RESI JPM 2027 Investor Panel Lineup Announced 

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

Life Science Nation is pleased to announce the finalized investor panel lineup for RESI JPM 2027, taking place January 11 and 12 at the San Francisco Marriott Marquis during J.P. Morgan Healthcare Week.

The two day program features 14 investor sessions across therapeutics, medtech, diagnostics, digital health, platform technologies, strategic partnerships, and alternative sources of capital.

Monday, January 11

9:00 AM | Follow the Money [2027 Outlook & Trends]

Where Life Science & Healthcare Investors See Opportunity in 2027

Every year at JPM, one question sets the tone for the week: where is the capital going? Investors from across therapeutics, medtech, diagnostics, digital health, and tools take the stage to share what they are seeing in fundraising, valuations, and exit windows. They will discuss which sectors are attracting conviction, which are being left behind, and how their own priorities have shifted since last year. Whether you are raising, investing, or building, this is the read on the market you need before the deals begin.

10:00 AM | What Is Fundable Now: Therapeutics [Early Stage Therapeutics]

What Earns a Term Sheet from Early Stage Biotech Investors

Early stage therapeutics investors must weigh scientific promise against the risks of translating it into a viable treatment. Seed through Series A investors get candid about what earns their conviction: differentiated biology, convincing translational evidence, and a credible clinical development strategy. The discussion explores how investors assess target validation, competitive positioning, safety, and the experiments needed to reduce key development risks. Expect frank talk about what makes them lean in, what makes them pass, and how founders can make a compelling scientific and investment case for a therapeutic program.

11:00 AM | Backing the Next Medical Breakthrough [Medical Devices]

How Investors Evaluate Early Stage Device Innovation

Medical device companies face distinct investment hurdles, from proving technical feasibility to establishing a path to clinical adoption. This panel brings together medtech investors to discuss how they evaluate early stage opportunities across surgical technologies, robotics, monitoring, wearables, and home care. The conversation examines clinical need, regulatory strategy, reimbursement, usability, and the evidence required to support adoption. Hear what makes a device differentiated, how investors assess development and commercial risk, and which milestones strengthen the case for investment.

1:00 PM | Strategics at the Table [Strategics]

How Corporate Partners Decide When to Invest, Partner & Acquire

Strategic partners are shaping which technologies reach patients, and they are increasingly involved long before a company is ready to sell. Business development leaders from pharma and medtech join corporate venture investors to explain when they engage, what they need to see, and how they think about partnering, investing, and acquiring. Learn how to get on a strategic partner’s radar, what makes a startup stand out in a crowded pipeline, and how to build a relationship that lasts beyond a single deal.

2:00 PM | The First Believers [First Check Investors]

How the Earliest Backers Turn Life Science Ideas into Fundable Companies

Every great company has someone who said yes first. This panel gathers the earliest backers in life sciences: angels, seed funds, venture studios, foundations, and accelerators. They explain how they evaluate opportunities before substantial scientific or commercial validation, what they look for in a founding team, and what gives them the conviction to write the first check. The conversation covers company formation, initial experiments, and how early capital and hands on support help founders establish a credible development path. For founders at the very start, it is a candid map of the road from initial concept to the first funded development milestones.

3:00 PM | The Brain Trust [CNS / Neuro]

Investing Across Neuroscience & Psychiatry

Few areas of medicine combine such enormous unmet need with such complex investment challenges. This panel brings together investors in therapeutics, neuromodulation devices, digital biomarkers, and diagnostics to discuss what draws capital into neuroscience and psychiatry. Together they explore how advances in biology, technology, and clinical trial design can reopen areas once considered too difficult, and how founders across modalities can position themselves to attract investment.

