Tag Archives: entrepreneurship

Life Science Nation and The Ganesha Lab Launch a Global Two-Way Innovation Bridge Connecting South America, Anchored in São Paulo, Brazil, to the International Healthcare Arena 

23 Sep

By Dennis Ford, Founder & CEO, Life Science Nation (LSN)

DF-News-09142022São Paulo, Brazil – September 23, 2025 – In a landmark move to expand Latin America’s role in the global life sciences sector, Life Science Nation (LSN) and The Ganesha Lab (TGL), Latin America’s premier life sciences scale-up platform, announce a strategic alliance to launch a dedicated bricks-and-mortar accelerator hub in São Paulo by the end of 2025.

Uniting Global Scale with Local Depth

The São Paulo-based facility will serve as the Latin American anchor node of LSN’s global partnering backbone, a system of affiliated tech hubs, economic development agencies, incubators, and accelerators worldwide, all connected through LSN’s two-way innovation bridge model.

This new effort builds upon years of development work with leading Brazilian stakeholders, including Abiquifi and ApexBrasil, alongside local governments, universities, and innovation agencies, as well as service providers, to ensure the hub will be fully integrated into Brazil’s national strategy for life sciences by both LSN and TGL.

  • The Ganesha Lab brings regional depth: through its BigInBIO scale-up platform, TGL sources and mentors startups, delivers structured readiness programs, builds an alumni base across Latin America, and maintains strong relationships with CROs, universities, governments, and pharma partners. As LSN’s anchor partner for Latin America, TGL provides the credibility and local integration that enable the bridge to function.
  • Life Science Nation brings global reach: as the architect of the two-way innovation bridge, LSN provides a commercialization-first partnering backbone that includes its curated 4,000-profile investor and licensing partner database, AI-driven readiness assessments, BD Assist outbound campaign execution, and the five annual RESI investor conferences worldwide, where more than 400 companies have raised over $5B.

Tangible, Two-Way Impact

  • Outbound: Building on TGL’s BigInBIO platform, Latin American startups will be mentored and readied regionally, then advanced into LSN Labs’ commercialization-first global roadshow process, narrative refinement, global target list creation, CRM-driven outreach, and full integration into international RESI conferences.
  • Inbound: Global life sciences technologies, investors, and licensing partners will be brought into Brazil through LSN’s ecosystem, leveraging TGL’s local networks to accelerate collaboration, validation, and market entry.
  • Capital & Partnering Alliances: International investors and licensing partners from LSN’s global network will syndicate with Brazilian VCs, corporates, and pharma, expanding capital access and helping local partners build a global footprint.

Together, TGL and LSN create a seamless pathway: from regional readiness → to global campaign execution → to inbound technologies and capital integrating into Latin America. The São Paulo accelerator will serve as the anchor node for Latin America in LSN’s global partnering backbone.

Accelerator Operations and Ecosystem Collaborations

A newly formed Brazilian team will operate the São Paulo accelerator, working with new and existing partners from local government, top universities, regional innovation agencies, and service providers. The accelerator will act as a permanent node, building local capacity while embedding Latin America into the global life sciences economy.

“We are committed to powering innovation in both directions, helping Latin American startups scale globally and enabling global innovators to leverage Brazil’s unique advantages,” said Dennis Ford, Founder & CEO of Life Science Nation.

“Together, we are creating an innovation bridge that not only builds businesses but also strengthens Brazil’s role as the leading gateway for life sciences innovation in Latin America,” said Markus Schreyer, Founder & CEO of The Ganesha Lab.

“LSN has built a precision matching and meeting connection engine for over a decade, helping more than 400 companies raise $5B. Anchoring the accelerator in Brazil will strengthen the LATAM market and connect the region directly into LSN’s global backbone. The time is right to bring Latin America into the network and expand its global life science footprint,”  said Matt Stanton, LSN’s VP of LATAM Business Development.

The program is targeting going live by the end of 2025 or early 2026. The São Paulo hub will be the first of its kind in Latin America, with the potential to replicate across other innovation centers in the region, further embedding Latin America into the global life sciences economy.

The partnership will also be highlighted at the upcoming BioHunt Summit 2025 in Miami, where Dennis Ford and Markus Schreyer will hold a fireside chat to expand on the announcement.

About Life Science Nation (LSN)

Life Science Nation (LSN), founded by Dennis Ford, is a global leader in connecting early-stage life science companies with capital investors and licensing partners. LSN owns and operates the LSN Investor & Licensing Partner Database (4,000 curated profiles), the Redefining Early-Stage Investments (RESI) Conference Series (five global partnering events annually), and the LSN Newsletter (60,000 global readers), alongside podcasts and published works such as The Life Science Executive’s Fundraising Manifesto.

