Tag Archives: venture capital

Why Early-Stage Companies Need the Right Partnering Room 

3 Feb

By Tony Jones, CEO, One Nucleus (Special Guest Contributor)

Every January, JPM Week serves as a useful reference point for the global life sciences industry. It brings together capital, companies, and partners at an unmatched scale with so many co-located events. Processing how to spend their time at JPM Week is a great exercise for companies to evaluate their wider investment and dealmaking plans given not all partnering and investment environments are the same.

How to choose the best event for their company is a frequent question we receive at One Nucleus from our network and having spent time with a range of UK and European companies trying to focus their cash and time resources to optimise chances of success. JPM Week is an obvious hub to target in the US, of course, provided the homework and planning is done to try and be in the right place at the right time. Having spent time with UK and European executives at JPM, it is clear that for early-stage teams in particular, the experience they describe reinforces an important lesson. Access to an event or partnering platform alone is insufficient and depends on whether it is designed to support where a company actually is on its journey and what it needs next.

In the absence of a JPM Week, although the nascent London Life Sciences Week is trying to evolve in that direction, early-stage European companies seeking investment have a far less obvious starting point. The larger, bio-partnering events play an important role and are extremely efficient for biopharma companies of all stages in that capacity. Equally, the larger investment events play a somewhat effective role but are perhaps more suited to later-stage companies with established programs, clear clinical development strategies and well-defined buyers. This is not a reflection of scale, attendee mix or necessarily cost which is a relative term, it is a question of fit and whether that is the right place to be at the right time to justify the budget spend.

What early-stage companies can need is a different kind of forum that prioritises readiness, qualification, and stage-appropriate engagement over shots on goal. Taking a hands-on approach to curating the attending companies and investors, can create a better fit and hence increase the chances of success for all concerned. The early-stage dominance of the European sector means Europe needs this part of the conference jigsaw, providing quality connection to both local investors and channels to global investors active in their space and stage. Translating strong science into something global investors and licensing partners requires preparation, clarity around risk, and disciplined positioning, issues many young companies need guidance to work through.

That is why platforms such as RESI Europe matter in the European context. As an ecosystem organisation, One Nucleus sees the additional, not just competing value the LSN platform brings to our members, providing options over how and when to leverage different forums.

Register for RESI Europe

Tags: , , , , , , , , ,

Hear From a RESI JPM 2026 Title Sponsor BioMetas

3 Feb

By Simon Hua, Chairman, BioMetas (Special Guest Contributor)

One of the most valuable perspectives we can share with the RESI community comes directly from the organizations that choose to invest in early stage innovation. At RESI JPM 2026, Title Sponsor BioMetas took part across partnering, project discussions, and collaboration with emerging biotech companies and investors, offering a clear view into how sponsors engage within the RESI ecosystem.

As Life Science Nation looks ahead to upcoming RESI conferences in 2026, sponsorship continues to be an opportunity for organizations to connect early with innovative companies, participate in targeted partnering, and build relationships that extend well beyond the conference itself. To learn more about RESI sponsorship opportunities, please contact us at resi@lifesciencenation.com

Below is BioMetas’ reflection on their experience at RESI JPM 2026, originally published on LinkedIn.

BioMetas Attends RESI JPM 2026, Focusing on Early Innovation and Industry Collaboration

RESI JPM 2026 was held in San Francisco on January 12–13, with additional online one-to-one partnering sessions on January 14 and January 19–20. As a key investment and business-matching platform during J.P. Morgan Healthcare Conference (JPM) week, the conference focuses on early- and growth-stage life science projects, bringing together biotech companies, investors, and industry partners from around the world. As a Title Sponsor, BioMetas participated deeply in the overall conference ecosystem. Leveraging its one-stop CRO platform and innovative incubation and investment model, BioMetas engaged in targeted discussions with international biotech companies and investment institutions around the core needs of early-stage innovation projects, including R&D efficiency, capital structure optimization, and industry resource alignment, exploring diversified pathways for R&D collaboration and industry co-development.

