By Momo Yamamoto, Senior Investor Research Analyst, LSN

One of the most valuable aspects of attending RESI Boston is the opportunity to hear directly from the investors and strategic partners actively funding and partnering with early-stage life science companies.

This year’s agenda features an outstanding lineup of leaders representing global pharmaceutical companies, venture capital firms, strategic investors, government funding organizations, and mission-driven investment groups. Their sessions will provide firsthand insights into today’s investment landscape, what they look for in emerging technologies, and how startups can position themselves for successful fundraising and partnership discussions.

Farnaz Bakhshi American Cancer Society BrightEdge	Alan Chiu Breakthrough T1D	Yvanka de Soysa Foreground Capital
Shane Duffy Avanos Medical	Nimisha Gupta Jazz Pharmaceuticals	Sam Gussman-Toh ARPA-H
Jonathan Illicki Industrifonden	Nikhil Mutyal AstraZeneca	Rohit Nuwal TELUS Ventures
Parthiban Rajasekaran Sanofi	Armin Rump Otsuka Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd

Register Today for RESI Boston 2026

Don’t miss your opportunity to learn directly from these industry leaders while connecting with hundreds of active investors, strategic partners, and innovative life science companies during Biotech Week Boston.

Join us September 22–23 in Boston, followed by three days of virtual partnering on September 25, 28, and 29.

Register now to secure your spot, take advantage of Early Bird savings, and begin scheduling meetings with the global life science investment community.

Register for RESI Boston 2026

By Momo Yamamoto, Senior Investor Research Analyst, LSN

The KBIC Japan Life Science Showcase brought together Japanese innovators, investors, corporate leaders, and government representatives during RESI San Diego to highlight emerging technologies and strengthen collaboration between Japan and the global life science community. As Japan’s largest biomedical cluster and title sponsor of the RESI Conference, the Kobe Biomedical Innovation Cluster (KBIC) brings together approximately 350 companies, medical institutions, and research organizations advancing healthcare innovation. The showcase featured eight Japanese startups selected for their readiness to engage with international investors and licensing partners, providing a platform to introduce their technologies to a global audience.

Each startup delivered a six-minute company presentation followed by five minutes of live Q&A in front of investor judges, giving attendees the opportunity to explore each company’s science, commercialization strategy, and market potential through direct discussions with the founders. The showcase featured an accomplished panel of judges representing Alumni Ventures, Aquillius Ventures, Bristol Myers Squibb, JLABS (Johnson & Johnson), and Mass Medical Angels. Drawing expertise across venture capital, corporate innovation, and early-stage investing, the judges engaged founders with thoughtful questions and constructive feedback, creating meaningful dialogue throughout the session.

Complementing the startup presentations, representatives from JIC Venture Growth Investments and Japan’s Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) shared insights into Japan’s evolving venture capital landscape, government initiatives supporting innovation, and the future outlook for the country’s startup ecosystem. Their presentations provided valuable context for international investors interested in partnering with Japanese life science companies.

More than a series of company presentations, the KBIC Japan Life Science Showcase demonstrated the growing momentum behind cross-border collaboration in life sciences. By connecting Japan’s innovative startup ecosystem with U.S. and international investors, strategic partners, and industry leaders, the session reinforced a shared commitment to accelerating healthcare innovation through global partnerships. Events like these continue to strengthen the bridge between regional ecosystems, creating new opportunities for investment, licensing, and commercialization that benefit both the Japanese and international life science communities.

By Momo Yamamoto, Senior Investor Research Analyst, LSN

At RESI San Diego, the “New Frontiers in Diagnostics: Investing in Technologies Enabling Earlier Disease Detection” panel will bring together investors and industry leaders to explore one of the most rapidly evolving areas in healthcare innovation: diagnostics.

As advances in liquid biopsies, molecular diagnostics, AI-enabled imaging, and point-of-care technologies continue to reshape healthcare, diagnostics are increasingly moving beyond simple detection tools and becoming central to disease prevention, monitoring, and personalized treatment strategies. Earlier and more precise detection has the potential to improve patient outcomes, reduce healthcare costs, and create entirely new models of care delivery.

Meet the Panelists

Priya Balachandran Life Science Angels (Moderator)	Randy Berholtz Mesa Verde Venture Partners	Yaron Daniely aMoon Fund
Debbie Lin T.Rx Capital	Soyoung Park 1004 Venture Partners

The panel will examine where investors and strategic partners see the greatest opportunities emerging across the diagnostics landscape, particularly in oncology screening, cardiometabolic disease, and chronic disease monitoring. With healthcare systems placing greater emphasis on prevention and longitudinal patient management, diagnostic companies are facing growing demand—but also increasing pressure to demonstrate meaningful clinical and economic value.

For early-stage companies, the diagnostics space presents unique opportunities alongside complex commercialization challenges. Unlike many therapeutics companies, diagnostics startups must often navigate overlapping clinical validation, reimbursement, regulatory, and adoption hurdles simultaneously. Investors are increasingly looking for companies that can clearly demonstrate clinical utility, integrate effectively into provider workflows, and build compelling reimbursement strategies early in development.

Panelists are expected to discuss the milestones and study designs that help diagnostic companies stand out in a crowded and competitive market. Topics may include generating real-world evidence, designing validation studies that resonate with payers and providers, and establishing partnerships with laboratories, health systems, and pharmaceutical companies to accelerate adoption.

The rise of AI-enabled diagnostics is also expected to play a central role in the conversation. As machine learning tools become more integrated into imaging, pathology, and predictive analytics platforms, investors are paying close attention to how startups validate algorithms, manage regulatory considerations, and demonstrate measurable improvements in clinical decision-making.

Beyond the technology itself, the panel will likely explore broader market trends shaping investor interest in diagnostics. Healthcare systems worldwide continue shifting toward preventative care models, while aging populations and rising chronic disease burdens increase demand for scalable monitoring solutions. In this environment, diagnostics companies capable of delivering actionable insights earlier in the patient journey may be particularly well-positioned to attract strategic partnerships and investment.

For founders attending RESI San Diego, the session offers an opportunity to better understand how investors evaluate diagnostics opportunities in today’s market and what differentiates successful companies from the broader field. From regulatory and reimbursement strategy to commercialization planning and partnership development, the panel aims to provide practical insight into building investable diagnostic platforms in an increasingly competitive healthcare landscape.

The “New Frontiers in Diagnostics” panel is part of RESI San Diego’s broader programming focused on emerging healthcare technologies, investment trends, and strategies for early-stage companies navigating today’s life science funding environment.

Register for RESI San Diego