Next Phase Newsletter

By Antoinette Lowre, Manager of Business Development, LSN

When Life Science Nation (LSN) first opened its doors, the main goal was to connect with investors to collect information about what they were looking for in potential portfolio companies. LSN has since continued to keep adding and updating this information in the LSN Investor Database.

The LSN Investor Database includes information on over 3,000 active life science investment firms, tracking their preferences in areas such as sector, subsector, indication, phase of development, capital structure and geographical exposure. Companies can filter the data based on all of these criteria to identify those that fit their technology and stage of development.

The LSN Investor Database covers over 10 types of investors including angel groups, corporate venture capital, endowment/foundations, family offices, government organizations, hedge funds, large pharma, medtech strategics, private equity and venture capital. Companies can cast a wide net, looking at all types of investors and assessing which would be the best partner moving forward. When evaluating investors, companies can download or export search results and set up email alerts, taking advantage of the constantly updated and new profiles as LSN continues to curate the database.

With a new Salesforce integrated version of the LSN Investor Database on the horizon, we have decided to update our pricing for the current product. Check out the new monthly payment plan subscription options for the LSN Investor Database!

*A minimum commitment of six (6) months from the date of initial subscription is required.

The LSN Investor Database has been an incredibly valuable tool for our RESI partnering conferences. The investors who attend RESI must update their current mandates or be interviewed by the LSN investor research team to get added into the database. We then take that information and plug it into their profiles in partnering so there is no need to do research on your own, the profiles are already completed.

The next RESI partnering conference will take place this fall, September 18-20, at the Boston Park Plaza. This hybrid event will feature 1 day in person followed by 2 virtual partnering days. We anticipate 300+ investors and strategic partners along with 300+ life science startup companies spanning across the silos of drugs, devices, diagnostics, digital health and R&D services to all be in attendance.

The Early Bird rate for RESI Boston September ends Friday, July 28^th. This is your last chance to save $300 on your registration so you don’t want to miss this opportunity.

To learn more on how to get access to the LSN Investor Database or the RESI September conference, reach out to your business development manager to book a quick meeting. We hope to see you in Boston this fall.

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

There is a large community of startup companies that have left academia with a tech transfer license, or created a startup outside academia, and landed at one of the 1000+ global tech hubs that Life Science Nation (LSN) tracks and engages with as part of a global innovation ecosystem. There are regional tech hubs, accelerators, incubators, non-profits, universities, hospitals, and clinics that help the estimated 10,000 startups along their entrepreneurship journey. Typically, when these startups seek Seed, Series A, and Series B capital investors and licensing partners, they find their way into the LSN Innovation Ecosystem and onto the LSN Global Partnering Campaign platform, where LSN can match them with hundreds of investors and licensing partners that are a fit for them.

LSN curates two databases, one of the technology startups across drugs, devices, diagnostics, and digital health (the 4D’s), and another which tracks the investors and licensing partners who seek these startups.  The buy or sell sides of the early-stage life science arena can come to LSN and get a list of companies that fit their partnering mandates. LSN produces 5 Redefining Early Stage Investments (RESI) partnering events around the globe annually. This enables the startups and their prospective partners to be matched up, engage in dialogue, and foster relationships that hopefully lead to transactions.

I have learned that being able to match is one thing, but connecting an investor or licensing partner with a startup doesn’t automatically equate to a match that ends in a transaction.  It’s basically step 1 in a long process that is an arduous numbers game, and many startups lack the experience with the relationship components around sales, marketing, and the BD side that are necessary to close a deal.

Every early-stage deal comes down to a scientist/founder, the startup team, the buy-side team, and the relationship that transpires over 9-18 months involving the due diligence process. In the early stage, much attention is paid to vetting the team and technology, understanding their past evolution, how they adjusted and pivoted, and the milestones and data accumulated along the journey.  Team, milestone map, present, and future data are the themes leading to a transaction scenario.

Preparing and educating the scientist/founder is part of the solution to crossing into the business arena. I have written a book on the subject and created 16 classes on designing and executing a global partnering campaign.

LSN products fit into a global theme of an open global partnering platform. LSN does as good as the top accelerators who sell their entrepreneurial education and their investor networks, but unlike LSN, they take an equity piece from a startup for resources they provide. LSN pioneered an open innovation ecosystem, and we estimate that we have helped 400 startups raise over $5B.

Shikha Sharma

Interview with Shikha Sharma,Senior Director, at CLS California Life Sciences By Caitlin Dolegowski Marketing Manager, LSN

Caitlin Dolegowski

Caitlin Dolegowski (CD): Please introduce us to California Life Sciences. 

Shikha Sharma: California Life Sciences (CLS) is the state’s most impactful life sciences membership organization, advocating for the sector and its diverse innovation pipeline. For more than 30 years, CLS has served the community by supporting companies of all sizes, from early-stage innovators and startups to established industry leaders in the fields of biotechnology, pharmaceuticals, and medical technology. As integral components of a healthy and collaborative ecosystem, CLS also works closely with universities, academic and research institutions, the investment community, and other critical partners that promote this vibrant sector. On behalf of our more than 1,200 member organizations, CLS works to shape public policy, improve access to breakthrough technologies, educate lawmakers, and advance equity within our ecosystem by championing innovative solutions for some of the most pressing challenges of our times. In doing so, CLS fulfills its mission to protect and nurture California’s life sciences industry, empowering discoveries that lead to healthier lives around the world. 

CD: What type of companies do California Life Sciences consider for membership? 

 SS: CLS members represent companies of all sizes, from early-stage innovators and startups to established industry leaders in the fields of biotechnology, pharmaceuticals, and medical technology. As integral components of a healthy and collaborative ecosystem, CLS also works closely with universities, academic and research institutions, the investment community, and other critical partners that promote this vibrant sector. 

CD: What stage of fundraising is California Life Sciences looking to support?  

SS: The CLS Innovation & Entrepreneurship programs primarily support early-stage companies in fundraising stages from pre-seed to Series A. However, the broader CLS community encompasses members, companies, stakeholders, and pharma industry professionals with accessibility to later stage fundraising know-how and connections. Becoming part of CLS gives you access to a broad network that can directly and indirectly support companies in any stage of fundraising. 

CD: Clearly, California Life Sciences, is in California. Though, not all your members are located in California. What are your geographic qualifications?  

SS: We don’t have geographic qualifications, per se.  CLS welcomes any organization that is looking to access, expand and/or maintain a foothold in what I would consider the most robust life sciences ecosystem worldwide.  

CD: What works well for California Life Sciences in being a part of the RESI experience?  

SS: As part of our portfolio of entrepreneurship services, CLS seeks to establish partnerships with respected partnering and investor conferences to aid our members in the fundraising journeys. Importantly, opportunities like RESI connects them with Seed and Series B investors, channel and licensing partners.  

CD: What other information is important for companies to consider about California Life Sciences?  

 SS:  California Life Sciences’ innovation and entrepreneurship initiatives connect life science startups to the resources needed to help them effectively scale their ventures. Our programs create a platform for accessing business partners, investors, foundations and patient advocacy organizations, peers, and other industry leaders. 

 Designed to nurture and advocate for emerging and diverse innovators from throughout the state, CLS offers advisory services, positioning for capital tools, access to capital through strategic partnerships and events and US market access resources to help in the development and commercialization of their business.