Life Science Nation, Biocat, and Biotechgate Announce RESI Europe Barcelona 2024 – June 17th In-person | 18th & 19th Virtual

December 7, 2023December 7, 2023 ~ Next Phase Admin ~ Leave a comment

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

Life Science Nation (LSN), the visionary force behind the globally acclaimed Redefining Early Stage Investments (RESI) Conference Series, is thrilled to announce a strategic collaboration with Biocat, headquartered in Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain, and Biotechgate, Zurich, Switzerland. Biocat, a catalyzing organization dedicated to transforming the BioRegion of Catalonia into a premier life sciences and health innovation ecosystem in Europe, and Biotechgate, a pioneer in curating and marketing a global business development database tailored for the life science industry, join forces with LSN to bring the RESI global matching platform back to Europe.

The RESI Conference Series has been instrumental in connecting healthcare startups with capital investors, co-development partners, and licensing opportunities worldwide. LSN has a track record of assisting over 400 startups in raising over $5 billion through its investor database, entrepreneurial education, and RESI international partnering events. The LSN partner network, comprising ten categories of investors and licensing partners, actively seeks early-stage innovations in drugs, devices, diagnostics, and digital health for investment portfolio and product pipeline development.

The Power of RESI Partnering

The RESI Partnering platform is a dynamic tool designed to match attendees based on sector, indication, and development phase and is central to the RESI Conference Series. This innovative approach eliminates most ill-fitting meetings, ensuring startups engage with the right investors and licensing partners who align with their specific needs and goals. RESI partnering events run five times annually at life science centers worldwide. They facilitate fundraising CEOs and scientist-entrepreneurs to get out of their local region and into the international market, dramatically increasing the number of potential partners in their pipeline. Fundraising is a numbers game; a startup cannot succeed with one or two conferences yearly. LSN’s startups seek seed funding up to 2M, Series A, 2M-10M, and Series B, 10M-50M. As part of their global partnering campaign initiative, startup companies leverage RESI as a strategic launchpad to meet national and international investors and licensing partners.

“Biocat is unique in Europe because they get it; they understand that shining an international light on their startups and getting them into capital and licensing arrangements early builds the ecosystem’s future,” says Dennis Ford, CEO of Life Science Nation.

Robert Fabregat, CEO of Biocat, said, “LSN has developed a buy-side network that will bring tens of millions of Euros into the BioRegion. Biocat is confident that our rich life science technology ecosystem will capture the attention of global investors and licensing partners and enhance BioRegion’s global footprint.”

Patrik Frei, CEO of Biotechgate, stated, “The Catalan BioRegion, like many others in the European market, is not getting enough of the early-stage investor attention they deserve. Now, startups can attend RESI Europe Barcelona, meet LSN’s global partners, and plug into international RESI events in and outside Europe.”

About RESI Conference Series

RESI is a well-established go-to partnering event series for international scientist-entrepreneurs and fundraising CEOs. It offers a dynamic interactive format featuring one day of face-to-face meetings and two days of global virtual partnering. The RESI Conference Series spans North America, Europe, and Asia, receiving support from governmental agencies, regional international tech hubs, incubators, and accelerators. The 2024 RESI partnering events are scheduled as follows: RESI JPM in San Francisco on January 9th, RESI South Atlanta on March 25th, RESI Europe Barcelona on June 17th, RESI Boston on September 25th, and RESI Asia (location and partner TBD) in November.

About Life Science Nation (LSN)

Life Science Nation (LSN) created the globally recognized Redefining Early Stage Investments (RESI) Conference Series. LSN’s mission is to connect early-stage life science companies with investors and strategic partners, ultimately fostering innovation and driving advancements in the life sciences industry.

About Biocat

Biocat is a strategic stakeholder and catalyst for promoting, transforming and projecting the Catalan life sciences and health innovation ecosystem, known as the BioRegion of Catalonia. It was established in 2006 as a public-private foundation at the behest of the Government of Catalonia and the Barcelona City Council to identify the needs of the BioRegion and implement a strategy and action plan to maximize the economic and social impact of the sector.