Through its accelerator arm, LSN Labs, LSN has pioneered the two-way innovation bridge model, a partnering backbone that affiliates with tech hubs, incubators, accelerators, and economic development agencies worldwide. This model enables regions, patient groups, and nonprofits to aggregate technology assets, launch them outbound into global markets, and simultaneously bring inbound capital, licensing partners, and technologies into their ecosystems. Over the past decade, LSN has helped more than 400 companies raise over $5 billion through global roadshow campaigns and partnering events.

About The Ganesha Lab (TGL)

The Ganesha Lab (TGL), founded by Markus Schreyer, is Latin America’s premier life sciences scale-up platform. Through its flagship program BigInBIO, TGL provides structured readiness programs, mentoring, and founder development for biotech and health startups. Selected companies may also receive investment support, with TGL maintaining long-term engagement for three years or more post-program through its alumni network.

With strong ties to CROs, universities, governments, and pharma across the region, TGL plays a vital role in sourcing and nurturing the most promising science-based ventures in Latin America, preparing them for international scale-up and investment. TGL’s proven regional expertise and credibility make it the ideal anchor partner for launching the São Paulo accelerator and establishing Latin America as a key node in the global life sciences economy.

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RESI Boston September 2025 Innovator’s Pitch Challenge Winners 

23 Sep

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

At RESI Boston September 2025, over 50 innovative companies participated in the Innovator’s Pitch Challenge (IPC), providing early-stage life science and healthcare companies with a unique platform to present their technologies and connect with potential investors.

The IPC finalists delivered 6-minute pitches followed by a 7-minute interactive Q&A session with a panel of investor judges. Each participating company also showcased its technology at a personalized table space in the RESI Exhibition Hall, creating additional opportunities for engagement.

A distinctive feature of the Innovator’s Pitch Challenge is its voting system. Registered RESI attendees—including startup executives, early-stage investors, and industry experts— “invested” in their favorite IPC companies using RESI cash provided at check-in. Attendees base their decisions on both the pitch presentations, the companies’ responses during Q&A, meeting with them in the exhibition hall at their table space, and during partnering or ad-hoc meetings at RESI.

Applications are now open for the next Innovator’s Pitch Challenge at RESI London 2025 and RESI JPM 2026, with spots filled on a rolling basis.

Life Science Nation is proud to announce the top three winners of RESI Boston September 2025:

1st Place: Isotech

IsoTech Ltd is developing a novel wearable therapeutic medical device that stabilises blood pressure on standing to help older adults avoid dizziness and falls from orthostatic hypotension. The device guides a 30–60-second, on-demand isometric muscle contraction via a discreet retractable tether with visual and haptic cues, turning an evidence-based counter-manoeuvre into a simple, repeatable action without drug side effects. A completed proof-of-concept clinical study demonstrated clinically meaningful blood-pressure stabilisation in a substantial subset of patients with high usability and no unwanted adverse effects. The next phase is straightforward but execution-critical: design-for-manufacture and verification, Class I UKCA/CE technical documentation and light-touch QMS, tooling and pilot build, and a KOL-led seeded launch while preparing reimbursement pilots and strategic licensing options. Protected by patents on mechanism and form factor, ISO-101 aims to become the category-defining, real-time therapy for OH, improving independence for ageing populations and reducing falls-related costs for health systems at scale.

Dr Lochlainn Connolly, Founder – EVP Medical Affairs, Isotech | Dr Neil Fawkes, Founder / EVP R&D, Isotech | Dennis Ford, Founder and CEO, Life Science Nation | Iggy McGowan, Founder / CEO, Isotech

2nd Place: BILIX

Bilix, founded in Oct 2018, raised $21 million in investments and received $3 million in government grants to develop a new drug for various inflammatory and autoimmune diseases. Our first target is ischemia-reperfusion injury, where unmet medical needs are high and no drugs. Global companies (Novartis, Roche, AstraZeneca, Argenx) are in Phase 2 or 3 trials with single-modality drugs (likely to fail). Our Phase 2a clinical trial (our drug being multi-modality, likely to succeed) runs from 2025.09 to 2026.08. We generate royalty revenue from Classys (a $3B market cap laser medical device company) through exclusive LO in cosmeceutical products. We are currently raising Series B-3 of $6M, of which $ 3 M has been secured. With $25.7 million pre-money valuation, an ROI of >10 times is achievable within three years through IPO/M&A. We can flip to a US company with vetted Series C investments from US/Foreign VCs.

