Next Phase Newsletter

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.

By Momo Yamamoto, Investor Research Analyst, LSN

LSN’s RESI Conference is coming to Barcelona, Spain for the first time on June 17th at The Hilton Diagonal Mar. We are excited to announce the Digital Health Investor Panel. LSN has brought together global investors of varied backgrounds to discuss recent trends, common mistakes, advice, and more, with a focus to push digital health innovations forward. Look below for our Digital Health panelists.

RESI Europe Digital Health Panel Speakers
Moderator
David Cole Venture Partner Springhood Ventures	Christian Bjelland Managing Director, Capital Network & Global Development ​​​​​​Redesign Healt	Jordi Ferrer Healthcare Investment Director ​​​​​​Ship2B Ventures
Tom Gibbs Director Debiopharm Innovation Fun	Ignasi Heras General Partner CRB Inverbio	Carsten Laue Managing Partner M2Car

The investor panels are a hallmark of the RESI Conference series where attendees can look forward to a comprehensive array of panel discussions. These panels will delve into a wide range of topics, from specific investor types providing a stimulating environment for startups and investors to explore potential funding opportunities. Each panel will be moderated by industry experts with deep domain knowledge, offering meaningful insights and fostering engaging discussions. Through this multifaceted approach, LSN strives to create a dynamic platform that facilitates networking, knowledge sharing, and the exploration of potential partnerships between startups and investors.

By Cameron Hurlburt, Director of Business Development, LSN

Greg Mannix VP of European Sales at Life Science Nation is also CEO of Novaurum Biosciences and has attended 15 life science partnering conferences in the last two years as a startup CEO. After this extensive experience, he shares his insights on whether these events are worth the investment and what constitutes a good return on investment (ROI) in terms of outcomes and the number of investor meetings secured. Attending partnering conferences can be a significant investment for life science companies, especially startups and early-stage firms. Mannix emphasizes the importance of carefully evaluating the potential ROI before committing resources.

A successful conference should yield tangible outcomes, such as securing funding, establishing strategic partnerships, or gaining valuable industry insights. Mannix suggests that a good ROI can be measured by the number of quality investor meetings scheduled during the event. “For a conference to be considered successful, I aim to secure at least 10-15 meetings with potential investors or partners that align with our company’s goals and stage of development,” Mannix explains. “These meetings should lead to meaningful discussions and potential collaborations or investment opportunities.”

To maximize the value of partnering events, Mannix recommends a strategic approach. Thorough preparation, targeted networking, and effective follow-up are crucial. “It’s essential to research the attending investors and companies beforehand and strategically request meetings with those that are the best fit,” Mannix advises. “During the event, actively participate in panel discussions, workshops, and networking sessions to gain industry insights and make valuable connections.” Mannix also emphasizes the importance of prompt and professional follow-up after the conference. “Timely and personalized communication with the contacts made during the event can significantly increase the chances of securing partnerships or investments,” he adds.

RESI Europe is taking place in Barcelona on June 17 (in-person) and June 18-19 (virtual). This conference aims to connect startups and early-stage investors, offering a platform for fundraising and partnership opportunities. With a 1:1 ratio of investors to companies and over 250 life science investors in attendance, RESI Europe promises to maximize the number of meetings and potential collaborations. Partnering has opened, and you can register today to secure meeting slots while they are still available.

While life science partnering conferences require an investment, they can provide substantial returns in terms of funding, partnerships, and industry insights when approached strategically. By carefully evaluating the potential ROI, preparing thoroughly, and actively engaging in networking and follow-up, companies can maximize the value of these events and propel their growth in the life science industry.