Build Your Brand at the Expanded Two-Day RESI Boston

June 30, 2026 ~ Next Phase Admin ~ Leave a comment

By Max Braht, VP of Business Development, LSN

Following the success of RESI San Diego, sponsorship opportunities are now available for RESI Boston, taking place September 22–23 during Biotech Week Boston. With two days of in-person programming, followed by three days of virtual partnering, RESI Boston offers even more opportunities to connect with the global life science investment community.

RESI San Diego welcomed an outstanding group of sponsors representing every corner of the life science ecosystem. Title Sponsors included Innopolis Jeonbuk Innovation Cluster, Biometas, and Korea Bio Innovation Center (KBIC). Gold Sponsors RSM and Medmarc shared their expertise through thought leadership and networking, while Silver Sponsors Biocytogen, Foley Hoag, and Polsinelli connected with innovators and investors throughout the conference. Additional support from Bronze Sponsors BSR Korea, JABI, Jeongup Si, Jeonbuk State, the Ministry of Science and ICT (Korea), Alithia Life Sciences, and Inertia further strengthened the event’s international reach.

Sponsoring RESI is more than displaying your logo. Sponsors gain visibility before, during, and after the conference through digital marketing, onsite branding, exhibit opportunities, educational programming, and access to RESI’s partnering platform. Whether your organization is looking to generate business leads, recruit new clients, showcase a regional innovation ecosystem, or establish thought leadership, RESI provides direct access to founders, investors, strategic partners, and service providers actively shaping the future of life sciences.

The expanded two-day in-person format at RESI Boston means more networking, more meetings, more educational sessions, and more opportunities for meaningful engagement than ever before. Combined with virtual partnering that continues after the event, sponsors benefit from sustained visibility and valuable follow-up opportunities well beyond the conference itself.

Ready to elevate your brand at RESI Boston? Explore the full range of sponsorship opportunities by downloading the RESI Sponsorship Brochure, or visit the RESI Sponsors page to learn more. To discuss a customized sponsorship package that aligns with your business development goals, contact sales@lifesciencenation.com. Sponsorship packages can be tailored to maximize your visibility, thought leadership, and connections within the global life science investment community.

RESI San Diego 2026 Program Guide Released

June 16, 2026 ~ Next Phase Admin ~ Leave a comment

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

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.

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

June 16, 2026 ~ Next Phase Admin ~ Leave a comment

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.

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.

Don’t Miss Out: Discover Cutting-Edge Japanese Innovations at RESI San Diego 2026

June 9, 2026 ~ Next Phase Admin ~ Leave a comment

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.

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.

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.

Discover the Innovators: 14 Pitch Sessions Showcasing Emerging Life Science Companies

June 9, 2026June 9, 2026 ~ Next Phase Admin ~ Leave a comment

By Max Braht, VP of Business Development, LSN

The Innovator’s Pitch Challenge (IPC) returns to RESI San Diego with an exciting lineup of 14 pitch sessions showcasing emerging companies from across the life science ecosystem. Finalists represent a broad range of innovation spanning Therapeutics, Medical Devices, Diagnostics, and Digital Health, highlighting the technologies shaping the future of healthcare.

These sessions provide RESI attendees with a unique opportunity to discover breakthrough technologies and engage directly with the entrepreneurs driving them forward. Each company will present in front of a panel of active investors and strategic partners, participate in live Q&A discussions, and receive valuable feedback from industry experts.

In addition to presenting during their assigned pitch session, all IPC finalists will showcase their companies in the RESI exhibition area through dedicated pitch posters. This format allows attendees to explore innovative technologies at their own pace, connect directly with company leadership, and schedule follow-up discussions with promising startups throughout the conference.

The Innovator’s Pitch Challenge culminates with the presentation of RESI Cash awards, recognizing standout companies from across the competition. Award recipients will also be featured in Life Science Nation’s Next Phase newsletter, providing additional visibility among the global RESI community.

More than a competition, the Innovator’s Pitch Challenge serves as a platform for fundraising companies to gain visibility, validate their value proposition, and build meaningful relationships with investors, strategic partners, and industry leaders from around the world.

See the full list of pitching companies below:

Apply to Pitch at RESI Boston

Don’t Underestimate the Importance of the Line

June 9, 2026 ~ Next Phase Admin ~ Leave a comment

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

There is a line between deciding to pursue investors and partners and pursuing them. Most people believe they cross it the moment they decide. They don’t. Deciding is private. The line is the part the market can see, and the market only sees behavior. You can be completely certain you are committed and still be, as far as anyone outside your own head can tell, standing exactly where you were a year ago.

