Focus on Innovation Event

The Focus on Innovation Event aims to showcase the Philadelphia/Mid-Atlantic region as one of the most prolific areas of health care innovation in the country. The Event aspires to bring together regional startups, venture capitalists, and industry professionals in a dynamic forum. In doing this, we hope to accelerate value creation by promoting strong partnerships between these parties. The Wharton Health Care Business Conference and Focus on Innovation Event provide an ideal context in which to forge these valuable connections.

The event will be comprised of a series of short presentations from some of the region's most promising companies as selected by our Advisory Board of leading local venture capitalists. Following this, there will be a panel discussion on the future of early stage healthcare investment. Following, there will be an opportunity to meet and network with all participating companies in a cocktail reception and exhibit hall. Executive summaries of all participating companies will additionally be available at the conference. If you have any questions regarding the Focus on Innovation event, please contact Sujit Dike at sujitd@wharton.upenn.edu.

Focus On Innovation Advisory Board

2009 FOI Schedule

Session I

Arginetix, Inc.
Fluidnet
Liquidia Technologies
Neuronascent
Replication Medical

Session II

Argolyn Bioscience
Cadit
PhaseBio Pharmaceuticals
Regado Biosciences
Semprus Biosciences
Soft Tissue Regeneration

Session III - Venture Panel: New Paradigms for Venture Financing: The Future of Early-Stage Healthcare Investment

The healthcare VC industry is undergoing a dramatic paradigm shift. Traditional IPO exits are essentially closed off. Investment interest is shifting to consumer-health and away from pharmaceutical discovery. The rankings of the most active VC firms have experienced significant turnover and industry leaders are redefining their role from reliable strategic acquirers to early-stage funding and operational partners.

These trends are rewriting the rules for valuations, term sheets, and fundamental company growth / funding strategy. This panel, featuring top healthcare investors and entrepreneurs, will focus on:

• What products, services, and technology sectors are investors most excited about now?
• What do investors want to see regarding company growth and exit strategy?
• Which investors are best positioned to support my company in this current environment?
• How should I approach valuation, syndication, and other funding strategy discussions?
• What changes can I expect to see in term sheets?

Panel Speakers:

• Robert Connelly, CEO, Pulmatrix, Moderator
• Ryan Drant, GP, New Enterprise Associates
• Dr. Lauren Silverman, Managing Director, Novartis Options Fund
• Dr. Amir Nashat, Partner, Polaris Ventures
• Dr. Ivor Royston, Managing Partner, Forward Ventures
• Dr. Ronald W. Lennox, Partner, CHL Medical Partners

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