It Is Not the Pitch Deck Anymore. It Is the De-Risked Deck.

August 18, 2026August 18, 2026 ~ Next Phase Admin ~ Leave a comment

A Boston Biotech Week note from Dennis Ford, Founder and CEO, Life Science Nation

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

Boston Biotech Week brings the whole industry into one city at once. Big stages, packed agendas, strategic executives, investors, and hundreds of emerging companies working the room. There is real value in all of it. But if you are an early-stage CEO trying to raise your next round, you have a narrower problem. You do not need to meet everybody. You need to meet the people who can actually fund you.

Over the last few years, I have watched the investor conversation change. The science is as strong as ever. What has changed is what happens after the science leaves the lab and somebody has to finance the long road to the clinic. Founders were taught to build a pitch deck: the unmet need, the science, the market, the team, the ask. There is nothing wrong with that formula, but it no longer answers the question an early-stage investor is actually asking: risk. What has been proven, what has not, where the company could fail, and what the next round actually retires. That is why the pitch deck is becoming something else. I call it the de-risked deck.

This matters because life science has a structural problem we do not talk about enough. We built an extraordinary discovery engine and pour billions into it, and it works. What we never built beside it, with the same discipline, is the commercialization engine. A scientist spends twenty years mastering a pathway and then is expected to run a company that demands regulatory strategy, clinical development, IP, reimbursement, capital formation, and partnering. That is a different profession, and we expect founders to learn it while keeping the company alive.

So too many companies start raising before anyone has put the asset through the full risk stack, and that gets expensive. A company can burn years and millions moving toward an IND only to find that a regulatory assumption was wrong or the IP is thinner than it looked. Problems that cost thousands to surface early cost millions once they are buried in the plan. The process should run the other way. Vet early. Find the risks while they are still cheap to address. Retire what you can, manage what you cannot, and build the financing strategy around the milestones that take those risks off the table. That is what makes a company legible to capital.

That is where RESI is different. In a week full of networking, RESI is built for one thing: the early-stage financing problem. By the time we open, roughly 400 international early-stage investors will be in the building, covering Seed up to two million, Series A up to ten million, and Series B up to fifty million. More than 200 investment firms have already registered. A founder does not come to RESI for another thousand names in a directory. They come to find the specific investors whose mandate fits their stage of development and product, and to get in front of them.

Investor Firms Exclusive to RESI Boston 2026

Two rooms make that sharper. The Global Family Office BioForum brings 40 family offices from around the world, patient private capital that is hard to reach, and this year they are taking partnering meetings alongside the forum. The Cross-Border Investor Luncheon puts international investors together with regional VCs, because a regional fund often has access to companies it cannot finance through multiple rounds, and an international fund has capital and reach but no visibility into the local ecosystem. Put them together, and you are not collecting contacts; you are building a syndicate.

None of this replaces the work. No conference makes an unprepared company fundable. The science has to stand up, the milestones have to make sense, and the CEO has to understand the risks well enough to have a conversation rather than deliver a presentation. When founders make that shift, it shows. FELIQS, one of our recent Innovator’s Pitch Challenge companies, told us RESI helped them sharpen how they communicated the clinical and commercial opportunity and opened the door to real financing discussions. The science had not changed. Their ability to make it legible to capital had.

The science is the reason a company exists. Making it financeable gives it a chance to survive.

LSN and RESI have been part of Boston Biotech Week since its inception. If you are an early-stage company looking for capital or licensing deals, RESI is the right room to be in. If you are there to shop for service providers, plenty of other rooms are built for that. RESI is built for matching partners and facilitating early-stage transactions.

Boston is our hometown, and this is where RESI shines. That is the de-risked deck, and this week, that is the conversation we want to have.

RESI Boston 2026 | September 22 to 23 | The Westin Copley Place, Boston
Virtual Partnering | September 25, 28 to 29

Inside the Pharma Partnering Playbook: How Early-Stage Innovation Gets on Big Pharma’s Radar

August 18, 2026 ~ Next Phase Admin ~ Leave a comment

By Joey Wong, Director of Investor Research, Hong Kong BD, LSN

For early-stage life science companies, securing the attention of a pharmaceutical partner can be transformative. But with pharma teams evaluating a constant flow of new technologies, assets, and platforms, what makes an emerging company stand out, and what turns an initial conversation into a meaningful partnership?

