Next Phase Newsletter

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

At RESI Boston September 2023, 52 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 finalist companies pitched in front of a judging panel and exhibited a poster showcasing their technology in the exhibit hall. The RESI Team would like to thank every IPC company for their hard work in preparing these presentations. We hope to continue the IPC as a unique platform for innovators and investors to connect, and we look forward to meeting and highlighting other innovative companies at future conferences.

Life Science Nation is pleased to share the winners of IPC who received the most votes during the conference, winners will receive complimentary RESI tickets valued up to 12K for the future RESI conference. Congratulations to the winners! Check them out below and see the full list of finalists here.

1^st Place – Light Line Medical

Light Line Medical is solving one of the greatest causes of morbidity and high cost in medicine today – infection from invasive catheters (dialysis, urinary, ventilators and vascular). These infections are life-threatening and difficult to treat complications, particularly from antibiotic resistant microbes which are the third leading cause of death worldwide. Light Line Medical is the first to use visible light to disinfect catheters via a patented light delivery system that uniformly irradiates the internal and external surfaces of an indwelling catheter. This prevents infections long term, is safe for human tissue, does not degrade catheter materials, and has no antibiotic resistance issues. Light Line Medical has a robust patent portfolio to commercialize its visible light technology (30 issued, 19 pending, FTOs), has conclusive animal & in vitro data demonstrating the antimicrobial efficacy of its technology, and has won several awards (AMA, NASA, USPTO, etc.).

Claire Jeong, Chief Conference Officer, Vice President of Investor Research, Asia BD, LSN | Cameron Hurlburt, Manager of Business Development – West Coast (US), LSN| Kari Haab, Executive Director of Quality and Operations, Light Line Medical | Dennis Ford, Founder and CEO of Life Science Nation, Creator of the RESI Conference Series

2^nd Place – ABLE Labs

ABLE Labs is a pioneering biotech firm headquartered in Korea, committed to democratizing the bio-research landscape with groundbreaking automation solutions. At the heart of our mission is Notable, our flagship Liquid Handling Robot, designed to bring precision and efficiency to every bio-laboratory. Challenging the status quo, ABLE Labs seeks to make automation accessible beyond just elite institutions, ensuring even smaller laboratories can harness the power of state-of-the-art technology. Drawing parallels to the early vision of Opentrons, our approach is rooted in affordability without compromising on quality or performance. As we navigate the evolving demands of bio-research, ABLE Labs remains steadfast in its commitment to enhancing lab processes, reducing human error, and accelerating scientific discoveries. Our ambition doesn’t just stop at hardware; we’re innovating at the intersection of software and biology, ensuring seamless integration and intuitive user experience. Join us as we reshape the future of bio-laboratory operations.

Sang Shin, CEO & Co-Founder, ABLE Labs | Dennis Ford, Founder and CEO of Life Science Nation, Creator of the RESI Conference Series | Karen Deyo, VP of Product, Israel BD, LSN

3^rd Place – Gliachem

Gliachem is a pre-clinical (pre-incorporation) stage drug development company focused on small molecule therapeutics for the treatment of rare pediatric and neurodegenerative indications. Our lead program is developing a novel drug targeting a novel target, the TRPM2 calcium ion channel, associated with Rett Syndrome (a rare pediatric disease with limited treatment options) and other neurodegenerative disorders. This is a first-in-class neurology drug program, with a unique mechanism of action. We have developed three distinct chemical series encompassing novel chemical entities (NCEs) targeting TRPM2, each of which demonstrate potency, target selectivity, and drug-like characteristics. The first clinical indication for our lead program is Rett Syndrome, for which we anticipate being in clinical trials in approximately 4 years. Regulatory incentives for Rett Syndrome enable the de-risking of our lead program for other, larger market, neurological indications, such as neuropathic pain, ischemic stroke, behavioral & neurodegenerative disorders.

Vanessa Williamson, CEO, Gliachem | Dennis Ford, Founder and CEO of Life Science Nation, Creator of the RESI Conference Series | Antoinette Lowre, Manager of Business Development, LSN

LSN’s flagship RESI conference returns to the Marine’s Memorial Club & Hotel in San Francisco on January 9, 2024, followed by two days of virtual partnering for the annual healthcare conference week. Want to be part of RESI JPM 2024? Register now to save $600 on super early bird rates by October 20. 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 Dennis Ford, Founder and CEO of Life Science Nation, Creator of the RESI Conference Series

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.

