Navigating early-stage financing can be complex for both founders and investors. This session breaks down the key elements of early-stage term sheets, including SAFEs, convertible notes, Series Seed, and Series A rounds. 

Japanese VCs and CVCs have quietly become significant players in global early-stage life sciences, and their appetite for cross-border investment continues to grow. Yet for many Western founders and investors alike, their mandates remain opaque.

In this session, leading Japanese VCs and CVCs speak candidly about what they fund, what they pass on, and how they think about long-term partnerships. This is essential listening for founders seeking capital, Western investors exploring syndication or co-investment, and institutions eyeing Japan’s evolving venture ecosystem.

INNOPOLIS Jeonbuk will host the Jeonbuk Advanced Bio Boost-Up Innovation Showcase at RESI San Diego on Monday, June 22, 10:00am – 12:00pm, featuring innovative life science companies from South Korea. The showcase aims to highlight emerging Korean biotech and healthcare technologies while connecting participating companies with global investors, strategic partners, and commercialization opportunities.

Participating companies include:
WittGen Biotechnologies – developer of a GenAI-based single-cell multi-omics simulation platform focused on oncology, immunology, and rare diseases.
Cellebrain – advancing MSC-based gene delivery technologies for oncology, fibrosis, and rare disease applications.
Youth Bio Global – developing allogeneic ECFC-based regenerative cell therapy platforms targeting vascular regeneration and ischemic diseases.
Erudio Bio Korea – developer of semiconductor-based multiplex diagnostic and AI molecular analysis technologies for preventive screening and oncology applications.
BASGENBIO Co., Ltd. – an AI-driven drug discovery company focused on target discovery and preclinical decision-support technologies.
VIEL-T Co., Ltd. – developing programmable RNA therapeutics platforms for next-generation precision medicine applications.

What if you could move from target to candidate in a single click?

In this workshop, discover how Biocytogen’s RenSuper Workstation seamlessly integrates large-scale in vivo RenMice immunization, NGS, AI-powered high-throughput screening, and experimental validation to deliver high-quality, development-ready antibody sequences.

Learn how this platform unlocks access to a rich library of experimentally validated, fully human antibodies—complete with data packages to support faster, more confident decision-making. Explore how it enables rapid candidate identification, flexible antibody design, and data-driven workflows, reducing early discovery risk and compressing timelines from years to months.

VCs invest in groundbreaking science, but long-term success demands a foundational business platform. This session walks early-stage life sciences leaders and investors through the most common back-office pitfalls and lays out a practical “minimum viable back office” framework that protects downside risk without slowing the science. We’ll connect operational discipline to VC diligence, board confidence, and long-term value creation, and share how a right-sized, integrated platform helps founders keep burn directed toward R&D.

Strong science alone is rarely enough to attract investor attention. Early-stage companies must also communicate clear investment signal that investors and strategic partners can quickly evaluate and understand.

This workshop will introduce the Science to Signal operating system, including the curriculum, and framework designed to help startups better communicate investability and align development strategy with how capital providers assess risk and opportunity.

The session will also explore how Science to Signal is being implemented through enterprise licensing models for tech hubs, incubators, and regional development organizations seeking to strengthen startup readiness and improve capital formation outcomes.

The NIH Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) programs are officially reauthorized and actively supporting the next generation of biomedical and health innovations. This session will provide attendees with the latest updates on the NIH SBIR/STTR landscape, including upcoming funding opportunities, recent policy changes, and what applicants need to know to successfully engage with the program. Participants will gain insight into NIH priorities, new and continuing initiatives, application timelines, and program requirements following reauthorization. The session will also highlight resources available to entrepreneurs, startups, academic collaborators, and small businesses seeking non-dilutive funding to advance innovative technologies and commercialize health-related solutions. Whether you are new to NIH SBIR/STTR or preparing your next submission, this session will help you navigate the current funding ecosystem and position your organization for success.

Dr. Emily Caporello is the Director of the Small Business Program at the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS). Dr. Caporello joined NINDS in 2019, leveraging her background in translational neuroscience and entrepreneurship. Prior to joining NINDS, Dr. Caporello was the Vice President of Research and co-founder of MindX Corporation, a small business focused on brain computer interface technology, where she led research collaborations with academic labs and oversaw investigational approval of a novel neural interface device. Dr. Caporello previously worked as a Senior Neuroscientist supporting neurotechnology development within the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA), and co-founded CleverPet, a startup company focused on automated behavioral training technology. Dr. Caporello received her Ph.D. in Neuroscience from the University of California San Diego, where her research focused on neural mechanisms of auditory processing and selective attention.

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.

The industry has quickly adapted to a “new normal” – entrepreneurs and investors meet virtually over digital platforms to discuss potential investment opportunities, and it is not uncommon to see entrepreneurs raise capital from investors they have never met before in person. That said, there is no doubt that the fundraising journey continues to be challenging for many. In this panel, you will be able to hear fellow entrepreneurs share their experiences, from successes to challenges.

This panel will discuss the following topics and more:

• What are some of the greatest challenges entrepreneurs have faced, especially during the pandemic, and how were they
  overcome?
• How did entrepreneurs identify investors that fit their technology?
• What are some misconceptions entrepreneurs had about the early-stage investment landscape?

Furthermore, entrepreneurs will share unique tips and insights they have gained from their fundraising experiences, and how others can work their way towards a more successful campaign.

Rick Berenson, Managing Director of Venzyme Catalyst, introduces a revolutionary way to evaluate early-stage biotech and medtech ventures. Too often, investors rely on “gut” decisions about risk and valuation, while entrepreneurs struggle to communicate their company’s true merit—leading to optimistic expectations and missed opportunities. This workshop unveils a powerful framework for improving returns by mapping and managing the entire risk stack, offering investors a clearer, more systematic approach to evaluating strengths, weaknesses, and drivers of success. Whether you are seeking to sharpen your own decision-making or help your team align more effectively, this session will provide insights that immediately change how you view early-stage opportunities. Join us to discover why this breakthrough model is reshaping the rules of life science investing.

A panel of entrepreneurs and advisors will provide practical advice and tactics for finding suitable investors and avoiding mistakes with long term consequences. Panelists will share real-world lessons on evaluating investor fit, structuring early deals, and navigating the legal pitfalls of early-stage fundraising.