At RESI Boston, the panel Inside the Pharma Partnering Playbook: How Early-Stage Innovation Gets on Big Pharma’s Radar will bring together experienced pharmaceutical business development and partnering professionals for a candid look at how large pharma companies identify, evaluate, and engage with external innovation.

As pharmaceutical companies increasingly look outside their own pipelines for promising science, partnerships are beginning earlier and take a wider variety of forms. Research collaborations, option-to-license agreements, licensing deals, and strategic investments can all provide pathways for startups to work with established pharmaceutical companies. For founders, understanding how these organizations approach external innovation can be critical to developing an effective partnering strategy.

The discussion will explore what initially puts an early-stage company on pharma’s radar, how teams assess scientific and strategic fit, and what founders should have in place before initiating a business development conversation. Panelists will also share perspectives on building relationships before a company reaches a major inflection point, navigating internal decision-making at large organizations, and positioning an opportunity so its value is clear to potential partners.

Pharma Partnering Panelists
Nikhil Mutyal AstraZeneca (Moderator)	Nimish Gupta Jazz Pharmaceuticals	Parthiban Rajasekaran Sanofi
Armin Rump Otsuka Pharmaceutical Co.	Andrew Thomson Ipsen SA

For entrepreneurs pursuing pharmaceutical partnerships, the session offers an opportunity to hear directly from the people on the other side of the partnering table. Attendees will leave with a stronger understanding of what pharma is looking for, how opportunities move through the evaluation process, and how early-stage companies can approach BD conversations with greater focus and preparation.

Join the discussion at RESI Boston on September 22 at 1:00 PM and gain an inside look at how promising innovation makes its way onto Big Pharma’s radar.

Register Free: Pre-RESI Biotech Forum, September 21

August 18, 2026August 18, 2026 ~ Next Phase Admin ~ Leave a comment

By Sougato Das, President and COO, LSN

Sougato-Das

LSN has always sought to offer value to the greater life science fund raising ecosystem by providing free educational material both via webinars and in-person seminars. To continue this tradition, RESI Boston, in partnership with Certara, is offering a free, in-person event in Boston on September 21 called the Biotech Forum.

The Biotech Forum is a strategic workshop designed for biotech executives, founders, and investors who want to sharpen their development plan, de-risk their program, and enter RESI, JPM 2027 and other fundraising meetings with clarity and confidence. In a single focused day, expert speakers will address the early-stage decisions that most often derail promising programs and show you how to avoid them before you step into critical partnering and investor conversations, including a dedicated session on how to prepare for, run, and follow up on your investor meetings.

The Biotech Forum will be catered with breakfast, lunch and snacks, and will be followed by a networking reception. If you are a biotech company, you can register here. This is a great opportunity not only to learn, but also to network with other ecosystem participants. We look forward to seeing you there.

More Investors. More Opportunities. More Momentum.

August 11, 2026August 11, 2026 ~ Next Phase Admin ~ Leave a comment

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!

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.

Partnering Launches August 17 for RESI Boston September 2026

August 11, 2026 ~ Next Phase Admin ~ Leave a comment

By Max Braht, VP of Business Development, LSN

RESI Boston September 2026 brings together one of the largest gatherings of early-stage life science investors, pharmaceutical and medtech business development professionals, strategic partners, and innovators during Biotech Week Boston. With two days of in-person networking, educational panels, company presentations, the Innovator’s Pitch Challenge, an active exhibit hall, and dedicated one-on-one partnering, RESI is designed to help emerging life science companies build the relationships that drive fundraising, licensing, strategic partnerships, and commercialization.

One of the event’s most valuable features launches Monday, August 17: the RESI partnering platform.

Beginning August 17, registered attendees can start scheduling one-on-one meetings with investors, pharmaceutical business development teams, strategic partners, and service providers well in advance of the conference.

