or partners to pay the bills, work two jobs, write grants, hustle consulting gigs, and spend each day in a 24/7 scramble to survive. The harsh reality is that a small percentage of early-stage companies are being selected for funding, a small percentage are dancing as fast as they can to make ends meet, and the rest are half in and half out of the game because of the cash commitment dynamic.

Investors typically consider 800 startups over a year but only invest in a few. Conversely, startups need to target 800 partners to get a lead investor and a few LPs…thus the 800:3 rule.

LSN has the lowest-cost partnering platform that assists startups in reaching the crucial 800 targets; LSN RESI partnering conferences like RESI Europe. June 17-19, allow more early-stage companies into the game. RESI Boston, September25-27 and RESI JPM, in January round out the RESI conference series. These events offer opportunities for startups to connect with potential investors and partners globally, increasing their chances of securing funding.

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

The RESI Europe, Innovator’s Pitch Challenge (IPC) finalists are in! This exciting event will feature 11 sessions where finalist companies pitch their innovative ideas to a panel of investors and industry experts. Additionally, each company will showcase a posterboard in the RESI exhibit hall throughout the conference, allowing attendees to learn more about their offerings.

Innovator’s Pitch Challenge Companies At RESI Europe 2024

All RESI attendees will receive 5 pieces of “RESI Cash” to vote for their favorite companies. The 3 companies with the most votes will be announced at the end of RESI, receiving a prize and a feature in the RESI newsletter. This is a valuable opportunity for participating startups to put themselves out there, actively fundraising and meeting conference attendees, half of whom are investors.

The participating companies are listed below. If you plan to attend RESI Europe, be sure to check out their pitches and poster boards. If you’re interested in seeing these presentations and meeting with the companies one-on-one, you can register for the event here.