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

RESI Boston September is now just 4 days away!

In this conference cycle, we will be showcasing over 50 Innovator’s Pitch Challenge (IPC) Finalists across therapeutics, medical devices, diagnostics, digital health, R&D / life science tools, and more. These companies will be pitching in a live session with a panel of investor and industry expert judges and engage in Q&A. We are thankful for all of the judges who will be participating and providing valuable feedback and questions to the IPC finalist companies. The judges collectively represent over 40 unique firms, including some of the most active investors in the life science industry.

Whether you are an actively fundraising early-stage company, or an active investor/strategic partner looking for targeted dealflow, it is still not too late to register and engage with over 700 attendees in-person or virtually, as well as listen in on our robust program of panels, pitch sessions, and workshops throughout the whole day on Monday, September 18, at the Boston Park Plaza.

Below are the participating judges. See you all next week!

Yoola Adeniji Associate LRVHealth	Christopher Aleong Managing Director, North America BioEngine Capital	Paula Andrea Lengerke Diaz Advisor Desert Angels
Jenna Aronson Principal Two Bear Capital	Jay Batchu Entrepreneur in Residence Xontogeny	Rick Berenson Director – Executive Board Mass Medical Angels
Tara Bishop Founder Black Opal Ventures	Eric Boutin Venture Chair Redesign Health	Gennady Bratslavsky Co-Founder Avicella Ventures
James Carroll Managing Director for Life Science Investments Wharton Alumni Angels	Asmi Chakraborty Fellow Breakout Ventures	Benjamin Chen Venture Partner Panacea Ventures
Bruce Cohen Venture Partner Xeraya Capital	Lise Courtney D’Amico Senior Associate LRVHealth	Travis D’Cruz Associate Director, Early Innovation Partnering Johnson & Johnson Innovation
Ronald Dorenbos Principal BioFrontline Ltd.	David Fogel Member of Screening & Due Diligence Committees Mass Medical Angels	Gabriella Garcia Investor Two Sigma Ventures
Martin Gershon Managing Partner Endeavor Venture Fund & Venture Studio	Joe Graham Vice President Danaher Corporation	Jasmine Gruia-Gray CEO JGG Consulting
Michael Hansen Innovation Scouting Director – North America Eppendorf	Z Haroon Chairman and General Partner Julz Co LLC	Travis Hughes Research Analyst Digitalis Ventures
Daniyal Hussain Executive Director, Technology Business Development GlaxoSmithKline (GSK)	Kristin King Member Boston Harbor Angels	Merom Klein Entrepreneur Mentor Keiretsu Forum
Adam Kundzewicz Executive Director Boehringer Ingelheim Venture Fund	Nicola La Monica Sr. Director, Infectious Diseases and Vaccines Scientific Innovation, Janssen Johnson & Johnson Innovation	Seo Lee Director SV Investment
Mark Legare Senior Associate Innospark Ventures	Alan Lucas Founder NE Healthcare Executive Network	Greg McKee Managing Partner Bonaventure Equity, LLC (BVE)
Peter Mintun Associate ARCH Venture Partners	Paul Papi Corporate Communications DiaMedica Therapeutics	John Pennett Angel Investor Mid Atlantic Bio Angels
Jack Resnick Inception Program Specialist NVIDIA VC Alliance	Colin Sheehan Associate Director, Ventures Orange Grove Bio	Prithviraj Singha Roy Senior Associate RA Capital
Mariola Szenk Senior Associate BlueYard Capital	Wei Tao Board Director & Chair, Bio/Genomics Life Science Angels	Justin Williams Senior Associate Seae Ventures
Rosanna Zhang Partner Coho Deeptech	Yuan Zhang Senior Director, Scientific Operations & Strategy Portal Innovations	Tingting Zhang-Kharas Head, Johnson & Johnson Innovation – JLABS US Northeast Johnson & Johnson Innovation