Focus on Innovation Event

The Focus on Innovation Event showcases some of the most prolific and innovative health care companies up and down the east coast. The event aspires to bring together 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 begins with short presentations from some of the region's most promising companies as recommended by our Advisory Board of leading venture capitalists. Following the presentations and new to this year, we are featuring a company showcase of several early stage companies to allow in-depth discussions with Founders / CEOs and foster networking opportunities. The third session is a panel of leading VC investors discussing the future of early stage health care investing. We conclude the day with an opportunity to meet and network with all participating companies in a cocktail reception. Executive summaries of all participating companies will be available at the conference. If you have any questions regarding the Focus on Innovation event, please contact Edward Chan at edchan@wharton.upenn.edu.

2010 FOI Schedule

Session I: Company Presentations

Session II: Company Showcase

Session III: Venture Panel:
Life Science Venture Capital Investment Strategies in a Time of Reform

Session I: Company Presentations

Featured Companies

Ascent Therapeutics
Genocea Biosciences
Semprae Laboratories, Inc.
T2 Biosystems
Viamet Pharmaceuticals

Session III: Venture Panel:

Life Science Venture Capital Investment Strategies in a Time of Reform

As our economy recovers from a near collapse, the health care VC industry continues to undergo a dramatic paradigm shift. Exits through the public markets remain closed for all intents and purposes, and depressed M&A valuations persist while the cost of achieving these exits steadily rise. Concurrently, cost containment and improved health care delivery have risen to the forefront of the nation’s mind as the Obama administration’s health reform proposals loom. These trends are driving life science venture capitalists to consider new investment strategies.

This panel, featuring top health care investors, will focus on:

Which sectors and types of companies currently have investors’ attention and are receiving funding today?
Given the valuation squeeze on investors, are VCs turning to alternative business models to adjust to the new environment?
The genomics revolution was a major catalyst for life science VC. What is the next big thing that could pull health care venture capital out of the doldrums?
From a deal-making perspective, what does a looming industry restructuring mean for life science venture capital?