About Biotechgate

Biotechgate is a leading business development and licensing database for the entire life science industry, offering a wealth of information on over 69,000 life science company profiles. Thanks to its unique data sourcing process, the profiles include company descriptions, contact information, product pipeline information, financing rounds, and management details, making it an invaluable resource for life sciences start-ups, pharma companies, investors, and other industry professionals. Biotechgate also features 30,000 licensing deals and a clinical trials database containing over 800,000 records from registries around the world.

Check Out the Companies Pitching at RESI JPM 2024

December 7, 2023December 7, 2023 ~ Next Phase Admin ~ Leave a comment

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

With less than 2 months left until LSN’s next conference, RESI JPM 2024, we are very excited to announce the 50+ Innovator’s Pitch Challenge (IPC) finalists who will be pitching to a panel of investors and industry experts and showcasing their posters throughout the day of RESI. All RESI JPM attendees will be able to view their pitches, visit their posters, and “invest” in their favorite companies. After counting these votes, we will announce the Top 3 winners during the cocktail reception at the end of RESI.

We are pleased to work with companies who are sponsored by the following organizations: NIH’s Small Business Education and Entrepreneurial Development (SEED) Office, National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI), National Institute on Aging (NIA), and Brisbane Economic Development Agency (BEDA).

Please review the companies below, and if you are interested in attending RESI JPM 2024 and learning more about the different registration options we offer, please visit here

RESI JPM 2024 IPC Finalists

The Right Messaging for Partnering Success

December 7, 2023December 7, 2023 ~ Next Phase Admin ~ Leave a comment

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

Life Science Nation (LSN)‘s flagship RESI conference – RESI JPM, will take place at the Marine’s Memorial Club & Hotel in San Francisco on Tuesday, January 9, 2024, followed by two days of virtual partnering, during JP Morgan Healthcare Week. In preparation for our conference attendees to maximize their partnering efforts we have compiled steps to craft an effective messaging plan to fill your partnering calendar.

Partnering is an involved process with multiple steps that must be taken to ensure optimal results. These steps often require a major time investment, and we forget that even after the hours we’ve poured into the process, none of it matters without a compelling message to pique the interest of a potential partner. Furthermore, this is a process that requires a plan for following up, since, as with any outreach, it will likely take more than one message to the investors to receive a response. These messages should be clear and concise, no more than a paragraph, highlighting your company and what makes it unique.

LSN has developed and consolidated your partnering outreach into four separate messages:

Introduction: The first message is the one where you introduce yourself and your company, as well as request a meeting. It’s ok if your target investor does not respond immediately (hence this system). To help them understand your position, it’s important to include the following:
Company tagline (5-6 words explaining who you are and what you do)
Elevator pitch (1-3 sentences describing the company and tech)
Technology differentiation, product innovation, or market position
Raise and milestone information
Follow-Up 1 (Product/Tech): Why is your product and technology unique? Is it first-in-class? Best-in-class? This is your opportunity to dive into your company’s differentiated value.
Follow-Up 2 (Management/Team): Highlight your management and team. How have your people had a notable impact on business development? What makes your people special?
Follow-Up 3 (One-Pager): Condense all the important messages you’ve already shared into a one-page tear sheet for quick and easy reference later.

It should go without saying that the perfect message is meaningless without a well-researched and formulated target list and marketing collateral at the ready. Think of the perfect message like how an athlete approaches the arena on game day. It’s the starting shot of a long and exciting process. It won’t replace the training and conditioning that got you to game day, but it’ll ensure you’re off with a competitive edge.

Tuesday, December 19, 12PM ET | Partnering Tutorial – Sign Up

Announcing Global Family Office BioForum at RESI JPM, Michael Langer to Give Keynote at Luncheon January 9th 2024

December 7, 2023December 7, 2023 ~ Next Phase Admin ~ Leave a comment

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

RESI JPM will feature the Global Family Office BioForum, for both sourcing assets and identifying syndication partners bridging the gap between family offices and investment opportunities within the life sciences sector. The Global Family Office BioForum will feature an open-to-the-public Global Family Office Panel as part of the RESI program and an invitation-only luncheon that will have a keynote by Michael Langer, discussing his Langer Family Office initiatives, including early-stage investment, sourcing and vetting technology assets, and working with partnership opportunities.

