The typical venture firm is flooded with pitches from start-up companies. On average, a firm’s investment ratio is one in over 100 received. The great majority are discarded after a little more than 15-minutes review with only a small handful making it to the stage where time and resources are spent evaluating the investment. This panel will discuss those elements of a pitch, both written and verbal, that keep your business out of the “discard” file. We intend to explore the elements that trigger instant “no’s” and those that create a compelling story that drives investors toward further exploration and evaluation.

What is the key to value creation in oncology therapeutics? How has this changed in the last few years and where is the field going? Do all investors need to have a global mindset? How do you think about exits? What is on the horizon in oncology innovation? Join 4 panelists who, through a capital market lens, help define how oncology innovation will be funded today and in years to come.

MassBio’s President & CEO, Kendalle O’Connell, will moderate a timely conversation with biotech CEOs who have successfully navigated market volatility, clinical inflection points, and strategic shifts. With experience spanning IPOs, acquisitions, partnerships, and advancing novel oncology pipelines, these leaders bring hard-earned insights into guiding companies through uncertainty. Hear how they are approaching growth, risk, resilience, and long-term value creation in today’s rapidly evolving oncology landscape.

Where has the ground shifted in a game-changing way to enable oncology R&D? Join us to discuss recent major scientific and clinical advancements in oncology with our expert panelists.

In today’s rapidly evolving biotech and oncology landscape, strategic collaboration with pharma can be—even more than ever before—a game-changer for innovators aiming to bring transformative therapies to patients. This dynamic panel brings together senior leaders from business development, investment, and R&D to explore how to secure and execute a successful partnership—and what can derail one. We’ll unpack the internal challenges pharma faces, from scientific risk and portfolio prioritization to deal timing and resource allocation, and how these shape their approach to external innovation. Whether you're an academic, entrepreneur, or biotech leader, join us for a candid conversation full of practical advice and insider insights on how to engage, align, and ultimately deliver value and impact for patients through an effective and successful partnership.

Focus: What it takes to translate deep science (like radiotherapeutics or cell/gene therapies) into viable startups and partnerships. Key Question: How can early scientific promise be shaped into a story compelling enough for both investors and pharma?

We’re witnessing a surge of innovation in cancer care—from AI tools that offer real-time insights and instant second opinions to a new generation of targeted therapies that promise more personalized treatment than ever before. But as these breakthroughs accelerate, they also expose critical gaps in how care is delivered and scaled. Targeted therapies, while powerful, are harder to match to the right patient at the right time, often bring specific on-target side effects that require tailored management, and are shifting toward earlier settings and oral delivery, placing more responsibility on patients and caregivers at home. For investors and innovators, this creates a high-stakes opportunity: how do we build the tools, care models, and infrastructure to bridge precision science with real-world implementation? This panel will explore where investment is most needed, how AI and digital health can support scale and access, and what it will take to turn cutting-edge innovation into everyday impact for patients.