Tag Archives: investing

RESI San Diego 2026 Program Guide Released 

16 Jun

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

DF-News-09142022

Life Science Nation (LSN) is pleased to release the RESI San Diego 2026 Program Guide for its upcoming hybrid conference, taking place June 22 in person at the JULEP Venue in San Diego, followed by four days of virtual partnering on June 23–24 and June 29–30. 

RESI San Diego brings together early-stage life science companies, active investors, strategic partners, and industry leaders during one of the most important weeks in biotechnology. The conference features the Innovator’s Pitch Challenge, investor panels, educational workshops, company showcases, and a dynamic partnering platform designed to facilitate meaningful fundraising and business development conversations. 

The Program Guide provides a comprehensive look at this year’s agenda, including sessions covering therapeutics, medtech, diagnostics, digital health, corporate venture capital, artificial intelligence in healthcare, strategic partnerships, and emerging investment trends. Attendees can also explore participating investors, sponsors, exhibitors, and networking opportunities available throughout the five-day partnering event. 

With partnering already underway and meeting calendars continuing to fill, RESI San Diego offers a unique opportunity for innovators to connect directly with the investors and strategic stakeholders shaping the future of healthcare. 

View the RESI San Diego 2026 Program Guide and secure your place today at RESI San Diego.

Register for RESI San Diego

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Building Investor Readiness: Watch the First Two Sessions and Join the Final Webinar 

16 Jun

By Sougato Das, President and COO, LSN

Sougato-Das

As RESI San Diego approaches, Life Science Nation has been helping founders and executives prepare for investor conversations through a three-part webinar series focused on one of the most important challenges in life science fundraising: transforming strong science into a compelling investment opportunity.

The first two sessions in the series explored why many promising companies struggle to attract capital despite strong technology and how founders can better communicate risk reduction, investment readiness, and strategic value to investors.

Webinar Recording: De-Risking, Shaping, and Micro-Investment

In this session, Rick Berenson, partner to Dennis Ford in the Anchor Node project and co-author of Dissecting Return and Risk: A Framework for Financing Life Science Startups, examined how investors evaluate risk across early-stage companies and why scientific promise alone is rarely enough to secure funding.

The discussion explored the role of micro-investment as an early filtering mechanism, the importance of systematically reducing risk across the development pathway, and how founders can shape scientific assets into investable opportunities capable of attracting institutional capital.

Webinar Recording: From Pitch Deck to De-Risk Deck

Dennis Ford, Founder and CEO of Life Science Nation, challenged the traditional approach to fundraising presentations by introducing the concept of the “de-risk deck.”

The webinar explored why investors focus on evidence of risk reduction rather than vision alone and why capital flows toward companies that clearly communicate scientific, regulatory, execution, and commercialization progress. Dennis also discussed investor targeting, outreach strategy, and the realities of navigating a successful life science fundraising campaign.

Final Webinar: Science to Signal

June 18, 2026 | 1:00 PM ET

The webinar series concludes this Thursday with Science to Signal, presented by Max Braht and Karen Deyo.

This session introduces the Science to Signal framework, a practical system designed to help life science startups translate scientific achievements into clear investment signals. Attendees will learn how the framework aligns development strategy with investor risk assessment, supports enterprise implementation within incubators and innovation programs, and helps founders better communicate progress to potential investors and partners.

Register for Science to Signal

Whether you are actively fundraising, preparing for partnering meetings, or refining your investment story, this webinar series provides practical frameworks for improving investor engagement and positioning your company for more productive capital formation discussions.

Register for RESI San Diego

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Hot Investor Mandate: Life Sciences Platform Invests Up to $20M in Early-Stage Therapeutics, Diagnostics, and Medical Technologies

9 Jun

The firm is a life sciences accelerator, company creation platform, and investment organization founded in 2016 and based in the United States. As part of a broader healthcare investment ecosystem, the firm partners with scientists, entrepreneurs, and innovators to build and advance life sciences companies from early discovery through key clinical milestones. The firm provides capital, operational expertise, strategic guidance, and extensive industry relationships to accelerate the development of promising healthcare technologies. The firm typically makes Seed investments in the low single-digit millions and participates in larger Series A financings, while also syndicating opportunities alongside other investors. Through its broader investment network, portfolio companies may gain access to later-stage private, crossover, debt, and public market financing resources. The firm invests globally and supports companies from formation through clinical proof-of-concept and beyond.  

The firm invests broadly across life sciences and healthcare, including therapeutics, medical devices, diagnostics, and emerging healthcare technologies. The firm is modality-agnostic and evaluates a wide range of therapeutic approaches, including small molecules, biologics, peptides, antibodies, genetic medicines, cell therapies, and novel platform technologies. Beyond therapeutics, the firm is interested in diagnostics, medical technologies, digital health, telemedicine, artificial intelligence and machine learning-enabled healthcare solutions, and other enabling technologies that improve patient outcomes or healthcare delivery. The firm is generally disease-area agnostic and seeks innovative science addressing significant unmet medical needs.  