The conference centered on highly targeted one-to-one partnering meetings, complemented by investor roundtables, innovation project pitch and selection sessions, and multiple themed workshops. Topics spanned drug development, medical devices, diagnostics, and digital health, forming a multidimensional engagement framework of “project showcase – capital connection – industry collaboration,” enabling innovative projects to build high-quality connections with potential investors and partners within a short timeframe.

During the conference, BioMetas focused on the practical needs of early-stage projects across critical preclinical stages, including protein and antibody production, in vitro and in vivo efficacy studies, tumor and immunology-related disease model development, and DMPK. BioMetas discussed project advancement strategies in depth with multiple innovative companies. With an integrated technical system covering target validation, molecular and cellular functional studies, animal efficacy testing, and PK/safety evaluation, BioMetas provides scalable, IND-enabling, end-to-end R&D support for innovative projects across different technological approaches.

In parallel, based on its EFS (Equity for Service) collaboration model, BioMetas explored more forward-looking partnership mechanisms with selected projects from seed stage to rapid growth stage. By exchanging part of the services for a small equity stake, combined with necessary cash investment, BioMetas helps early teams initiate R&D quickly while keeping financial pressure manageable, and achieve key milestones that build a stronger technical foundation for subsequent financing, licensing, or M&A. In today’s more rational capital environment, where efficiency and data quality are increasingly emphasized, a collaborative model integrating “services + capital + industry resources” is becoming an important accelerator for early-stage projects.

RESI JPM 2026 was not only a stage for showcasing innovation, but also an efficient collaboration platform connecting technology, capital, and industry resources. Through its precise one-to-one partnering mechanism, the conference significantly improved communication efficiency, enabling companies at different stages to access more targeted collaboration opportunities within limited time.

Through this participation, BioMetas further strengthened its dual role in the global innovation ecosystem: on one hand, providing reliable and scalable R&D support to global clients; on the other hand, actively engaging in early value co-creation and pursuing earlier-stage, deeper collaborations with high-quality projects.

Looking ahead, BioMetas will continue to expand collaboration with global biotech companies, investors, and industry partners through international conferences and industry networks, accelerating the translation and industrialization of innovative research outcomes and therapeutic programs, and contributing stronger technical and collaborative support to the global biopharmaceutical innovation ecosystem.

About RESI
Through its RESI partnering events and global collaboration programs, Life Science Nation connects entrepreneurs with global investors and strategic partners, accelerating financing for early-stage life science companies.

About BioMetas
BioMetas is a globally leading one-stop CRO platform for innovative drug R&D, bringing together top domestic CRO resources and an international, highly experienced technical team. With efficient and innovative expertise, rigorous scientific standards, and a comprehensive quality management system, BioMetas provides compliant, high-quality, and customized end-to-end preclinical R&D solutions. Its services cover the full process from drug discovery to IND for both small-molecule drugs and biologics.

Register for RESI Europe

Tags: , , , , , ,

The Reality of European Global Partnering

27 Jan

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

DF-News-09142022

Every March, early-stage life science teams spend thousands of euros to attend one of Europe’s biggest partnering weeks. They show up expecting investors, deal momentum, and progress. Most leave with something else: lots of vendor and service provider meeting requests, and a shorter cash runway.

For seed, Series A, and early Series B companies, Lisbon is not a winter party celebration. It is a stress test. And the platforms you choose will either compound your progress or quietly drain your capital.

The Cost Reality No One Likes to Say Out Loud

Standard passes and bundled “week in Lisbon” packages routinely run from 3,000 to 5,000 euros per person, before flights and hotels. For late-stage companies, that may be acceptable. For early-stage teams living on grants, founder savings, or a small seed round, it is a major bet.

By contrast, RESI Europe is typically priced in the 1,500-2,500 euro range because it is built specifically for founders, innovators, and regional cohorts raising seed, Series A, and early Series B funding. The goal is not to sell access at any cost. It is to make high-quality global partnering economically accessible at a stage when every euro still must justify itself.