The market doesn’t care what you declare. It responds to what you do. What it reads is presence, whether you are in the room when it counts. There are moments when it counts more than others, when the people who fund and license and partner are not scattered across a thousand calendars but gathered in one place at one time, looking for their next opportunity. Those moments are real, and they are on the calendar. The wave forms whether you are ready or not. The only question it puts to you is whether you are in the water when it arrives.

Here is the part that surprises people. The companies that are serious about this do not try to be efficient about it. You would think the sophisticated move is to be selective, to take only the meetings that obviously matter and skip the rest. It isn’t, and there is a hard reason why. The meeting that changes your company does not announce itself going in. The lead investor is hidden inside a large number of conversations that look, beforehand, exactly like the ones that lead nowhere. The licensing partner is buried in a stack of introductions you cannot tell apart until you are sitting in them. You cannot reason your way to the one that counts and avoid the others. The only way to reach it is to go through the volume. So the serious company does not look for reasons to take fewer meetings. It looks for reasons to take more, because every additional relevant room is another draw from the deck the one card is hidden in. Most of the draws are blanks. That is not a flaw in the method. That is the method.

Activity guarantees nothing, and no one who has done this for long will tell you otherwise. What inactivity guarantees is the opposite. The company that is not in the room is not weighed, and ends up passed over. It is simply never seen, and the market does not hold a seat open for the company that didn’t show. It gives the seat to one that did. Which brings me to the week of June 22 in San Diego. That is a week the market gathers. The city fills with meetings, events, and venues all competing for the same hours, and RESI, on June 22, is built for exactly the thing I have been describing, a room assembled out of investors, licensing teams, and business development people who came specifically to find companies like yours.

Some of you reading this are already going to be there. You have a reason to be in San Diego that week, and you still have not decided to be in this particular room. Sit with that for a second. You will be in the same city, on the same days, with the market gathered a few miles away, and you are on the fence about walking in. There is a word for standing that close to the water, dressed to swim, watching the set roll past. The word is not caution. It is hesitation, and from the outside the market cannot tell the difference between a company that hesitated and a company that was never there.

The line we started with is not crossed by deciding you are ready. It is crossed in the open, by being where the market is while the market is there. If you believe you are ready, the week of June 22 is where that belief becomes visible or doesn’t. Register for RESI San Diego, June 22.

Don’t underestimate the importance of the line.

Investors Presenting at RESI San Diego

June 2, 2026June 2, 2026 ~ Next Phase Admin ~ Leave a comment

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

The Life Science Nation (LSN) team is gearing up for the highly anticipated RESI San Diego conference, bringing together investors, strategic partners, and early-stage life science innovators for a full day of insightful discussions and high-value networking during Convention Week.

This year’s panel lineup will explore some of the most important trends shaping early-stage healthcare investment and partnering, spanning pharma, medtech, diagnostics, oncology, AI, and venture financing. Attendees can expect perspectives from venture capital firms, corporate venture groups, pharmaceutical companies, strategics, and experienced healthcare investors actively evaluating emerging opportunities across the life science landscape.

As a global partnering conference focused on connecting early-stage companies with investors and strategic partners, RESI San Diego is designed to foster meaningful conversations between fundraising CEOs and active dealmakers. The panels will provide tactical insight into how investors assess opportunities, what strategic partners are looking for, and how companies can position themselves in today’s increasingly competitive fundraising environment.

Join the panelists below at RESI San Diego:

Friedemann Janus Bayer	Shiv Krishnan Daiichi Sankyo Co., Ltd.	Eva Dahlén Novo Nordisk
Yaron Daniely aMoon Fund	Claudia Generaux Bristol Myers Squibb	Lana Ghanem Hikma Ventures
Mankit Law GlaxoSmithKline (GSK)	Debbie Lin T.Rx Capital	Priya Balachandran Life Science Angels
Andrew Strong Cancer Focus Fund	Randy Berholtz Mesa Verde Venture Partners	Gunes Bozkurt Beiersdorf
Damian Carvajal Ibanez Debiopharm	Nicolas Cindric Yahara Ventures	Han Dai Viva BioInnovator
Luca Giani Alumni Ventures	Sam Gussman-Toh ARPA-H	Ole Henrik Bang Andreasen Avant Bio
Rohit Jain HBS Alumni Angels of Northern California	Ray Jordan Elmstead Holdings	Mohsin Khan Fortress Biotech
Cheryl Kuai Sixty Degree Capital	Don Lin Guoqian Venture Capital Investment	Andrew Merken Polsinelli PC
Ralph Morales III Aquillius Ventures	Nick Mourlas ReefHaven Ventures	Mahesh Narayanan Neuvation Ventures
Stephanie Oestreich Myeloma Investment Fund	Soyoung Park 1004 Venture Partners	Preetha Ram Pier 70 Ventures
Bob Sweeney Global Health Impact Fund	Divya Yerraguntla Life Science Angels	Chris Yoo Xcellerant Ventures