There’s never been a better time to be part of a biotech startup. We’re in the midst of a biological revolution that is opening near limitless possibilities for R&D innovation. We’ll set the stage for the day with Benchling’s outlook for startup companies in the biotechnology industry. You’ll hear what’s changed in the market for startups, how companies are going fast while also building for scale, and the pivotal role that digital solutions are playing in helping companies reach milestones faster.

A group of inspiring founders will share their stories on starting biotech ventures. They’ll offer perspectives on how they built their early teams and advisory boards, made platform and pipeline decisions, and navigated the current financing environment.

Speakers:

Sajith Wickramasekara, Founder & CEO at Benchling
Theodor Pramer, Founder at Biomedrex

Charlie Cotton, Ph.D., Co-founder & CSO at Cambrium

Hear from our panel of renowned venture capitalists as they share the top things they look for when backing early-stage biotech startups. Learn what they value in CEOs and founding teams, how they size up your market opportunities, and what they’ll look for in your R&D.

Speakers: 

Pawan Patel, Leader, Emerging Sales (EMEA) at Benchling

Robert Schier, Ph.D., Investment Director PE/VC at Swisscanto Private Equity

Thilo Schroeder, Ph.D., Managing Partner at Nextech invest

Setting the right digital foundation can help young companies move faster, ensure that their innovation will scale, and help secure funding. In this session, you’ll hear from experts about the importance of digitization to build a scalable, effective R&D organisation poised for high growth and investment.

Speakers: 
Meritxell Orpinell, Ph.D., Team Lead Professional Services at Benchling
Eliot Randle, Ph.D., Managing Partner & Co-founder at Digital Lab Consulting

Eszter Toth, Ph.D., Group Leader, Genomics at Etcembly
Paul Denny-Gouldson, Principal Consultant at Zifo RnD Solutions

Early-stage biotechs must make a range of initial decisions that impact their R&D strategy, corporate development, and team culture for years to come. In our final panel, you’ll hear from experts within the biotech ecosystem that have navigated these decisions and can share practical steps to take in your first year of development. 

Speakers: 

Youjin Teo, Ph.D., Customer Success Manager at Benchling
Frank Kensy, Ph.D.,  Co-founder & Managing Director at b.Fab

Sheena Smith, Ph.D., Director/Head of Program Management at Vector BioPharma

See the Benchling R&D Cloud

Speaker: 
Abla Benabderrazik, Scientific Solutions Consultant at Benchling

Will Mallonee, Account Executive at Benchling