Here is the problem. Many founders pay the higher prices and then discover that a large share of their so-called “investor” meetings are with service providers selling you something. The badge may say partner or advisor, but the economics are reversed. The startup becomes the customer, not the one being backed.

That outcome is not accidental. It is how large conference ecosystems monetize scale.

Lisbon Does Not Create Strategy. It Exposes It.

Big conference weeks amplify whatever strategy you bring. If you arrive without preparation and focus, you get more noise, more meetings you did not need, and a bigger bill. If you arrive with discipline, targeted investors, and a follow-up system, Lisbon can work.

The problem is that most mega-events are optimized for volume, not readiness. More people. More meetings. More urgency. That model works for late-stage transactions. It fails early-stage teams.

Early-stage companies need fewer things done well:

  • Investors and licensing partners who write first checks
  • Fewer vendor-driven meetings
  • A way to turn first conversations into real follow-up and progress

Proof That a Different Model Works

At JPM Week in January, RESI was designed explicitly around early-stage investing. Roughly 800 companies actively seeking capital and licensing deals participated alongside more than 800 qualified investors and licensing partners from around the world.

Participation was not open-ended. Investor categories were defined. Registrations per firm were capped to protect the signal in the room. The result was not fewer meetings. It was better, more compelling meetings.

That same discipline is what matters in Lisbon.

Why the LSN Partnering Backbone Beats Scale

LSN, owner of the RESI conference series, also owns a premier database of capital investors and licensing partners in the life sciences and offers programs for de-risking early-stage assets and for preparing and executing global roadshows, as well as services like BD Assist, which actually sets up the meetings for you. RESI has five global partnering events annually.

A partnering backbone asks different questions. Are you spending time with partners who fit your stage and product? Have you reduced scientific, regulatory, and execution risk before asking for capital? Do you have a system to re-engage after the week ends? When the answer is yes, Lisbon stops being a gamble.

The Real Fight

The real battle for Lisbon is not about who has the biggest crowd or the loudest brand. It is about who is actually built for early-stage innovation and who is pricing and designing their platform around scale.

For founders, investors, and regions focused on seed, Series A, and early Series B, the smart move is to start the week with early-stage as the priority, not the afterthought, and with “investor” meaning capital and licensing partner, not a sales pitch. Plug Lisbon into a backbone that keeps working after the noise fades. That is how early-stage teams win Lisbon. And that is where the fight really is.

If You’re Coming to Lisbon

RESI Europe will take place in Lisbon with an in-person conference followed by virtual partnering, giving early-stage teams both face-to-face and online access to global investors and licensing partners at founder-level pricing. If you want your Lisbon week to start in a room built for early-stage innovation, not a room selling to you, RESI is where that week should begin.

Register for RESI Europe

Tags: , , , , , , , , , , ,

Investor Panels at RESI Europe 2026 

27 Jan

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

Life Science Nation (LSN) is pleased to introduce the investor panel lineup for RESI Europe, bringing together venture capital firms, family offices, corporate investors, and strategic partners actively funding and partnering across the global life science ecosystem. Designed to reflect how capital is being deployed today, these panels examine what investors are prioritizing, how partnership decisions are made, and what founders need to demonstrate to stand out in an increasingly selective market.

From pharma partnering and preclinical investing to digital health, medtech, and cross-border capital flows, the RESI Europe investor program offers a practical look at how decisions are being made across stages and sectors. Each session pairs candid investor perspectives with real-world expectations founders must meet to advance conversations beyond the first meeting.

Monday, March 23 – Investor Panels

9:00 – 9:50 AM | Pharma Partnering: Getting on Pharma’s Radar
As large pharmaceutical companies increasingly rely on external innovation, early-stage partnerships are becoming a core driver of pipeline growth. This session explores how pharma evaluates emerging science, which data packages resonate with business development teams, and how founders can structure partnership discussions that align with long-term strategic priorities.

10:00 – 10:50 AM | Funding New Science: How VCs Evaluate Preclinical Programs
With capital efficiency under intense scrutiny, therapeutic investors are rethinking how they assess risk and differentiation at the preclinical stage. Panelists will share how they evaluate programs ahead of clinical data, the milestones that matter most, and what founders must show to compete in today’s Series A environment.