Dennis Ford, Founder and CEO, Life Science Nation | Myung L. Kim, Ph.D., MBA, Founder and Chief Executive Officer, Bilix | Claire Jeong, CCO, VP of Investor Research, Asia BD, Life Science Nation

3rd Place: M6P Therapeutics

M6P Therapeutics focuses on lysosomes (the natural recycling center for cells) and has the only technology that can deliver any protein to lysosomes – a feat deemed impossible for over 50 years. The company has a deep pipeline, 6 rare pediatric drug designations, and an IP portfolio comprised of 9 patent families, 8 issued patents, and 20 in progress. Our Gaucher Disease ERT is ready for the clinic and our Pompe Disease ERT – which can restore and normalize muscle function – will be ready in 18 months. We also created a platform that can take any antigen-antibody complex to the lysosomes of any cell in the body (instead of relying on Fc clearance by select immune cells) for degradation. Our “chimeric” anti-PD-L1 antibody removes virtually all PD-L1 from the surface of tumor cells while our chimeric version of Keytruda is twice as potent.

Cole Van Vuren, Business Development Manager, Life Science Nation

The participating companies were grouped into 14 sector-focused sessions, with four companies per session. Each session was evaluated by a panel of judges, and the top-scoring companies were recognized for their strong pitches, ability to answer questions effectively, and clear communication of their value propositions.

Judges Picks:

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Investor Panels at RESI London December 2025 

23 Sep

By Momo Yamamoto, Senior Investor Research Analyst, LSN

RESI London returns on December 4, 2025, at the King’s Fund, 11 Cavendish Square, as part of the UK’s largest life science partnering and venture week. Organized by Life Science Nation, RESI (Redefining Every Stage of Investment) brings together early-stage life science and healthcare innovators with hundreds of global investors and strategic partners for a full day of partnering, networking, educational content, and exhibits. Virtual partnering will continue on December 8–9, extending the opportunity to build new relationships.

A highlight of every RESI conference is the investor panel programming, where active investors and strategic partners share candid insights with entrepreneurs on what they look for, how they invest, and how startups can best position themselves for success. This year’s London panels will provide in-depth discussions across some of the most dynamic and fast-growing areas of healthcare innovation.

Partnering with Big Pharma

Building Strategic Relationships to Accelerate Innovation

Securing a Big Pharma partnership can be transformative for early-stage companies. Leaders from major pharmaceutical business development and venture teams will share how they evaluate early partnerships, what they seek in collaborators, and how startups can stand out in a competitive field.

Angels & Family Offices

Flexible Capital and Long-Term Support for Early-Stage Innovators

Family offices and angel investors are increasingly active in healthcare, often bringing patient capital and a long-term perspective. Panelists will discuss what differentiates them from institutional investors, the types of opportunities they prioritize, and how founders can approach these funders successfully.

Medical Devices & Diagnostics

Forward Looking Trends in MedTech Innovations

The medtech sector continues to evolve rapidly, with new technologies driving precision care, digital integration, and improved patient outcomes. Investors in this session will share their outlook on the most exciting innovations, challenges to commercialization, and what makes a device or diagnostic investment-ready.

Digital Health & AI

Harnessing Technology to Transform the Patient Journey

Digital health and AI solutions are reshaping care delivery and patient engagement. This panel will highlight what excites investors most in digital platforms, data-driven technologies, and AI applications—and the key factors that determine which companies will succeed in this fast-moving space.

UK / Europe Ecosystem

Global Opportunities in a Dynamic Innovation Landscape

London and the broader UK/European ecosystem offer unique opportunities for entrepreneurs and investors alike. This panel will feature funders with deep experience across these markets, discussing emerging trends, cross-border deal-making, and strategies for startups seeking to expand globally.

Early Stage Therapeutics

Accelerating Breakthrough Therapies in Pre-Clinical and Early Clinical Stages

Developing therapeutics in early clinical phases presents both great promise and high risk. Investors in this session will share how they assess early-stage science, key milestones that de-risk programs, and where they see the next wave of transformative therapies emerging.

Seed Funds

Catalyzing the Earliest Stages of Healthcare Innovation

Seed funds are critical to getting transformative ideas off the ground. This panel will explore how seed-stage investors evaluate opportunities, balance risk and return, and support entrepreneurs through their first fundraising rounds.

Whether you are developing therapeutics, devices, diagnostics, or digital health technologies, the RESI London investor panels offer a rare opportunity to hear directly from the investors shaping the future of healthcare.

New this year: A combi ticket option is available for RESI London + Genesis 2025, giving you access to both partnering events in one streamlined package. Save £300 with Super Early Bird rates available until October 3.