As the life sciences sector burgeons with groundbreaking discoveries, therapies, and technologies, the need for early capital injection becomes ever more pronounced. The Global Family Office BioForum is a convergence point where family offices can simultaneously identify promising startups and collaborate with other like-minded investors.

The Power of Syndication

Syndication has emerged as a dynamic strategy in the investment landscape, offering distinct advantages to family offices and entrepreneurs seeking funding. Family offices can diversify risk and share due diligence efforts by joining forces with other investors in a syndicate. This collaborative approach allows investors to tap into a broader range of investment opportunities and capitalize on their combined expertise. Conversely, entrepreneurs benefit from access to a syndicate’s collective knowledge and resources, expediting fundraising and enhancing their chances of securing the necessary funds.

The Family Office Factor

Family offices are known for their long-term investment outlook and commitment to fostering meaningful impact. With a mission to preserve and grow their wealth across generations, family offices are uniquely positioned to contribute to the life sciences sector. Their involvement goes beyond monetary support; it encompasses mentorship, guidance, and a vested interest in the success of the ventures they invest in. The Global Family Office BioForum acknowledges this distinctive role and seeks to create an environment where family offices can connect with like-minded syndicate partners and explore transformative investment opportunities. Life Science Nation is excited to bring this factor to the RESI JPM conference again.

For more information on the Family Office BioForum	Click here
If you are a Family Office and would like to attend the Family Office BioForum Luncheon	Click here

Michael Langer, Former Pear Therapeutics Executive, and Family Office Entrepreneur Discusses Startup Investing in the Life Science Domain

November 30, 2023November 30, 2023 ~ Next Phase Admin ~ Leave a comment

Michael Langer

Interview with Michael LangerBy Dennis Ford, Founder and CEO of Life Science Nation

Dennis Ford

Michael previously founded Old Silver VC, a family-associated investment firm that invests in Healthcare and Deep Tech startups focusing on materials. They invested in 20 companies, including Big Hat Biosciences, Sesame Care, Seismic Therapeutics, Alto Pharmacy and Opentrons. Also involved are Susan Langer, who is the former head of strategy at Biogen, and Dr. Bob Langer, who is an MIT Professor and founder of over 40 biotech companies, including Moderna.

Michael was formerly Head of Search, Evaluation, In-licensing & Acquisitions at Pear Therapeutics. During his time at Pear, Michael led or co-led 15 different transactions. Pear Therapeutics discovers, develops, and delivers clinically validated software-based therapeutics to provide better patient outcomes, smarter engagement and tracking tools for clinicians, and cost-effective solutions for payers.

Michael is an active philanthropist. He co-founded the Young Coder’s Society, which teaches children how to code using Raspberry Pi. He is a Young Leader at the Milken Institute and formerly a World Economic Forum Global Shaper. He serves on The Leadership Board at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, on the Board of Advisors at the Museum of Science, and is the Senior Advisor of Special Projects at the Galenus Foundation.

Dennis Ford (DF): Please comment on the state of early-stage investments in Digital Health Technology. I see many startups in the digital health arena: the good is its software; the bad is not a lot of traction; and the ugly is reimbursement.

Michael Langer (ML): The last decade has seen incredible advances in digital health, both from an innovation and progress standpoint. Although valuations have gotten very frothy over the previous few years, we are presently seeing a return to equilibrium. Furthermore, there has been a significant impact on patients, which is a promising indicator for us. Business models are continuing to mature and evolve, but still more is needed to really solidify them. Reimbursement remains a significant issue, as payers have hesitated to reimburse products quickly. As a result, we need longer-term data and creativity in business models. Ultimately, the digital health sector will continue to need collaborative efforts from stakeholders – namely payers, providers, patients, pharma, and pharmacies – which can foster clear standards, interoperability, and payment models that support the integration of innovations into mainstream healthcare. We are also seeing regulatory frameworks evolving to accommodate and streamline the approval process for digital health technologies.

DF: Please share with our readers what you have learned as an entrepreneur through some of your ups and downs in the industry and some key takeaways you have personally learned from your experience in the life science arena.