11:00 – 11:50 AM | Family Offices: The Rise of the Venture Builder
Family offices have evolved into active healthcare investors, launching dedicated funds and building internal operating expertise. This discussion examines how these groups source deals, lead early-stage rounds, and make investment decisions differently from traditional institutional venture firms.

1:00 – 1:50 PM | Building Investable Medtech: Devices, Diagnostics, and De-risking
Investors in medtech are focused on solutions that combine technical innovation with clear clinical and regulatory pathways. This panel breaks down current investor interest across devices and diagnostics, highlighting the milestones that signal scalability and commercial readiness.

2:00 – 2:50 PM | Digital Health: Moving from Hype to Sustainable Value
As the digital health sector matures, investors are prioritizing solutions with measurable clinical and economic outcomes. Panelists will discuss where capital is being deployed, including AI-driven diagnostics and data platforms, and how companies can demonstrate long-term viability in real-world settings.

3:00 – 3:50 PM | Capital Without Borders: The European Life Science Landscape
Europe’s research ecosystem continues to produce world-class innovation, while investment dynamics increasingly span borders. This session explores how European life science companies can attract international capital, navigate regional differences, and compete on a global stage.

4:00 – 4:50 PM | Backing the First Believers: Deciding to Write the First Check
Pre-seed and formation-stage investors often commit capital before significant data exists, backing teams, vision, and early signals of execution. This panel examines how first-check investors assess founders, build conviction, and help shape companies into institutional-grade opportunities.

These investor panels are designed to foster meaningful dialogue between capital providers and innovators, creating informed conversations that continue beyond the stage and into partnering meetings.

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 for RESI Europe is now open.
Register with Super Early Bird rates and save €300. Super Early Bird pricing expires Friday, January 30.

Register for RESI Europe

Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , ,

RESI JPM 2026 By the Numbers

27 Jan

By Karen Deyo, VP of Product, Israel BD, LSN

karen-wp

All event organizers love to claim that their latest event was their best yet—but do the numbers back it up? For the most recent RESI, held during JP Morgan Healthcare Week in San Francisco, the answer is a resounding yes. 

This year’s event saw 850 registered investors, nearly a 20% increase from the previous year. Overall attendance climbed to 1,600 participants, up by almost 250 attendees year over year. International engagement remained strong, with participants from more than 30 countries across six continents. 

Most notably, there was a significant rise in in-person meetings. The percentage of meetings held in person increased from 58% to 70%, resulting in 1,600 in-person meetings scheduled through the platform. Beyond scheduled meetings, attendees also benefited from RESI’s second year at the Marriott Marquis, where expanded networking space helped amplify the “collision factor,” leading to countless ad hoc conversations and connections. 

RESI’s partnering platform continues to enable companies to be more targeted in their outreach, allowing them to focus on investors who are most likely to be a strategic fit. This selectivity drives stronger engagement, with over 30% of meeting requests receiving a response. While founders often find non-responses frustrating, even a clear “no” allows them to redirect their efforts toward more promising opportunities. 

At its core, partnering is a numbers game—and consistent participation matters. Attending RESI regularly gives companies the opportunity to get in front of investors up to five times per year, significantly increasing their chances of making meaningful connections. 

The next RESI takes place in Lisbon on March 23. Be sure to register this week before Super Early Bird pricing ends. 

Register for RESI Europe

Tags: , , , , ,

Proseek Bio claims global bronze in San Francisco, strengthening Brisbane’s MedTech credentials 

27 Jan

Brisbane’s world renowned MedTech sector has again been recognised on the global stage, with local company Proseek Bio securing bronze at the Innovator’s Pitch Challenge during J.P. Morgan Healthcare Week in San Francisco. 

Proseek Bio, a participant in Brisbane Economic Development Agency’s MedTech Global Accelerator, competed against more than 90 international health technology companies and was recognised for its groundbreaking work in non-invasive blood tests aimed at earlier and more accurate detection of ovarian cancer, an area of significant unmet global health need. 

