The future of biotech is
PHD-led scientist-led founder-led.
A free virtual summit convening biotech founders, PhDs, scientists, investors and leaders.
Registration now
open!
A new breed of biotech company is rapidly emerging:
the founder-led biotech.
We believe the best biotech companies of the future will be led by founders. Companies like Ginkgo Bioworks, Asimov, PathAI, and many more are blazing the trail for the next generation.
The Founder-Led Biotech Summit is a free virtual event that brings together leaders from around the globe to drive this movement.
Keynote speaker
Reshma Shetty
Reshma Shetty, Co-Founder of Ginkgo Bioworks, will present a keynote speech, sharing her story from co-founding the company to taking it public through a SPAC in 2021.
Additional speakers & hosts include
Alice Zhang
Co-Founder and CEO, Verge Genomics
Bernat Olle
CEO and Co-founder, Vedanta Biosciences
Celine Halioua
Founder and CEO, Loyal
Surge Biswas
Co-founder & CEO, Nabla Bio
Mark Smith
CEO, Finch Therapeutics
Nabiha Saklayen
Co-founder & CEO, Cellino
Sean McClain
Founder & CEO, Absci
Jen Nwankwo
Founder & CEO, 1910 Genetics
More Speakers & Hosts
Coming soon
11/1
Summit Kickoff
Reshma Shetty, Co-Founder of Ginkgo Bioworks, will present a keynote speech, sharing her story from co-founding the company to taking it public through a SPAC in 2021.
Co-founder
Ginkgo Bioworks
Speed Chats
Meet relevant people through our structured 5-minute speed chats.
11/2
Scientific Communication for Founders With Liz Neeley
Learn how to create a science story that motivates your team and captivates funders for your startup. 9 – 9:30 AM ET session open to all. 9:30 – 11:00 AM ET limited space workshop. Apply to attend.
Funding Strategies for Startups
11/3
Women's Leadership Breakfast
Meet women and other underrepresented genders building in biotech. Limited space. Apply to attend.
tactics for building in bio
Interested in building? This talk is designed to help first-time founders understand how to go from idea to action.
11/4
$200k Pitch Competition Award Ceremony
$200K in non-dilutive grant prizes to to fuel founder-led bio startups. Live voting for audience choice awards.
The Future of Cell and Gene Therapies Panel
Expanding the reach of gene and cell therapy technology.
11/5
Synthetic Biology and Sustainability
Meet leading founders who are solving the worlds biggest problems in biology and sustainability.
Virtual lab tours
Attend virtual tours of some of our favorite lab spaces suitable for biotech startups.
$200k
Pillar VC Pitch Competition
All prizes are grants (dilution-free). Winners will receive coaching and mentorship from experienced biotech founders.
$100k
First
Place
First prize will be awarded to the most compelling team working on breakthrough science with the potential for significant impact.
$25k
Second
Place
Two second place prizes will be awarded to promising teams as they emerge into the biotech ecosystem.
$15k
Third
place
Two third place prizes will be awarded to two teams that are onto something exciting at the intersection of bio and tech.
$5k
Audience
Choice
Four audience choice awards will be chosen by you during the live event.
Notable dates:
Oct. 1st — Initial entries due by 11:59 pm ET
Oct. 15th — Finalists notified
Nov. 4th — Top three awardees share their ideas alongside field leaders;
live audience choice voting closes and winners are announced
Founders to Watch Awards
The Founders to Watch Award honors emerging CEOs who are tackling complex challenges at the intersection of biology and technology.
Recipients are founders you’ll want to follow over the next few years — they’re disruptors with an eye on impact.
Each recipient will receive 1:1 coaching and mentorship from experienced biotech founders, as well as the opportunity to host a flash talk during Founder-Led Bio Week. From human health to sustainability, we invite you to apply or to nominate a founder who is transforming biotech by October 1, 2021.