Register for RESI London >>

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Get Fundraising-Ready Before BioSpain 2025 — Free with Your RESI Registration 

23 Sep

By Greg Mannix, VP, EMEA Business Development, LSN

Are you heading to BioSpain 2025? Maximize your trip by gaining the insider knowledge every early-stage biotech founder needs.

New: These workshops are free to attend if you’re registered for RESI London, RESI JPM, or RESI Europe.

Life Science Nation has teamed up with AseBio, Spain’s leading biotech association, to deliver two high-impact startup training sessions from the LSN Labs Accelerator—offered exclusively on October 6th at the H10 Art Gallery Hotel in Barcelona, the day before BioSpain kicks off.

Choose one or dive into both of these intensive 4-hour modules:

  • Branding & Messaging from Seed to Series B – Learn how to craft a compelling investor narrative that stands out in a crowded market.
  • The Nuts & Bolts of a Global Fundraising Campaign – Build a roadmap for launching and executing a successful international raise.

For attendees not registered for RESI, registering for the workshop alone is available as a separate option at the following pricing:

  • Full-Day Package (save €50): €450
  • Morning Session (9am–1pm): €250
  • Afternoon Session (2pm–6pm): €250

Whether you’re fundraising, partnering, or aiming to sharpen your pitch, these workshops deliver actionable insights that will set you apart at BioSpain—the largest national life science partnering event in Southern Europe.

Seats are limited, reserve your spot now and level up your strategy before the big event.

Register for Bootcamp

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Explore the RESI Boston September 2025 Program Guide 

9 Sep

By Dennis Ford, Founder & CEO, Life Science Nation (LSN)

DF-News-09142022The official program guide for RESI Boston, September 2025 is now available! Redefining Every Stage of Investment (RESI) is designed to connect life science and healthcare innovators with a global network of investors across diverse funding strategies, from Seed through Series B and beyond.

This guide provides a complete overview of what to expect throughout the conference, detailing the content and layout for our in-person event on September 17th. Inside, you’ll find the full agenda, speaker bios, panel descriptions, and essential information to help you navigate your RESI experience. Whether you’re participating in investor meetings, the Innovator’s Pitch Challenge, workshops, or ad hoc networking, this guide is your resource to stay organized and maximize your time at RESI Boston.

Access the full guide here:

Register for RESI Boston

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Genaxis, Silver Sponsor of RESI Boston, Hosts Exclusive Startup Showcase

9 Sep

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

LSN is excited to announce Genaxis, a leading South Korea based accelerator and early-stage fund dedicated to deeptech and biotech innovation, as a Silver Sponsor of RESI Boston.

Genaxis is bringing five of Korea’s most innovative biotech and medtech startups to the global stage. These companies will be pitching at RESI Boston on September 17, 2025, where they will showcase breakthrough solutions spanning therapeutics, medical devices, digital health, and enabling technologies.

To provide an additional opportunity for investor engagement, Genaxis will also host an exclusive pre-RESI pitch session the day before the conference. The event will take place on Tuesday, September 16, 2025, 9:00 – 11:00am EST, at CIC Boston (50 Milk St, Boston, MA 02109).

At this session, 5 startups will each deliver a 6-minute pitch followed by a 7-minute Q&A, and active investors and strategic partners are invited to join. Please RSVP below if you are interested in meeting Genaxis and the pitching companies. Brief descriptions are provided below:

RSVP

Bilix, Inc. is a biotechnology company dedicated to developing innovative therapies for intractable diseases in inflammation and cancer, with the mission to improve human health one patient at a time for better and longer lives. Driven by courage and determination, Bilix takes on the challenge of finding cures for conditions long considered incurable. Our goal is to expedite drug development and provide therapeutic answers for patients in urgent need, while upholding a commitment to fairness and accessibility. By delivering cost-effective, equitable treatment solutions, Bilix strives to transform the lives of patients worldwide and bring hope where few options exist.

DeepsonBio is a company specialized in ultrasound devices for treating dementia. By utilizing a non-invasive method, we offer a safe and highly effective treatment for patients with Alzheimer’s dementia and normal pressure hydrocephalus dementia.

Our therapeutic ultrasound device is designed to improve cognitive function in patients with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and early-stage Alzheimer’s disease, utilizing Multiple Low Intensity Pliant Ultrasound (M-LIPUS) for cerebrofluid stimulation.

Main Business Area:

  • Neurology
  • Neurodegenerative disease
  • Alzheimer’s disease
  • Normal pressure hydrocephalus

EXOSYSTEMS Inc. is a South Korea–based digital health company pioneering AI-driven neuromuscular biomarkers to transform how motor function is assessed, diagnosed, and monitored. Founded in 2017 as a spin-out from ETRI, EXOSYSTEMS develops integrated solutions that combine clinical-grade EMG/IMU sensors with advanced AI analytics to deliver objective, quantitative insights into muscle and motor performance.