This year’s achievement continues Brisbane’s strong run of podium success at one of the world’s most influential healthcare investor forums, highlighting the city’s growing capability to develop, commercialise and scale life-changing medical technologies. 

Brisbane’s Innovator’s Pitch Challenge podium finishes include: 

  • 2023 Gold: Field Orthopaedics; Bronze: Max Kelsen 
  • 2024 Silver: Convergence Medical; Bronze: Gelomics 
  • 2025 Gold: Kimaritec 
  • 2026 Bronze: Proseek Bio 

BEDA’s MedTech Global Accelerator cohort attended the RESI JPM 2026 Investor Forum, in partnership with Life Science Nation, a leading US investor and life sciences networking platform. 

Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner said the result was another strong sign of Brisbane’s rising reputation in health and medical innovation. 

“Brisbane’s MedTech talent continues to make waves on the world stage,” Cr Schinner said. 

“Proseek Bio’s bronze finish shows just how much innovation is coming out of our city and that Brisbane can go toe-to-toe with the best in the world – especially in lifesaving areas like women’s health and cancer detection. 

“We’re proud to support our innovators in building the global connections and partnerships they need to turn great ideas into reality.” 

Proseek Bio Founder and CEO, Professor Michelle Hill said the recognition marked a significant milestone for the company. 

“Winning bronze in this highly competitive challenge is a tremendous achievement for us,” Professor Hill said. 

“It validates the potential of our technology to make a real difference in women’s health and accelerates our ability to attract global partners and investment. 

“Support through BEDA’s MedTech Global Accelerator and its international network has been critical to our journey.” 

Now in its fourth year, the accelerator has helped more than 30 visionary companies secure $246 million in capital and create more than 250 jobs in Brisbane.  

BEDA’s FY26 MedTech Global Accelerator cohort included Aptium AI, BiVACOR, Cool Beans Underwear, Fibrosoft, Ketim Technologies, LORAI Health, Proseek Bio, QBiotics Group Limited, STARCO and Talius. 

For more information about the MedTech Initiative, visit https://choose.brisbane.qld.au/business/key-industries/health/medtech 

Tags: , , , , , , , , ,

Winners Announced at RESI JPM 2026 Innovator’s Pitch Challenge 

21 Jan

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

RESI JPM 2026 brought together more than 90 innovative life science and healthcare companies over two days, creating one of the most competitive and high-impact RESI conferences to date. A centerpiece of the meeting was the Innovator’s Pitch Challenge (IPC), which provided early-stage companies with a powerful platform to present their technologies, engage directly with investors, and gain visibility within the global life sciences ecosystem.

IPC finalists delivered six-minute pitch presentations, followed by a seven-minute interactive Q&A with a panel of experienced investor judges. Beyond the stage, each participating company showcased its technology at a dedicated table in the RESI Exhibition Hall, enabling deeper conversations during partnering meetings and informal discussions throughout the conference.

A defining element of the Innovator’s Pitch Challenge is its attendee-driven voting model. Registered RESI JPM attendees—including startup executives, venture investors, and industry experts—were given RESI cash at check-in and used it to “invest” in the IPC companies they believed demonstrated the strongest potential. Voting decisions reflected not only pitch performance, but also the companies’ responses during Q&A, one-on-one interactions at their exhibition tables, and follow-up meetings held during the conference.

Life Science Nation is proud to announce the top three winners of the RESI JPM 2026 Innovator’s Pitch Challenge:

1st Place 2nd Place 3rd Place
Oncovita VerImmune Proseek-Bio
Oncovita VerImmune Proseek Bio

Participating companies were organized into 24 sector-focused pitch sessions, each featuring four companies and evaluated by expert judging panels. In addition to the top three overall winners, judges recognized standout companies for exceptional science, compelling business models, and strong execution.

Judges’ Picks:

Looking ahead: Applications are now open for Life Science Nation’s next European conference, taking place in Portugal on March 23, 2026. Companies interested in pitching can apply here. 

Apply to Pitch at RESI Europe 2026

Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , ,

← Older Entries