4:00 PM | Patient Capital [Family Offices]

How Family Offices Are Investing Directly in Life Sciences

Family offices offer a distinct route to life science capital through direct investing, syndication with peers, and investment structures that can support longer time horizons. This session explores what draws private capital to highly technical opportunities, how family offices diligence science and technology, and what founders should know before approaching them. Panelists discuss how they structure investments, work with specialist co-investors, and assess follow-on needs. It is a practical look at how to earn the confidence of this diverse investor community.

Tuesday, January 12

9:00 AM | Investing in Longer, Healthier Lives [Longevity]

The Science and Technologies Addressing Age Related Disease

Helping people live longer, healthier lives requires addressing the diseases and functional challenges that come with aging. This panel brings together therapeutics, medtech, diagnostics, and digital health investors to explore opportunities in cardiometabolic disease, musculoskeletal health, physical function, and maintaining independence. The discussion examines how investors evaluate treatments for specific age related conditions alongside technologies that address underlying aging biology, detect risk earlier, or help people remain active. Hear what constitutes meaningful clinical evidence, how companies define a viable path to market, and what makes an opportunity compelling for early stage investment.

10:00 AM | Digital Health After the Hype [Digital Health]

What Investors Want to See in Evidence, Adoption & Economics

The digital health market has been through a reset. Investors discuss what they are backing now: clinical grade AI, new models of care delivery, and businesses with evidence, engagement, and economics that hold up to scrutiny. Hear where value is being created, what has changed in how these companies are evaluated, and what separates durable businesses from those that struggle to convert adoption into sustainable growth.

11:00 AM | Enabling the Next Generation of Medicine [Platform Technologies]

Investing in Discovery Platforms, Delivery Technologies & Research Tools

Some of the most valuable companies in life sciences make new medicines possible. This panel brings together investors backing AI enabled discovery platforms, delivery technologies, synthetic biology, and the research tools that accelerate development. The conversation centers on how to separate a durable platform from a clever technology, how investors evaluate platform companies alongside tools and infrastructure businesses, and how business models differ from those of asset driven companies. Hear what makes these technologies investable and where founders can build lasting value.

1:00 PM | Capital Across Borders [Cross Border Investors]

How International Investors Evaluate and Finance Life Science Companies

Cross border investment can expand a company’s funding options, but attracting international capital requires understanding how investors evaluate opportunities beyond their home markets. This panel brings together investors from different regions to discuss geographic mandates, due diligence, syndication, and the local presence or development plans they expect from companies abroad. Hear what makes a company attractive to overseas investors, how investors work with local co-investors, and how founders can build relationships that lead to cross border financing.

2:00 PM | Runway Without the Round [Beyond Venture Capital]

Financing the Next Milestone Beyond Conventional Venture Equity

A conventional venture round is not the only way to fund a company. This panel explores non dilutive grants, foundation funding, venture debt, royalty financing, strategic agreements, and government backed programs. Capital providers explain who qualifies, what stage or evidence their funding requires, how long the process takes, and what obligations or tradeoffs founders should understand. The discussion examines which sources are suitable for early stage companies and how they can complement equity financing. Hear how to match funding to a development milestone and extend runway without relying solely on another conventional venture round.

3:00 PM | From Seed to Series A

Building the Evidence and Investor Confidence for the Next Round

Securing seed funding is only the beginning. This panel brings together seed investors and Series A investors to explore how life science companies turn initial funding into a financeable next round. The discussion covers setting achievable milestones, demonstrating progress against the original investment thesis, identifying a lead investor, and building a syndicate. Across therapeutics, medtech, and digital health, panelists discuss how founders should align development plans, capital needs, and fundraising timelines. Hear how existing investors assess follow-on support, what new investors need to see, and how to address gaps that can leave promising companies between rounds.

4:00 PM | The Investor Reverse Pitch

Meet the Investors and Discover What They Want to Fund

To close the conference, the roles flip. Investors from across therapeutics, medtech, diagnostics, digital health, and tools take the stage to pitch their mandates: what they invest in, at which stage, with what check size, and what gets their attention. Investors deliver short presentations, followed by audience Q&A. Founders leave with a clear list of who to follow up with and how to approach them. It is a practical, high energy finish to two days of conversations.

