For many healthcare and life science entrepreneurs, the hardest capital to secure is the very first institutional check. “First check” venture funds specialize in identifying promising teams and ideas before they are fully validated, taking on the highest risk to catalyze innovation.

This panel will bring together early-stage VCs who focus on pre-seed and seed investing. Panelists will share how they evaluate founders, what milestones matter most at this stage, and how they support portfolio companies in reaching the next round of financing. Learn what it takes to convince a first-check investor to bet on your vision.

Strategic investors from leading medtech companies play a critical role in advancing healthcare technologies. Beyond capital, they provide market knowledge, distribution networks, regulatory expertise, and the potential for acquisition. For startups, securing strategic alignment with medtech leaders can be transformational.

In this 50-minute panel, executives and investment leaders from medtech strategics will discuss how they evaluate emerging technologies, when they choose to partner or acquire, and what innovators should know about aligning with corporate priorities. Gain insights into how strategic capital differs from venture investment and how it can accelerate commercialization.

Family offices bring flexibility, long-term thinking, and mission-driven investment strategies to healthcare innovation. Often investing outside traditional venture models, they can provide patient capital and unique networks of support for early- and growth-stage companies.

This panel will feature family office investors sharing how they evaluate healthcare opportunities, their motivations for investing in the sector, and how they work with entrepreneurs. Discussion will include portfolio diversification, alignment with family values, and co-investment opportunities. Hear how family offices are shaping the healthcare landscape with a distinctive investment style.

Cell and gene therapies represent one of the most transformative areas of modern medicine, offering the potential to cure diseases once thought untreatable. Yet challenges remain around manufacturing, regulation, reimbursement, and scaling therapies to broader patient populations.

This panel convenes investors and strategics at the forefront of the cell and gene therapy revolution. Panelists will share what excites them in this space, how they assess technical and commercial risk, and the types of partnerships that can accelerate progress. Explore where capital is flowing in this rapidly advancing frontier.

For early-stage life science and healthcare companies, deciding when to exit stealth mode is a pivotal milestone. Revealing too early may attract attention before a company is ready, while waiting too long risks missing key opportunities with investors, partners, or talent.

This 50-minute panel brings together investors, founders, and strategics to discuss best practices for timing a stealth exit. Panelists will explore how to align communications strategy with fundraising and product development, what signals investors look for, and how to build momentum at the right moment. Learn how to position your company for maximum impact when stepping into the spotlight.

With populations aging worldwide, there is growing demand for innovations that extend healthy lifespans, improve quality of life, and reduce the burden of age-related disease. From therapeutics to digital health platforms, the longevity sector is attracting increasing investor attention.

This panel features investors and experts focused on aging and longevity. Panelists will discuss emerging science, market opportunities, and the business models that can deliver sustainable value. Hear how capital is being deployed to support innovations that address one of the most pressing healthcare challenges of our time.

Global pharmaceutical companies remain central to advancing life science innovation, leveraging their resources, pipelines, and commercialization expertise to bring therapies to market. For startups, partnering with big pharma can validate science, open doors, and accelerate growth.
This panel will feature pharma executives and corporate investors discussing what they look for in early-stage collaborations, how they structure deals, and where they see unmet needs. Gain insider perspectives on how pharma approaches innovation and what it takes to build productive partnerships.

Women’s health has historically been underfunded, despite representing half the population and vast unmet medical needs. Today, investors are increasingly recognizing opportunities in areas such as reproductive health, maternal care, menopause, oncology, and chronic disease prevention.
This 50-minute panel brings together investors and entrepreneurs advancing innovation in women’s health. Panelists will explore how they evaluate opportunities, what progress has been made in closing the investment gap, and where the next wave of breakthroughs is emerging. Learn how capital is being deployed to transform outcomes for women worldwide.

Artificial intelligence is revolutionizing healthcare by enabling more efficient drug discovery, accelerating clinical trials, and improving patient care. From predictive modeling to molecular design, AI-driven platforms are reshaping how new therapies are developed and delivered.
This panel will bring together investors and thought leaders at the intersection of AI, healthcare, and drug discovery. Panelists will discuss promising use cases, challenges around data quality and regulation, and what differentiates sustainable AI-enabled companies. Hear how AI is transforming both the lab bench and the patient journey.

Orphan and rare diseases affect millions worldwide, yet most conditions lack effective treatments. Increasingly, investors are drawn to this sector because of strong regulatory incentives, faster approval pathways, and the potential for transformative patient impact.
This 50-minute panel convenes investors and strategics focused on rare disease innovation. Panelists will share how they evaluate scientific promise, the role of patient advocacy groups, and the unique challenges of commercializing therapies for small populations. Learn why rare diseases are a growing focus for capital deployment.

Corporate venture capital arms provide startups with more than just funding – they bring strategic expertise, industry connections, and potential commercialization pathways. For innovators, corporate VCs can be pivotal partners in navigating complex healthcare markets.
This panel will feature leaders from corporate VC groups sharing what differentiates their approach from traditional venture funds. Panelists will discuss how they balance financial and strategic goals, the types of companies they target, and how they integrate investments into broader corporate priorities.

The convergence of biology and technology is fueling the rise of “techbio” and synthetic biology companies, enabling programmable biology, new materials, and next-generation therapeutics. Investors are increasingly drawn to this interdisciplinary frontier where software meets wet lab.
This panel brings together investors and entrepreneurs pioneering techbio and synthetic biology. Panelists will discuss what excites them in this emerging sector, how they evaluate platforms versus product plays, and where they see the greatest opportunities for long-term value creation.

After several years of volatility, the life sciences investment landscape is beginning to stabilize. Early-stage funding fell sharply from 2021 peaks, but recent quarters show signs of recovery, with total capital invested remaining strong thanks to larger, later-stage rounds. In 2024, U.S. life sciences VC funding climbed 16% year-over-year to reach $30.5 billion, while global investment surged to $48.4 billion – driven by biopharma, AI-enabled drug discovery, and precision medicine.
In this panel, investors will share their perspectives on where the market is heading in 2026. Panelists will discuss which sectors are gaining momentum, how they are navigating selective early-stage funding, and what entrepreneurs should expect when raising capital in the year ahead.