Its flagship technologies include the Muscle Function Index (MFI), a digital biomarker platform designed to replace fragmented and subjective in-person motor assessments with standardized, high-resolution measures. These solutions serve both pharmaceutical companies, by providing validated digital endpoints for clinical trials, and hospitals and clinics, by enabling efficient point-of-care diagnostics and patient monitoring.

With $4M secured in VC funding, over $10M in national R&D grants, regulatory recognition from the Korean FDA, and validation studies with Roche Korea, EXOSYSTEMS is positioned to set a new global standard for neuromuscular digital health.

Laon Medi is a digital health company transforming orthodontics with software-driven workflows. Our flagship platform, Laon Ortho, solves the inefficiencies of clear aligner treatment planning, a process that traditionally requires hours of manual work and outsourced lab services. By automating case setup and integrating multimodal data such as CBCT and intraoral scans, Laon Ortho reduces planning time to minutes while allowing clinics to manage cases in-house. This shift improves margins, lowers patient costs, and accelerates adoption of clear aligner therapy. Laon Ortho is commercially deployed in dozens of clinics and labs across Korea, generating post-pilot revenues and validating scalability. The company is now expanding globally with a model that serves clinics, labs, and DSOs, positioning itself as a scalable digital dentistry platform with clear cost advantages and growing international demand.

RadaHaim, founded in 2022, is a biotechnology company pioneering standardized, scalable organoid platforms for drug discovery and toxicology testing. We have developed patient-derived and iPSC-derived liver organoids with consistent size and morphology, enabling reliable disease modeling and drug-induced liver injury (DILI) assays. Our preclinical service platform operates under GLP-inspired workflows, including batch-level QC, reference compound benchmarking, and high-content imaging analytics. By bridging the translational gap between animal studies and clinical outcomes, RadaHaim provides pharmaceutical and biotech partners with more predictive data to accelerate drug development and reduce failures in clinical trials. In addition to CRO services, our long-term goal is to commercialize assay kits that integrate standardized organoids with ready-to-use protocols. Based in Korea and now expanding into the U.S., RadaHaim aims to become a global leader in organoid-based NAMs (New Approach Methodologies) aligned with regulatory acceptance and the future of animal-free testing.

About Genaxis:

Genaxis is a leading accelerator dedicated to supporting deep-tech and biotech startups. We deliver customized acceleration programs, strategic mentoring, and global investor access to help companies grow beyond their local markets. With expertise in investment readiness, cross-border collaboration, and global market entry, Genaxis equips entrepreneurs with the tools and networks they need for sustainable growth. As a Silver Sponsor of RESI Boston 2025, we are committed to connecting innovative startups with global life science investors, fostering collaboration between Korea and the world. Our mission is to empower founders to achieve impactful innovation, create long-term value, and strengthen the global startup ecosystem.

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Freedom to Operate: What It Is and Why Your Startup Can’t Afford to Ignore It 

9 Sep

By Michael J. Moedritzer, Associate, Polsinelli (Special Guest Contributor)

For biotech founders, intellectual property (IP) can make or break a company. The life sciences industry is driven by innovation, but it is also crowded with patents. While it’s essential to build your own IP portfolio, it is just as critical to ensure that your product will not infringe on someone else’s. Overlooking this risk can expose your startup to costly lawsuits that could derail your business before it has a chance to grow.

What is an FTO Opinion?
An FTO Opinion is a legal review by an IP attorney that determines whether your startup can develop, manufacture, and sell a product without infringing existing patents. The attorney analyzes relevant patents and applications in your target markets and provides guidance on whether changes to your design or a licensing agreement might be necessary.

Why Founders Need It
For founders, an FTO Opinion provides more than legal coverage. It gives you peace of mind that you are not unknowingly putting your company at risk. It can also provide protection if litigation arises, helping you defend against claims of willful infringement and limiting potential increased damages. Most importantly, it strengthens your credibility with investors and partners by showing that you have done the due diligence to safeguard your innovations.

Where to Start
Securing an FTO Opinion requires working with an experienced IP attorney, who will tailor the analysis to your product and market strategy. While it is an investment, it is one that could save your company millions and ensure that your innovation makes it to market.

Michael Moedritzer is an Associate in Polsinelli’s Intellectual Property department. He focuses his practice on domestic and international patent prosecution and works with clients to revise, analyze and evaluate intellectual property-related issues to provide comprehensive overview of the portfolio.

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