Speaker Submissions

Life Science Nation is currently seeking qualified investors, corporate business development leaders, family office representatives, and other capital providers for speaker consideration. Submit a speaker application.

Submit a speaker application

RESI Asia Japan Opens New Gateway to Global Life Science Partnerships 

By Momo Yamamoto, Senior Investor Research Analyst, LSN

Life Science Nation is pleased to announce the launch of RESI Asia Japan, a new conference created in collaboration with the Kobe Biomedical Innovation Cluster (KBIC), Japan’s largest biomedical cluster.

Taking place on April 13, 2027, at the ANA InterContinental Tokyo, RESI Asia Japan will bring together early-stage life science companies, investors, strategic partners, and regional stakeholders for a day of in-person programming, followed by virtual partnering opportunities.

The event expands Life Science Nation’s global platform for connecting innovative companies with the capital and strategic relationships needed to advance their technologies. For companies seeking to enter Japan, build international partnerships, or connect with new sources of capital, RESI Asia Japan provides a direct pathway into one of the world’s most important life science markets.

Why Japan Matters for Life Science Companies

Japan is home to major global pharmaceutical companies, including Takeda, Astellas, Daiichi Sankyo, Eisai, Chugai, and Ono. These organizations are active participants in licensing, acquisition, and external innovation partnerships, creating meaningful opportunities for early-stage companies with differentiated technologies and strong development plans.

A Japan rights deal can provide early non-dilutive capital, strategic validation, and a foundation for broader international growth. Japan also offers deep clinical trial and CRO capacity, as well as a regulatory environment with meaningful opportunities for regenerative medicine and cell and gene therapy development.

Yet the market can be difficult to access from outside the region. Identifying the right partners, arranging initial meetings, understanding the regulatory landscape, and navigating local business relationships all require a focused approach. RESI Asia Japan is designed to help bridge that gap.

A Partnership Built for Global Connection

RESI Asia Japan is the culmination of a three-conference collaboration between Life Science Nation and KBIC. KBIC served as a Title Sponsor at RESI Boston in September 2026 and will continue its partnership at RESI JPM in January 2027, leading into the inaugural Tokyo event in April.

For companies participating across the series, the partnership creates three opportunities to engage with the LSN network over seven months, while building visibility with investors, strategic partners, and life science stakeholders across the United States and Japan.

Beyond the conference itself, Life Science Nation and KBIC are working to strengthen the commercialization pathway for Japanese life science companies through entrepreneur education, company preparation, capital formation, and international business development.

Registration Is Open

RESI Asia Japan offers a 5-Day Hybrid format, including the in-person conference in Tokyo and virtual programming, as well as a 4-Day Virtual Partnering format.

Japan-base Registration (JPY)
Non-Japan-base Registration (USD)

Explore the RESI 2027 Series

RESI Asia Japan is part of Life Science Nation’s 2027 global conference series, creating multiple opportunities throughout the year to connect with investors, strategic partners, and life science innovators.

  • RESI JPM: January 11 to 12 in San Francisco, with virtual partnering on January 13, 18, and 19
  • RESI Asia Japan: April in Tokyo
  • RESI Philadelphia: June
  • RESI Boston: September

Learn more about the full RESI 2027 series at RESIConference.com.

RESI Boston 2026 Innovator’s Pitch Challenge Winners Announced 

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

Life Science Nation is pleased to announce the winners of the RESI Boston 2026 Innovator’s Pitch Challenge, held during Biotech Week Boston.

Over the two days o RESI, more than 70 early stage life science companies presented their innovations to an audience of active investors, strategic partners, and industry leaders. Following the final round of pitches, the top three companies were recognized during lunch on day two:

1st Place 2nd Place 3rd Place
Synaptic Bio Orthonika Ironsides Medical
Synaptic Bio Orthonika Ironsides Medical

Congratulations to Synaptic Bio, Orthonika, Ironsides Medical, and every company that took the stage. The caliber of innovation, preparation, and investor engagement throughout the Challenge reflected the exciting work advancing across the global life science ecosystem.

