More Investors. More Opportunities. More Momentum. 

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

Investor interest in RESI Boston is building quickly as the launch of the RESI partnering platform approaches on Monday, August 17. With partnering just days away, investor registrations are expected to accelerate further as firms prepare to identify companies and begin scheduling one-on-one meetings.

In five days of investor registration, more than 30 investor firms signed up to participate, reinforcing RESI’s position as one of the premier partnering events for early-stage life science companies seeking capital and strategic partnerships.

Recently Confirmed Investors (Last 5 Days)

Explore the full RESI Boston investor list here.

These new registrations join a growing community of investors from across venture capital, corporate venture, family offices, angel groups, foundations, and strategic investment organizations, creating even more opportunities for meaningful one-on-one meetings.

🏷️ Save $300 on RESI Boston Registration
Secure your pass before Early Bird rates end this Friday, August 14th to get full access to investor partnering!
Register & Save

Already, more than 200 investors representing over 150 global investor firms have registered for RESI Boston, with additional investors continuing to join each week.

As the investor roster continues to grow, so do the opportunities to connect with the partners who can help move your company forward.

Register now to join one of the industry’s most active life science partnering events. Early Bird pricing ends Friday, August 14, giving attendees one last opportunity to save $300 before standard rates take effect.

Meet the First Believers: The Investors Behind Tomorrow’s Breakthrough Companies 

By Momo Yamamoto, Senior Investor Research Analyst, LSN

Every successful life science company has a defining moment in its fundraising journey. Long before a major venture capital round or strategic partnership, there is often an investor willing to take the very first leap of faith.

At 9:00 AM on Wednesday, September 23, Day 2 of RESI Boston 2026 begins with one of the conference’s most valuable discussions for early-stage founders: The First Believers: The Investors Behind Tomorrow’s Breakthrough Companies.

Securing that first investment is about much more than capital. Early investors provide critical validation, open doors to strategic relationships, and help companies build the momentum needed to attract future financing. Understanding how these investors think can give entrepreneurs a significant advantage as they prepare for fundraising.

This panel brings together accomplished investors and innovation leaders who regularly evaluate breakthrough technologies at their earliest stages:

Renaud-Jacquemart
Renaud Jacquemart

Omnium Global
(Moderator)
Sam-Gussman-Toh
Sam Gussman-Toh

ARPA-H
William-Hsu
William Hsu, PhD

NuFund Venture Group
Rohit-Jain
Rohit Jain

HBS Alumni Angels of Northern California
Dushyant-Pathak
Dushyant Pathak

Autobahn Labs

These panelists represent a diverse range of perspectives across venture creation, angel investing, government-supported innovation, and early-stage venture capital. Collectively, they helped identify and support companies long before they became widely recognized.

During the discussion, attendees will gain insight into what separates promising startups from investable opportunities. The panel will explore the characteristics investors look for in founding teams, the technical and commercial milestones that inspire confidence, and the common mistakes entrepreneurs make when approaching investors during the earliest stages of fundraising.

The conversation will also address how startups can build credibility before institutional financing, demonstrate meaningful progress with limited resources, and develop fundraising strategies that position them for long-term success.

For founders preparing to raise their first outside capital, this session offers a rare opportunity to hear directly from the investors who are often the first to believe in transformative science and technology.

Whether you are refining your investment story, preparing for investor meetings, or mapping out your fundraising roadmap, The First Believers panel will provide practical insights that can help shape your next steps.

Don’t miss this opportunity to kick off Day 2 of RESI Boston with an inside look at how early-stage investors identify the breakthrough companies of tomorrow.

Register now for RESI Boston 2026 and join the conversations that can help launch your next stage of growth.

Register for RESI Boston 2026

Meet the Investors Shaping the Future of Life Science Innovation 

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
Farnaz Bakhshi

American Cancer Society BrightEdge
Alan-Chiu
Alan Chiu

Breakthrough T1D
Yvanka-de-Soysa
Yvanka de Soysa

Foreground Capital
Shane-Duffy
Shane Duffy

Avanos Medical
Nimisha-Gupta
Nimisha Gupta

Jazz Pharmaceuticals
Sam-Gussman-Toh
Sam Gussman-Toh

ARPA-H
Jonathan-Illicki
Jonathan Illicki

Industrifonden
Nikhil-Mutyal
Nikhil Mutyal

AstraZeneca
Rohit-Nuwal
Rohit Nuwal

TELUS Ventures
Parthiban-Rajasekaran
Parthiban Rajasekaran

Sanofi
Armin-Rump
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

Cross-Border Investor Luncheon at RESI Boston 2026

A private, screened luncheon for regional and international investors seeking syndicate partners.