From a company and management team perspective, the firm is highly founder-friendly and open to working with a broad range of leadership teams, including first-time entrepreneurs and first-time CEOs. The firm takes a hands-on company-building approach, providing strategic, operational, scientific, and financing support throughout the company lifecycle. The firm typically prefers to lead investments and play an active role in company development while remaining open to syndicating opportunities alongside like-minded investors. The firm prioritizes strong science, differentiated technologies, and teams committed to building sustainable, high-impact healthcare companies. 

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: Healthcare-Focused Investment Firm Deploys $10M Initial Checks in Seed to Series B Biopharmaceutical Companies

9 Jun

The firm is a healthcare-focused investment firm based in the United States with a long history of investing in innovative biotechnology and biopharmaceutical companies across both private and public markets. The firm manages dedicated private investment capital focused on emerging life sciences opportunities and typically invests from Seed through Series B financings. Initial investments often average approximately $10M, with substantial capacity for follow-on participation. Investments are primarily structured as equity, although convertible instruments may be utilized for select early-stage opportunities. The firm primarily invests in companies located in North America and Europe.  

The firm invests exclusively in therapeutics and biopharmaceutical innovation across a broad range of modalities and disease areas. The firm is modality-agnostic and evaluates opportunities involving small molecules, biologics, antibodies, RNA therapeutics, cell therapies, gene therapies, and other emerging therapeutic platforms. Areas of interest include oncology, immunology, rare diseases, metabolic disorders, and other indications characterized by significant unmet medical need. The firm prioritizes differentiated science, strong biological rationale, and technologies capable of generating meaningful clinical impact. The firm is comfortable investing from the preclinical stage onward and has experience supporting programs through major clinical development milestones.  

From a company and management team perspective, the firm seeks strong scientific founders, experienced leadership teams, and companies capable of advancing complex therapeutic programs through value-inflection points. The firm’s investment professionals bring deep scientific, medical, and financial expertise and work closely with portfolio companies as active strategic partners. The firm is open to leading, co-leading, or participating in investment syndicates and frequently assumes active governance roles, including board and observer positions. The firm provides support across financing strategy, clinical development planning, business development, and long-term company building. 

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: European HealthTech VC Invests Up to €5M in Seed and Series A Companies with Commercial Traction

9 Jun

The firm is a European venture capital firm that invests in innovative healthcare and health technology companies addressing large global markets. Operating through a distributed team across multiple European countries, the firm primarily invests in European businesses. The firm typically participates in Seed and Series A financings and can invest up to approximately €5M per company over the life of an investment, including follow-on capital. The firm focuses on companies that have already demonstrated early commercial validation through initial revenues, customer adoption, or market traction. The firm takes an active role in helping portfolio companies scale internationally and build sustainable healthcare businesses.  

The firm focuses on healthcare and health technology companies with scalable business models and global market potential. While historically active across therapeutics, medical devices, diagnostics, and digital health, the firm now places greater emphasis on healthtech and B2B healthcare solutions. Key areas of interest include brain health, mental health, women’s health, digital therapeutics, healthcare software, diagnostics, patient engagement platforms, and technologies that improve the efficiency, accessibility, and delivery of healthcare. The firm generally favors companies with commercialized products, established customer demand, and clear pathways to scalable revenue growth.  

From a company and management team perspective, the firm seeks ambitious founders developing differentiated solutions to significant healthcare challenges. While the firm does not maintain strict requirements regarding management team composition or prior entrepreneurial experience, it places significant value on execution capability, market understanding, and international scaling potential. The firm works closely with portfolio companies following investment, providing strategic guidance, industry expertise, and access to a network of operators, investors, and commercial partners. The firm may act as either a lead investor or syndicate participant depending on the opportunity.

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: Europe-Based VC Firm Invests € 1-3M in Technologies Addressing Diabetes and Chronic Disease Conditions 

9 Jun

The firm is a Europe-based venture capital firm with a dedicated investment strategy focused on diabetes and related disease areas. The firm primarily invests in Seed through Series A companies, with typical investments ranging from approximately €1-3M. The firm evaluates opportunities globally and is open to both leading and co-investing. Backed by a team with deep scientific expertise and extensive industry experience within the diabetes ecosystem, the firm takes an active role in supporting portfolio companies and frequently participates through board and observer positions.  