Judges’ Picks Award Winners

In addition to the overall winners, Life Science Nation is proud to recognize the companies that received the highest evaluation scores from the investor judges in each Innovator’s Pitch Challenge session:

These companies stood out to the judging panels for the quality of their presentations and the potential of their technologies to address important unmet needs.

Apply to Pitch at RESI JPM 2027

Applications are now open for the Innovator’s Pitch Challenge at RESI JPM 2027, taking place in San Francisco on January 11 to 12, with virtual partnering January 13 and 18 to 19.

The Innovator’s Pitch Challenge gives early-stage companies the opportunity to present live to active life science investors, receive structured feedback, and build meaningful connections through RESI partnering.

Apply to the Innovator’s Pitch Challenge and secure your opportunity to pitch at RESI JPM.

Apply to Pitch at RESI JPM 2027

Life Science Nation Heads to BioJapan 2026 with Two Seminars on Global Fundraising and International Expansion

By Momo Yamamoto, Senior Investor Research Analyst, LSN

Life Science Nation (LSN) is heading back to Yokohama this October for BioJapan 2026, taking place on October 7-9, 2026 at PACIFICO Yokohama. As one of Asia’s leading partnering events for the life sciences industry, BioJapan provides an important platform for startups, investors, pharmaceutical companies, strategic partners, and ecosystem stakeholders from around the world to connect and explore new opportunities. This year, LSN is pleased to participate in the conference and in two seminars focused on helping life science companies better understand and access international funding and partnership opportunities.

LSN Founder & CEO, Dennis Ford, will join KBIC (Kobe Biomedical Innovation Cluster) and MEDISO (Medical Innovation Support Office) on October 8, 2026 from 1 PM – 2PM JST at the Japan Healthcare Venture Summit (JHVS), held alongside BioJapan. The session titled “Key Points for Early-Phase Global Fundraising” will introduce government initiatives and programs designed to help early-stage ventures expand internationally and connect with overseas investors. We will join representatives from the Ministry of Economy, Trade, and Industry (METI), JIC Venture Growth Investments, VC Cell Therapy, United Immunity, CellFold, KBIC, and Mitsubishi Research Institute for a discussion on global fundraising and international growth.

On October 9, 2026 from 11:30 AM – 12:30 PM JST, LSN will be hosting a seminar with KBIC titled: “Inside Global Fundraising: LSN Framework for Startup Readiness and Global Capital Raising Success”. KBIC is Japan’s largest biocluster, hosting more than 340 organizations to accelerate innovation in the region. For life science companies seeking international expansion, global fundraising has become an important strategy for accelerating R&D and commercialization. During this seminar, LSN will introduce latest trends in global fundraising and practical strategies for investor engagement, drawing on LSN’s experience working with thousands of life science companies and investors worldwide. This discussion will feature: Haruhiko Koike (KBIC), Keiko Kobayashi (KBIC), Dennis Ford (LSN), and Claire Jeong (LSN).

This seminar will also highlight the upcoming RESI Asia, taking place in Tokyo at the APA InterContinental on April 13, 2027. As part of LSN’s globally recognized RESI Conference Series, RESI Asia will provide Japanese and Asian startups with opportunities to connect directly with international investors and explore new pathways for global growth.

LSN’s participation at BioJapan reflects its continued commitment to supporting the Japanese life science ecosystem as they seek to expand beyond the domestic market. We look forward to returning to the conference next week!

RESI Boston 2026: Your Complete Conference Guide 

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

DF-News-09142022

Life Science Nation (LSN) is pleased to release the RESI Boston 2026 Program Guide for the upcoming hybrid conference, taking place September 22–23 in person at the Westin Copley Place in Boston, followed by virtual partnering on September 25 and September 28–29.

