Tag Archives: finance

RESI San Diego 2026: Investor Panel Lineup Announced 

10 Mar

By Momo Yamamoto, Senior Investor Research Analyst, LSN

Life Science Nation (LSN) has announced the investor panel lineup for RESI San Diego 2026, taking place June 22 at the JULEP Venue in San Diego during Convention Week, followed by four days of virtual partnering on June 23–24 and June 29–30. The hybrid format combines in-person networking with extended virtual partnering, giving founders and investors additional opportunities to continue conversations and schedule meetings beyond the live event.

Investor panels are a cornerstone of the RESI conference series, bringing together active investors and strategic partners to share perspectives on the evolving life science funding environment. These sessions offer founders and executives the opportunity to hear directly from investors about how they evaluate opportunities across drugs, devices, diagnostics, and digital health.

This year’s discussions will explore several key themes shaping early-stage investment. Topics will include how emerging companies can successfully engage pharmaceutical partners, what strategic investors and corporate venture capital groups are prioritizing in today’s market, and how medtech innovators can position themselves to attract both financial and strategic partners. Panels will also examine investment trends in diagnostics and oncology, the growing role of artificial intelligence in healthcare innovation, and the challenges many startups face when moving from seed capital to institutional venture funding.

RESI San Diego 2026 Investor Panels

Time  Panel Title 
9AM  Inside Pharma Partnering 
How Early-Stage Companies Can Engage Pharma 
10AM  Strategic Partnerships in Medtech 
What the Next Generation of Device Companies Must Deliver 
11AM  Strategic Capital: The Role of CVCs 
Investing Where Innovation Meets Industry
1PM  New Frontiers in Diagnostics 
Investing in Technologies Enabling Earlier Disease Detection 
2PM  Emerging Approaches in Cancer Therapies 
How New Modalities Are Standing Out in a Competitive Market 
3PM  AI at the Frontlines of Healthcare Innovation 
Building Scalable Companies at the Intersection of Data and Medicine 
4PM  Crossing the Venture Gap 
Moving from Seed Funding to Venture Rounds 
Register for RESI San Diego
Apply to Speak at RESI San Diego

In addition to investor panels, RESI San Diego will feature the Innovator’s Pitch Challenge, where selected startups present their technologies directly to investor judges in an interactive pitch format. The conference also offers extensive one-on-one partnering opportunities, allowing attendees to schedule meetings with investors, strategic partners, and industry leaders through the RESI partnering system.

Held during San Diego’s broader biotech Convention Week, RESI San Diego provides a focused environment for early-stage companies to connect with active healthcare investors and strategic partners. The event brings together venture capital firms, family offices, corporate venture groups, and industry leaders seeking opportunities across drugs, devices, diagnostics, and digital health.

Register today to secure your place at RESI San Diego 2026 and connect with investors shaping the future of healthcare innovation. Super Early Bird rates are available through April 17.

Apply to Pitch at RESI San Diego

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The Trap of Complacency 

10 Mar

By Karen Deyo, VP of Product, Israel BD, LSN

karen-wp

One message we consistently emphasize when speaking with early-stage companies is the importance of looking beyond your local ecosystem and building relationships with investors globally. Too often, founders assume they have plenty of time to expand their network, particularly in regions that offer strong support for launching startups. 

Paradoxically, those supportive ecosystems can create a false sense of security. Grants, incubators, and local funding programs can make it feel as though capital will always be available. In reality, many regions simply do not have enough follow-on capital to support every company that begins there. When the initial funding runs out, startups may suddenly find themselves approaching a financial cliff. At that point, companies that haven’t built relationships outside their region may be forced to accept unfavorable investment terms just to survive. 

Another common misconception is that companies should only begin speaking with investors once they are actively fundraising. In practice, this approach often backfires. Founders tend to underestimate how long fundraising actually takes—a typical fundraising process can last anywhere from 9 to 18 months. Waiting until the last moment leaves little room to build relationships or refine the company’s strategy. 

Early conversations with investors can be extremely valuable even when a company is not raising capital. Investors bring deep industry knowledge and experience, and their feedback can help companies sharpen their development plans, prioritize critical data, and better understand what will make them investable. Just as importantly, fundraising is ultimately driven by relationships. Building those relationships early can significantly accelerate the process when the time comes to raise capital. 

Rather than treating fundraising as something that switches on and off, companies should think of it more like a dial—one that adjusts the intensity of their efforts over time. Engaging with investors early should be considered just as essential as customer discovery or market research. These conversations can help gauge investor interest, identify potential weaknesses in a strategy, and prevent companies from investing significant time and resources in a direction that may not resonate with the market. 

Sometimes, this early feedback leads to a pivot that ultimately strengthens the company. Making adjustments sooner rather than later can help a startup reach the market faster—or even transform a company that might otherwise fail into one that achieves a successful exit. 