ML: Entrepreneurship demands resilience above all else — the ability to weather setbacks while persisting in building. Beyond resilience, the power of effective communication paired with steady leadership cannot be overstated: inspiring others and cultivating a team that remains dedicated is paramount. I believe that people are drawn to work with leaders they believe in, rallying behind visions that resonate with their own values. Building a team that shares a foundational commitment to the mission is not just important but a cornerstone of enduring success.

DF: Michael, can you comment on what you have learned and elaborate on your process for vetting a startup for capital or licensing? How do you source, vet, and qualify the key things you must see when looking at a startup, from CEO to team to technology?

ML: The most impactful lessons I’ve gleaned boil down to two key principles. Firstly, cultivating a distinct and authentic voice has proven crucial in negotiations. My personal blend of humor, patience, and unwavering persistence aligns with my personality, making it a potent tool in various negotiations. This approach has significantly helped me be effective in navigating diverse scenarios. Secondly, emphasizing a relentless commitment to process and volume has been a game-changer for me. Establishing a streamlined and repeatable process enhances not only efficiency but also effectiveness.

Being successful in sourcing, vetting, and qualifying comes down to a few areas. Finding quality and passionate people to partner with is key. It’s extremely difficult to build anything of value without the right team. Secondly, the science needs to be sound with research and data to support it. Are there patents and how defensible are they? Are they realistic with their goals and forecasts? Lastly, what kind of impact will it have, does this help change the lives of others?

DF: Let’s switch to the Langer Family Office, which both your sister and father are also in. Can you explain the family dynamic and principles in how they approach business?

ML: My father has a number of principles that he has taught us from an early age. One is kindness: we are very big on developing enduring relationships, which is a massive part of our family ethos. This philosophy has therefore been core to how we look at deals, how we think about developing these deals. Another is the celebration of creativity, of scientific contrarianism: we don’t just seek intelligence, we value individuals who work outside the conventional boundaries of their work. Finally, we have an unwavering commitment to ethical integrity, to upholding a strong moral compass. We prioritize transparency and honesty with each other, with entrepreneurs, with business partners, with stakeholders – all to guide our business decision-making process.

DF: Your Family is well-known in the life science industry. Does that have advantages, and how do you leverage your amazing family network? Are there any disadvantages?

ML: Like anything, there are positives and negatives. I have seen more positives. We have built a very strong reputation in the space and that can be very helpful in the things we do. But there are obviously huge expectations. When I was younger, that was stressful, although now I consider it more motivating than anything else. Ultimately, I feel very fortunate for the opportunities I have been given and am able to continue to foster.

DF: Do you have a network of other family offices that you co-invest with? When you find a deal you like, will you lead? Are you able to pull in LPs from your vast network? Do you ever look for new LPs for specific deals?

ML: We have built a lot of strong relationships with other FO’s and institutional VC funds. We like a blended approach when we look at deals. Having diversity of investors in a round is really important. We like strategics as well as institutional and family offices. Each can offer really unique value and perspective in a syndicate.

DF: Last Question: There has been a lot of buzz in Boston about a new Langer Family Office initiative which is a new VC Fund in the works. Care to Comment?

ML: Unfortunately, at this time, we are unable to comment on that.

Partnering for RESI JPM 2024 Launches Monday, December 4

November 30, 2023 ~ Next Phase Admin ~ Leave a comment

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

Next Monday, December 4, the partnering platform for RESI JPM 2024 will go live. With 1000 attendees expected to participate, RESI JPM is Life Science Nation (LSN)’s largest event of the year. LSN’s partnering platform gives companies a unique opportunity to identify investors and licensing partners that are a fit for them before sending a meeting request.

Doing partnering well at a conference like RESI is time consuming, but the outcome is well worth the effort. Companies need to do their research, plan their messages (yes, more than one) ahead of time, be ready to follow up multiple times, and keep an eye out for new investors, who get added to the system every day. Make sure to check out our partnering tutorials to get all of the details on LSN’s recommended strategy for partnering!