Held during Biotech Week Boston, RESI brings together early-stage life science companies, active investors, strategic partners, and industry leaders for targeted fundraising and business development conversations. The event features the Innovator’s Pitch Challenge, investor panels, workshops, company showcases, and RESI Partnering, the conference’s purpose-built platform for scheduling one-on-one meetings.

The Program Guide offers a comprehensive look at the RESI Boston agenda, including sessions focused on the Boston biotech ecosystem, therapeutic innovation, pharma partnering, strategic capital, health systems, chronic disease care, family office investing, and impact investing. Attendees can also explore the participating investor, sponsor, exhibitor, and company lineup, along with networking opportunities throughout the event.

With partnering underway and meeting calendars continuing to fill in the final weeks before the conference, RESI Boston offers innovators a valuable opportunity to connect directly with investors and strategic stakeholders shaping the future of healthcare.

View the program guide and register for RESI Boston today.

Register for RESI Boston

Meet the Investor Judges at RESI Boston 2026 

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

RESI Boston brings together early-stage life science innovators and active investors during Biotech Week Boston. Life Science Nation is pleased to announce the investor judges participating in the Innovator’s Pitch Challenge (IPC).

This year’s IPC will feature more than 70 companies presenting across 20 pitch sessions over two days, offering startups a valuable opportunity to gain visibility, present directly to investors, and receive real-time feedback from experienced decision-makers.

Each pitch session will be evaluated by a panel of investor and strategic partner judges with expertise spanning therapeutics, medical devices, diagnostics, digital health, and life science tools. Companies will deliver a six-minute presentation followed by seven minutes of live investor Q&A, giving judges the opportunity to assess scientific differentiation, commercial potential, and investment readiness.

All IPC companies will also have a dedicated space in the RESI Exhibition Hall, creating additional opportunities for follow-up conversations and deeper engagement with investors and conference attendees.

RESI Boston attendees will be invited to vote with their RESI Cash for their favorite presenting companies. The Top 3 companies will be announced, with winners receiving prizes and additional exposure through the LSN Newsletter.

See the investors serving as judges for this year’s RESI Boston Innovator’s Pitch Challenge:

Featured RESI Boston IPC Judge
René Bastón
René Bastón
Covenant Venture Capital
Caleb Bell
Caleb Bell
Beyond Next Ventures
Randy Berholtz
Randy Berholtz
Mesa Verde Venture Partners
Shailesh Chavan
Shailesh Chavan
Ingenious Global Venture Partners
Bruce Cohen
Bruce Cohen
Xeraya Capital
Yvette Ferreira
Yvette Ferreira
Xcellerant Ventures
Navin Govind
Navin Govind
Evidence Ventures
Ole Henrik Bang Andreasen
Ole Henrik Bang Andreasen
Avant Bio
Christopher Hupp
Christopher Hupp
Ipsen S.A.
Deepak Jha
Deepak Jha
Autobahn Labs
James Lee
James Lee
Unistone Ventures
Claire Leurent
Claire Leurent
AbbVie Ventures
Heather Loring
Heather Loring
AstraZeneca
James Massaquoi
James Massaquoi
Glasswing Ventures
Mahesh Narayanan
Mahesh Narayanan
Neuvation Ventures
John Pennett
John Pennett
Mid Atlantic Bio Angels
Garrett Peterson
Garrett Peterson
Yahara Ventures
Andrew Rae
Andrew Rae
Woodgreen Ventures
Raza Shaikh
Raza Shaikh
Launchpad Venture Group
Justin Siemann
Justin Siemann
Sontag Foundation
Sarah Tao
Sarah Tao
CSL Behring
Martin Taylor
Martin Taylor
F-Prime Capital
Lily Ting
Lily Ting
Lundbeck
Sally Wang Liang
Sally Wang Liang
Xpanse Venture

Register for RESI Boston 2026

RESI Boston Investor Speakers

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

RESI Boston brings together active early-stage investors and life science innovators for two days of investor-led programming focused on capital, partnering, and market dynamics shaping healthcare innovation.