RESI Boston | Wednesday, September 23 | 75 Seats


RSVP for Cross-Border Investor Luncheon Today

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

DF-News-09142022

Nearly nine out of ten life science startups fail. Not because the science is poor, but because they never connect to the right capital and strategic partners. Solving that is the reason Life Science Nation exists, and for more than fifteen years our work has come down to one thing: finding parties who need each other and matching them.

As some readers know, LSN has been addressing this pervasive dilemma through the LSN Labs Anchor Node Program. An Anchor Node combines LSN’s commercialization methodology and global capital formation network with a regional partner’s laboratories, entrepreneurial programs, and operating platform to produce investment-ready life science companies.

As we expanded the Anchor Node Program across Boston, Australia, Japan, Korea, the UK, and Brazil, a clear pattern emerged: regional partners constantly brought their local VCs to the table seeking international capital. At the same time, our own data across five global RESI events revealed that twenty percent of all partnering meetings were already investor-to-investor.

So we decided to formalize it, and provide a dedicated room for these partners to connect.

The Cross-Border Investor Luncheon, CBIL, is a private luncheon at RESI Boston for regional and international investors seeking syndicate partners. Regional investors have access to exceptional companies that often never reach international investors. International investors have access and reach that regional funds cannot build alone. Both are looking for the same thing across Asia, Europe, North America, and South America.

Attendance is screened. CBIL is for active investors seeking syndicate partners outside their own region, whether that means bringing international capital into local deals or gaining access to deal flow in regions where they have no presence.

Taking place on Wednesday, September 23, CBIL follows the format of the Global Family Office BioForum luncheon (GFOB luncheon takes place on Tuesday, September 22), now in its eighth year. Across those eight years, GFOB has brought family offices together to find each other, form alliances, and build syndicates. CBIL is the natural next step, applying the same private, curated format to the international investor community.

“The future of life science investing is not just finding great companies. It is finding great syndicate partners in the global arena.”


Dennis Ford, Founder and CEO, Life Science Nation


Wednesday, September 23   |   Private luncheon   |   Screened RSVP   |   75 seats

Every RSVP is reviewed. Request your seat today!


RSVP for Cross-Border Investor Luncheon Today

RESI Boston 2026 Agenda Announced: Two Days of Investor Insights, Partnership Strategy, and Networking

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

The agenda for RESI Boston 2026 is here, offering attendees an in-depth look at the conversations shaping the future of early-stage life science investment. Taking place September 22–23 at The Westin Copley Place in Boston, followed by virtual partnering days on September 25, 28, and 29, the expanded two-day in-person conference delivers more opportunities than ever to connect with investors, strategic partners, and industry leaders.

This year’s program reflects the evolving priorities of the healthcare investment ecosystem, with sessions designed to help innovators better understand today’s fundraising environment while building the relationships needed to move their companies forward.

Day one begins by exploring why Boston remains one of the world’s premier biotechnology hubs before examining key topics including partnering with health systems, how venture investors evaluate early-stage therapeutics, securing pharmaceutical partnerships, corporate venture capital strategies, digital health innovation, and the growing influence of family offices in healthcare investing. The day also features the Global Family Office Bioforum (GFOB), an invite-only private networking lunch that brings together select family office investors for high-value discussions and relationship building.

On day two, programming shifts toward emerging investment trends with sessions highlighting angel investing, women’s health, impact investing, and the increasingly important role of mission-driven capital. The conference concludes with two Reverse VC Pitch sessions, where investors take the stage to present directly to entrepreneurs, providing attendees with valuable insight into investment priorities, fund strategies, and what investors are actively seeking in new opportunities. The day also features the exclusive Global VC Connect Lunch, creating another dedicated opportunity for venture capital investors to build meaningful connections.

As always, RESI programming is designed to provide practical insights rather than theory. Whether attendees are preparing for their next fundraising round, pursuing strategic partnerships, or looking to better understand today’s investment landscape, every panel is curated to deliver actionable perspectives from experienced investors and industry leaders.

Combined with RESI’s partnering platform and three additional days of virtual meetings, the conference offers a comprehensive environment for companies seeking to advance fundraising and business development efforts.

Join the RESI Speaker Lineup

Are you an investor or strategic partner with valuable insights to share with early-stage life science companies? We are looking for dynamic speakers to join our RESI panels. Click here to submit your Speaker Interest Form today!

Registration is now open, with super early bird pricing currently available. Companies planning to attend are encouraged to register early to secure the best available rates and begin preparing for one of the most anticipated life science investment events of the year.

Register today and join the global life science investment community at RESI Boston 2026.

Register for RESI Boston

KBIC Japan Life Science Showcase Strengthens Cross-Border Partnerships at RESI San Diego

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.