The RESI series continues to be one of the world’s largest early-stage life science partnering events, bringing together hundreds of active investors and strategic partners focused on biotechnology, AI, medical devices, diagnostics, digital health, and life science tools. Whether attending in person or virtually, participants can use Life Science Nation’s (LSN) proprietary partnering platform to identify organizations that align with their technology, stage of development, therapeutic focus, and fundraising objectives.

Launching your partnering outreach early is one of the best ways to maximize your RESI experience. Companies that complete their profiles and begin requesting meetings as soon as partnering opens gain greater visibility and have more opportunities to secure valuable conversations before schedules begin to fill.

To help attendees make the most of the partnering platform, Life Science Nation will host a complimentary RESI Boston Partnering Tutorial webinar on Tuesday, August 18, at 9:00 AM MT. During this interactive session, LSN staff will demonstrate how to:

Build a compelling partnering profile
Identify investors and strategic partners that best fit your company
Develop an outreach strategy that increases meeting acceptance
Manage meeting requests and follow up effectively
Leverage the partnering platform and conference resources to maximize your RESI experience

🎓 Free Webinar: RESI Partnering Tutorial

Learn outreach strategies to maximize your 1-on-1 investor meetings. Tuesday, Aug 18 @ 11:00 AM ET

Whether you are attending RESI for the first time or are a returning participant, this tutorial offers practical strategies to help you secure more meaningful meetings and maximize your return on investment.

Register now to secure your $300 Early Bird savings before August 14, complete your partnering profile, begin requesting meetings when the platform opens on August 17, and join the complimentary Partnering Tutorial on August 18 to position your company for a productive and successful RESI Boston September 2026.

🏷️ 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!

Establish Your Innovation Hub at RESI JPM 2027

August 4, 2026 ~ Next Phase Admin ~ Leave a comment

By Max Braht, VP of Business Development, LSN

Every January, JPM Healthcare Week transforms San Francisco into the global center of the life science industry, bringing together investors, pharmaceutical executives, biotech leaders, and innovators from around the world. For organizations looking to showcase their regional ecosystem, portfolio companies, or innovation network, RESI JPM 2027 offers a unique opportunity to establish a visible and strategic presence during one of the industry’s most influential weeks.

Located within the San Francisco Marriott Marquis, RESI JPM is the premier partnering conference dedicated to early-stage life science companies. The event connects startups with active investors, strategic partners, and business development professionals through curated partnering meetings, educational programming, and networking opportunities.

Life Science Nation invites regional organizations, innovation hubs, accelerators, and industry partners to create their own branded Innovation Hub alongside RESI JPM. These flexible hosting opportunities allow organizations to provide a central gathering place for their ecosystem while taking advantage of the high concentration of attendees already participating in RESI and JPM Healthcare Week.

RESI JPM 2027 Venue: Salons 9–15 (Yerba Buena Ballroom, Lower B2 Level) with total space exceeding 17,000 sq ft.

Organizations can kick off the week with a private networking reception on Sunday, welcoming investors, founders, corporate partners, and key stakeholders before the week’s meetings begin. During RESI JPM on Monday and Tuesday, dedicated salon spaces adjacent to the conference offer an ideal location for hosting meetings, showcasing portfolio companies, conducting presentations, and serving as a home base for delegates throughout the event.

Tech/Innovation hubs also benefit from prominent branding within the RESI environment and the opportunity for their startup cohorts to engage directly in RESI’s partnering platform, creating additional exposure and meeting opportunities with investors and strategic partners.

Whether representing a regional life science cluster, government agency, incubator, accelerator, or investment organization, establishing an Innovation Hub at RESI JPM positions your organization at the center of the world’s largest life science partnering week while providing lasting value for your innovation ecosystem.

To learn more about creating an Innovation Hub at RESI JPM 2027, contact Life Science Nation at salescore@lifesciencenation.com.

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

August 4, 2026 ~ Next Phase Admin ~ Leave a comment

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 Omnium Global (Moderator)	Sam Gussman-Toh ARPA-H	William Hsu, PhD NuFund Venture Group
Rohit Jain HBS Alumni Angels of Northern California	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.