Register for RESI Europe

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Hot Investor Mandate: Asia-Based Investment Manager Invests in Healthcare and Life Sciences-Focused Funds and Companies Across the Globe

10 Mar

An investment manager founded in 2021 and headquartered in Asia primarily operates as a fund-of-funds, allocating capital to healthcare and life sciences-focused investment vehicles including venture capital, private equity, and public market funds. In addition to fund commitments, the firm also participates directly in company financings through special purpose vehicles.  

For direct investments, the firm takes a flexible approach but typically participates in later financing rounds after gaining a deeper understanding of the company and its development trajectory. The firm has no specific preference between leading or co-investing and evaluates opportunities globally.  

The firm is broadly interested in companies operating in biotechnology, medical technology, and digital health.  

The firm does not impose specific requirements regarding company structure or management team composition. 

If you are interested in more information about this investor and other investors tracked by LSN, please email salescore@lifesciencenation.com. 

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Hot Investor Mandate: Investment Arm of Large Healthcare Enterprise Invests and Partners With Innovations With China and Global Market Potential

10 Mar

The firm is the investment arm of a diversified healthcare enterprise headquartered in Asia with international operations. The broader organization operates across medical innovation incubation, manufacturing, and large-scale commercialization, with a strong focus on technology-driven healthcare solutions and intellectual property development. Through its investment activities, the firm supports innovative healthcare companies by providing capital as well as access to industrial capabilities and commercialization infrastructure. The broader organization maintains a large healthcare distribution platform serving hospitals and pharmacies nationwide, enabling portfolio companies to access substantial market channels. The firm evaluates global investment opportunities with strong potential for commercialization in the China market.  

The firm focuses on life sciences and healthcare opportunities spanning therapeutics, diagnostics, medical devices, R&D tools, and AI-enabled healthcare platforms. Areas of particular interest include oncology and immuno-oncology, advanced therapeutic modalities such as cell and gene therapy, and innovative medical technologies with clear clinical application. Through its technology innovation initiatives, the organization collaborates with research institutions to identify and develop original scientific breakthroughs, including first-in-class medicines and novel medical devices. While the firm frequently evaluates later-stage assets and partnership opportunities, it also considers early-stage technologies with strong scientific differentiation and long-term commercial potential.  

From a company and partnership perspective, the firm prioritizes opportunities with meaningful relevance to the China healthcare market and the ability to leverage the organization’s regulatory, manufacturing, and commercial infrastructure. The firm looks for strong scientific foundations, clear unmet clinical needs, differentiated product positioning, and credible strategies for market entry and expansion. Portfolio companies may benefit from support across R&D collaboration, industrial incubation, regulatory strategy, manufacturing scale-up, and nationwide commercialization. The firm maintains a flexible investment approach and may participate as either a lead investor or a co-investor depending on the opportunity and partnership structure. 

If you are interested in more information about this investor and other investors tracked by LSN, please email salescore@lifesciencenation.com. 

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Hot Investor Mandate: Family-Office Backed Investment Vehicle Seeks Innovative Medtech Opportunities in US, Western Europe, and Asia

10 Mar

The firm is a joint venture investment vehicle established by a family office and a strategic investment partner. The firm focuses on later-stage medical device opportunities, particularly Series A and Series B companies approaching regulatory approval. The firm primarily evaluates opportunities in the United States and Western Europe, while remaining open to select companies based in Asia. Typical check sizes range from approximately $500K to $1.5M, and the firm prefers to lead transactions. The firm may also co-invest alongside affiliated investment vehicles to support later-stage, revenue-generating companies that demonstrate a clear path to exit within a relatively short time horizon. Through long-standing industry relationships, the firm helps introduce portfolio companies into a specialized medical technology ecosystem to accelerate growth and commercialization.  

The firm evaluates opportunities across medical device categories but maintains a strong focus on implantable technologies. Core areas of interest include neuromuscular and musculoskeletal indications, particularly orthopedic and spine implants. The firm also reviews opportunities in cardiology, vascular and peripheral devices, surgical technologies, and select oncology-related technologies. Companies should typically be approaching regulatory approval and demonstrate validated technology and clinical utility.  

From a company and management team perspective, the firm requires board representation and at minimum takes an observer seat in portfolio companies. The firm seeks companies with proven technology, clear regulatory pathways, and strong commercial potential within established clinical markets. 

If you are interested in more information about this investor and other investors tracked by LSN, please email salescore@lifesciencenation.com. 

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RESI Europe 2026 Investor Panels Take the Stage in Lisbon 

3 Mar

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

Life Science Nation (LSN) is preparing for RESI Europe 2026, taking place March 23 in person at the EPIC SANA Lisboa Hotel, followed by four days of virtual partnering. 

The RESI Europe panel program will bring together active healthcare investors to discuss the sectors and strategies shaping early-stage capital formation across therapeutics, devices, diagnostics, digital health, and enabling technologies. As European companies increasingly look beyond domestic markets for capital, the conversations will reflect cross-border investment dynamics and milestone expectations in today’s disciplined funding environment. 

These panels are structured as constructive dialogue between investors and fundraising CEOs. Attendees will hear directly from venture, corporate, and strategic investors about how opportunities are evaluated, what readiness looks like at Seed and Series A, and how companies can engage the right partnering environments at the right time. 