RESI San Diego Innovator’s Pitch Challenge Winners Showcase the Future of Life Science Innovation

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

The Innovator’s Pitch Challenge (IPC) returned to RESI San Diego 2026, bringing together some of the most promising early-stage life science companies for one of the conference’s signature events. Designed to connect early-stage innovators with active investors and strategic partners, the IPC provides a platform for companies to showcase breakthrough technologies while gaining valuable exposure and feedback.

Each finalist delivered a six-minute presentation followed by a live Q&A with an investor judging panel. Throughout the conference, participants also met with investors during one-on-one partnering meetings and networking sessions, extending conversations well beyond the pitch stage.

The IPC winners are determined through a combination of investor judge evaluations and RESI Cash voting. Judges evaluate each company based on the strength of its technology, investment opportunity, presentation, and responses during Q&A, while attendees allocate RESI Cash to the companies they believe demonstrate the greatest investment potential. Together, these scores recognize companies that impressed both the judging panel and the broader RESI community.

Congratulations to the overall winners of the RESI San Diego 2026 Innovator’s Pitch Challenge: 

1st Place: Nanotrace

Nanotrace combined the best attributes of chemotherapy, nanoparticle delivery mechanisms, and the latest advancements in gene therapeutics to build a revolutionary oncology platform. Based on our team’s decades of research in these fields, and the maturation of nanomedicine, our product is a novel targeting platform which recognizes cancer cells by its very blueprint – gene expression. In part by using AI, that highly specific recognition is programmed to release a chemotherapeutic payload inside a cancer cell while leaving healthy cells unaffected. Our platform will transform how we treat not only cancer but a whole spectrum of genetic disorders. Nanotrace is founded by Dr. Will Briley, PhD Molecular Biology from Northwestern; Dr. Paul Weiss, renowned nanoscientist, distinguished UCLA professor, and a UC Presidential Chair; David Spector, an experienced founder and formerly of Sequoia Capital, Google, and MIT; and, Chief Medical Advisor, Dr. Krishna Komanduri, Department Chief & Head of Hematology & Oncology, UCSF.


2nd Place: Pinion Immunotherapeutics

Pinion Immunotherapeutics is a Maryland-based biotechnology company focused on developing novel immunotherapies for chronic viral infections and virus-driven cancers. Its proprietary AI-driven mRNA platform generates immunotherapies targeting HPV-related precancer, AML, EBV, and HSV, designed to activate CD8⁺ T cells while inducing virus-neutralizing antibodies to achieve durable immune control. Pinion operates as a lean, high-impact virtual company, deploying capital directly to science and clinical trials, not overhead. Our leadership team brings deep expertise across mRNA platform development, FDA regulatory strategy, clinical trial design, and immunology. Our programs target indications with large addressable populations, no curative standard of care, and high economic burden, where mRNA immunotherapy offers a genuine path to functional cure.


3rd Place: FELIQS

Feliqs is a clinical-stage ophthalmology company developing innovative therapies for retinal and corneal diseases with significant unmet medical needs. The company is advancing a diversified pipeline targeting conditions including retinopathy of prematurity (ROP), pterygium, and dry age-related macular degeneration (Dry AMD), addressing diseases that currently have limited or no effective treatment options. Leveraging novel mechanisms targeting oxidative stress, fibrosis, and angiogenesis, FELIQS is developing patient-friendly therapies designed to reduce dependence on invasive procedures while improving long-term visual outcomes. Through its innovative ophthalmology pipeline, FELIQS aims to preserve vision, prevent blindness, and improve quality of life for patients worldwide.

In addition to the overall winners, several companies earned the highest combined judge and RESI Cash scores within their individual pitch sessions. Congratulations to these outstanding innovators for delivering exceptional presentations and capturing investor interest throughout the competition.

3Helix Ad-Astra Allander-Biotechnologies
BOOST-Pharma Endeavor FELIQS
HEPHAISTOS Nanotrace Numiera
Pinion Rejuvenation Repair
Sebastian Wavegate

Every company that participated in the Innovator’s Pitch Challenge demonstrated the innovation, passion, and entrepreneurial spirit that continue to define the RESI community. Congratulations to all of this year’s participants.

Will Your Company Be Next?

Applications are now open for the RESI Boston Innovator’s Pitch Challenge, taking place during the expanded two-day, in-person RESI Boston conference this September during Biotech Week Boston.

The IPC is more than a pitch competition. It is an opportunity to present your company to active investors, receive expert feedback, gain additional visibility through poster presentations and partnering meetings, and compete for recognition among the global life science investment community.

Whether you’re preparing for your next financing round or looking to build strategic partnerships, the Innovator’s Pitch Challenge can help elevate your fundraising efforts.

Applications are now open. Apply today and take the stage at RESI Boston.

Apply to Pitch at RESI Boston