The firm focuses on diabetes and closely related indications, including comorbidities and complications where diabetes is a primary driver, such as kidney disease, wound care, vision loss, and other metabolic health challenges. The firm invests primarily in medical devices and digital health solutions, with a focus on both hardware and software technologies. Traditional biotechnology therapeutics fall outside the firm’s investment scope. For medical devices, the firm seeks opportunities that have progressed beyond the prototype stage and generated early validation data through laboratory studies, clinical evaluations, or first-in-human testing. For software and digital health solutions, the firm favors products demonstrating commercial traction or clear scalability. Strategic partnerships or demonstrated interest from healthcare providers, hospital systems, or established medical technology companies are viewed favorably, particularly for enterprise-focused solutions.  

From a company and management team perspective, the firm does not maintain specific requirements regarding founder 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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Don’t Miss Out: Discover Cutting-Edge Japanese Innovations at RESI San Diego 2026

9 Jun

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

With RESI San Diego 2026 just two weeks away, taking place on Monday, June 22, at JULEP Venue San Diego, we are excited to showcase a strong cohort of innovative life science companies and technologies from Japan.

As Title Sponsor of RESI San Diego 2026, Kobe Biomedical Innovation Cluster (KBIC) is organizing 2 incredible afternoon sessions featuring promising innovations that are being developed in Japan. We welcome you all to join and learn more about what Japan’s life science ecosystem has to offer.

Space is limited, so we ask that you RSVP to confirm your attendance.

RSVP to Confirm Attendance

1:00 – 3:00pm | KBIC Session –– Japan Life Science Showcase ––

KBIC is Japan’s largest leading biomedical cluster, bringing together approximately 350 companies, medical institutions, and research organizations.

Within this ecosystem, many startups are actively advancing R&D activities and working diligently toward commercialization on a daily basis.

As part of this exciting network, KBIC will host pitches from eight startups that are particularly eager to engage with overseas investors and licensing partners, and that are well prepared for such international collaboration.

In addition, leading venture capital firms in Japan and the representative of Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry will speak about the current investment landscape as well as their perspectives on the future of the Japanese startup ecosystem.

ANT5 CellFold
FELIQS HIUCHI-Pharma
Juntendo-University Radio-Nano
United-Immunity VCCT

3:00 – 4:00pm | Kyoto-iCAP Session –– Translating Kyoto Science into Global Ventures ––

Kyoto University Innovation Capital Co., Ltd. (Kyoto-iCAP) and Kyoto University will introduce Kyoto’s growing biotech innovation ecosystem and showcase emerging life science ventures developing transformative technologies in regenerative medicine, cell therapy, nephrology, pain treatment and radiopharmaceuticals. The session is designed to foster connections between global investors, strategic partners, and leading Kyoto University-originated startups.

BTB Therapeutics CiRA
Orizuru-therapeutics Rege-Nephro
Shinobi_Therapeutics

Featured Interview: Dr. Narumiya, President of FBRI, shares his insights about Kobe and KBIC’s strengths and their role in strengthening the life science ecosystem in Japan.

Dr. Shuh Narumiya, President of Foundation for Biomedical Research and Innovation at Kobe (FBRI)

What is Kobe? What is KBIC?

Kobe is a port city and is now emerging as a key hub for startup creation and accumulation in Japan, particularly in bioscience and medicine. At the center of this ecosystem is the Kobe Biomedical Innovation Cluster (KBIC). In KBIC, you can meet institutes with Japan’s cutting-edge research, distinguished hospitals, research institutes of international Pharmas and start-ups, thus KBIC serving you as a “gateway to Japanese science and innovation”.

What science and innovation were and are being created in KBIC?

Science and innovation covered in KBIC span from drug discovery, regenerative medicine, digital health, and medical instruments and devices to bio-manufacturing. KBIC holds a distinctive position in regenerative medicine and cell therapy. It has, for example, nurtured and developed application of iPS cell research, leading to transplantation of iPSC-derived retinal cells in 2014, the world’s first clinical application, and the world’s first regulatory approval of iPSC-derived cells for a Parkinson’s disease treatment in 2026.

What are other advantages of KBIC?

Kobe is a part of Kansai region, an area of most distinguished life science research in Japan. Collaboration within the Kansai region is another strength of KBIC. Particularly, through partnerships with Kyoto University Innovation Capital (iCAP), KBIC supports the creation and growth of university spin-outs, combining Kyoto University’s research excellence with Kobe’s commercialization capabilities and vice versa.

What are the current state and issues of start-ups in Japan?

Today, Japan’s startup ecosystem—especially in the bio and life sciences sectors—is more vibrant than ever, producing a wealth of internationally competitive research and innovation seeds. However, these achievements are not yet fully recognized overseas, and many promising discoveries are still struggling for support to translate into commercial success. Bridging this gap is one of KBIC’s core roles.

Japan’s startups are now shifting from a domestically focused model to global expansion. In this transition, building international connections is critical. KBIC serves as a practical gateway for this purpose, offering integrated support from R&D to commercialization, fundraising, and global market entry.

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