Join the panelists at RESI Europe 2026 and engage directly with the investors shaping early-stage healthcare capital. 

Special Offer: Register for a RESI Europe 5-day hybrid ticket and receive a complimentary second attendee pass. This promotion applies to standard hybrid registrations and provides an opportunity to bring a colleague to maximize partnering coverage across all five days. 

Register for RESI Europe and secure meetings with active healthcare investors in Lisbon this March. 

Register for RESI Europe
RESI Europe Investor Panel Speakers
Raj-Airey
Raj Airey
Convergence Partners AG		 Rosie-Barnett
Rosie Barnett
Delin Ventures		 Amine-Benmoussa
Amine Benmoussa
Karista
Marcos-Casado
Marcos Casado
Invivo Partners		 Bettina-Ernst
Bettina Ernst
BERNINA BioInvest		 Navin-Govind-
Navin Govind
Evidence Ventures

William Hsu
Life Science Angels		 Mohammad-Khobreh
Mohammad Khobreh
NG Bio		 Carsten-Laue
Carsten Laue
M2Care
Chloe-Lepretre
Chloé Lepretre
Servier		 Mukul-Mohanty
Mukul Mohanty
Truffle Capital		 Luka-Nicin
Luka Nicin
Pace Ventures
Joseph-Oliver
Joseph Oliver
Stanford Angels of the UK		 Soyoung-Park
Soyoung Park
1004 Venture Partners		 Francisco-Pinto
Francisco Pinto
Bynd Venture Capital
Bibi-Sattar-Marques
Bibi Sattar Marques
Buenavista Equity Partners		 Jeff-Stinson
Jeff Stinson
HTA		 Mercedes-Tuin
Mercedes Tuin
Heran Partners
Carmel-van-den-Berk
Carmel van den Berk
Brightlands Venture Partners		 Mariette-van-der-Velden
Mariette van der Velden
Curie Capital		 Giulia-Vestri
Giulia Vestri
Claris Ventures
Yu-Zhang
Yu Zhang
FaaS Capital

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EU Webinar Series: From Discovery to Decision Making Early-Stage Life Science Legible to Capital 

3 Mar

By Greg Mannix, VP, EMEA Business Development, LSN

Life Science Nation’s EU-focused webinar series, From Discovery to Decision: Making Early-Stage Life Science Legible to Capital, continues this week with Session III. Recordings of the first two sessions are available for those who would like to revisit the insights shared by active investors shaping early-stage healthcare financing.

This series examines a central question for early-stage companies: why strong science alone is not enough to secure capital, and how founders can structure development to become legible to investors.

Session I

Why Solid Science Fails to Translate Before Capital Even Considers It

Hosted by Richard Berenson, Managing Partner, Venzyme Catalyst

Watch the recording:
https://youtu.be/ODbukG6cjNM?si=9lj-BGKRhv2wJISW

In Session I, Richard Berenson offered a candid investor perspective on why many early-stage assets stall before diligence begins. He emphasized that the issue is often not a shortage of capital, but a failure of translation.

Scientific merit alone does not make an opportunity investable. Investors must see clarity around risk reduction, defined milestones, regulatory trajectory, and capital deployment strategy. Companies that struggle to articulate this framework may be filtered out long before meaningful evaluation takes place.

The discussion reframed from fundraising challenges as structural alignment issues rather than capital scarcity.

Session II

Legibility, Signal, and the Real Work Between Seed and Series B

Hosted by Karim Galzhar, Partner, OKG Capital

Watch the recording:
https://youtu.be/Dak112sslq4?si=9MpLvecop5Jxw4_E

Session II built on this foundation with a deeper examination of how investors form conviction between Seed and Series B.

Karim Galzhar outlined what global investors require to underwrite early-stage risk. Signals are formed across scientific validation, regulatory planning, commercial strategy, and disciplined capital use. Data alone does not create signals. Structured progress and stage-appropriate positioning.

The session highlighted how companies can unintentionally dilute signals by engaging the wrong forums too early or by misaligning fundraising expectations with development readiness.

Session III — This Wednesday

Partnering Is Not Exposure. It Is Filtration

Wednesday, March 4 | 10:00 AM ET / 4:00 PM CET

Session III will feature Dennis Ford, Founder & CEO of Life Science Nation and creator of the RESI Conference Series, alongside Gregory Mannix, VP, International Business Development, Life Science Nation.

This session confronts a simple truth: great science does not raise capital, signal does. We will examine how investors actually price risk, why fundraising must be run as a disciplined global campaign, and how legibility turns complex science into an investable story.

We will also address a costly mistake: engaging the wrong partnering events and the wrong investors too early. Not every conference, forum, or investor fits every stage of development. Success requires selecting the right venues, building a stage-appropriate global target list, and engaging partners who are structurally aligned with your product. The goal is to replace activity with real transaction momentum.

Registration for Session III is open: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_oe499TEOQGmrSnoAzNr1yw#/registration

Register for RESI Europe

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