Tuesday, December 5, 12PM ET | Partnering Tutorial – Sign Up

Understanding the RESI partnering system and using it to its maximum capabilities can make a large difference in a company’s success at RESI. Join LSN staff as we walk you through our system and how it can help you identify partners who are a best fit for you, how to manage your outreach, our recommended strategy for following up, and how to take advantage of all of the content that we provide to ensure your best possible RESI experience.

Save The Date – LSN’s First RESI in Atlanta (March 2024)

November 30, 2023November 30, 2023 ~ Next Phase Admin ~ Leave a comment

By Erika Wu, Business Development Manager, Global Tech Hubs, LSN

Life Science Nation announces ‘RESI South’ in partnership with a newly formed coalition, SELifeSci, consisting of life science associations representing Alabama, Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Virginia. RESI South is expected to draw a crowd of over 500 bioscience and medtech entrepreneurs and 500 premier investors, family offices, and key executives worldwide.

RESI South 2024 will occur via a hybrid format, with March 25th being in-person at the Whitley Hotel in Atlanta, Georgia, and the 26th and 27th with virtual partnering only.

Maria Thacker-Goethe, President & CEO of Georgia Bio, stated, “The southeastern region is flourishing with innovation that needs to be showcased to the global investors and licensing partners seeking technology assets for their investment portfolios and product pipelines.” Thacker-Goethe said, “While the region is still emerging in terms of density, the Southeast region is rapidly advancing in terms of startups with game-changing, impactful technology that will be translated from the laboratory and change the lives of patients in need.”

Dennis Ford, CEO of Life Science Nation, concurred, stating, “I have seen firsthand the incredible opportunities abounding in the Southeast U.S. with a plethora of colleges, universities, and hospitals, fostering life science research and development. This is combined with an amazing array of incubators, accelerators, regional and governmental entrepreneurial programs, and world-class Bio Clusters supporting startups across all phases of development. LSN’s global partnering network wants to tap into these seven states’ technological and innovative firepower.”

Dennis stated, “This is the golden age of Life Science, and this collaboration by top association leaders from the south is a prime example of a region ready for the world stage. LSN will bring our global investor and licensing partner network for funding and licensing opportunities invigorating this compelling region.”

LSN has built a sourcing and funding global ecosystem featuring elite early-stage technology assets and the investors, co-development, and channel partners who seek them. The international infrastructure consists of life science buyers and sellers, each with curated data profiles that are “matched up” based on the stage of development and product at LSN’s dedicated worldwide partnering events. The LSN partnering platform comprises a database of potential partners for healthcare startups across drugs, devices, diagnostics, and digital health. An education curriculum for preparing entrepreneurs for executing a global fundraising roadshow. The world-renowned RESI conference series that runs five times a year worldwide so that scientist entrepreneurs and fundraising CEOs can get out of their regions and go global. LSN estimates it has helped over 400 startups raise over $5B over the years.

Atlanta is an ideal destination for this convening. The city’s research and development labs are attracting top talent, and keeping the city on the forefront of technology and business innovation. Host to one of the largest venture conferences in the country for the tech industry, Venture Atlanta, Atlanta is primed to welcome investors for the life sciences sector to the South.

The Southeast Life Science Alliance agrees that RESI South will fill a critical gap in access to capital for its members and the broader ecosystem. Historically, investor conferences in the region have been limited and need to meet growing ecosystem needs. The landscape of funding for early-stage biotech and MedTech is changing, and these leaders believe now is the time to welcome RESI to the South.

About Life Science Nation

Life Science Nation (LSN) has built a global partnering ecosystem featuring healthcare startups and the capital investors, co-development, and licensing partners who seek them. This partnering ecosystem consists of the LSN Global Partnering Campaign Database, Focus on Cures Accelerator, and the world-renowned Redefining Early-Stage Investments (RESI) conference series, which work closely with LSN’s global tech hub network.

About the SE Alliance

The Southeast Life Science Alliance is a coalition of independent life science associations that work to build life sciences business in their respective states. Participating organizations include BioAlabama, BioFlorida, Georgia Bio, North Carolina Bio, SCbio, Life Science Tennessee, and Virginia Bio.

Contact Erika Wu e.wu@lifesciencenation.com for startup tickets and sponsorship opportunities.