The agenda will feature leading biotech VCs, family offices, corporate scouts, health system investors, and impact-focused investors sharing how they evaluate opportunities, where they see momentum, and what founders need to understand as they prepare to raise capital and build strategic partnerships.

From Boston’s biotech ecosystem and early-stage therapeutic investing to pharma partnering, health systems, strategic capital, chronic disease, women’s health, family offices, and impact investing, the panel program offers practical insight across the full life science financing landscape.

These conversations are designed to help entrepreneurs better understand investor priorities, refine their fundraising strategy, and build relationships with the people actively shaping the future of healthcare innovation.

RESI Boston takes place in person September 22–23 at the Westin Copley Place, with virtual partnering September 25 and September 28–29. Whether attending in Boston or virtually, participants can connect with investors, gain perspective from the panel stage, and advance their next conversations through targeted partnering.

Register for RESI Boston 2026
Featured RESI Boston Investor Speakers
John Abeles
John Abeles
Northlea Partners
Marc Appel
Marc Appel
Pacific Bridge NY
Farnaz Bakhshi
Farnaz Bakhshi
ACS BrightEdge
Caleb Bell
Caleb Bell
Beyond Next Ventures
Alan Chiu
Alan Chiu
Breakthrough T1D
Scott Davis
Scott Davis
Sontag Foundation
Ronald Dorenbos
Ronald Dorenbos
BioFrontline Ltd.
Shane Duffy
Shane Duffy
Avanos Medical, Inc.
Tao Fang
Tao Fang
MRL Ventures Fund (MRLV)
David Fogel
David Fogel
Mass Medical Angels
Navin Govind
Navin Govind
Evidence Ventures
Nimisha Gupta
Nimisha Gupta
Jazz Pharmaceuticals, Inc
William Hsu, PhD
William Hsu, PhD
NuFund Venture Group
Austin Hwang
Austin Hwang
Analog Garage
Jonathan Ilicki
Jonathan Ilicki
Industrifonden
Renaud Jacquemart
Renaud Jacquemart
Omnium Global
Rohit Jain
Rohit Jain
HBS Alumni Angels of Northern California
Satoshi Konagai
Satoshi Konagai
Astellas Venture Management (AVM)
Jason Kraus
Jason Kraus
Boston Harbor Angels
Kathy Ku
Kathy Ku
Sazze Partners
Sally Wang Liang
Sally Wang Liang
Xpanse Venture
Nate Macht
Nate Macht
ACS BrightEdge
Nune Martiros
Nune Martiros
Paladin Capital Group
Andrew Merken
Andrew Merken
Polsinelli PC
Nikhil Mutyal
Nikhil Mutyal
AstraZeneca
Rohit Nuwal
Rohit Nuwal
TELUS Ventures
Maggie O'Toole
Maggie O'Toole
LabCentral
Soyoung Park
Soyoung Park
1004 Venture Partners
Dushyant Pathak
Dushyant Pathak
Autobahn Labs
Garrett Peterson
Garrett Peterson
Yahara Ventures
Andrew Rae
Andrew Rae
Woodgreen Ventures
Parthiban Rajasekaran
Parthiban Rajasekaran
Sanofi
Armin Rump
Armin Rump
Otsuka Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd.
Mo Soleja
Mo Soleja
Golden Seeds
Yvanka de Soysa
Yvanka de Soysa
Foreground Capital
Daniel Teper
Daniel Teper
YADAY Health
Andrew Thomson
Andrew Thomson
Ipsen S.A.
John Tremblay
John Tremblay
Launchpad Venture Group
Le Zhan
Le Zhan
Yunion Healthcare Ventures