Entrepreneurial Life Sciences Fireside Chats

Introducing Richi Entrepreneurs Boston Talks: an inspiring series of free fireside chats for life sciences entrepreneurs featuring VC Partners and leading experts from the world's largest life science ecosystem. Gain Insights on starting, funding, and scaling your startup. Experience a glimpse of Richi Entrepreneurs' sessions and speakers. Join us for captivating conversations hosted by the knowledgeable Samuel M. Shafner.

Samuel M. Shafner is a veteran VC, deal-making lawyer, and startup expert. For the past twenty years, he has recruited and led venture capital panels at conferences worldwide.

“For six years, I have been privileged to recruit and lead annual venture capital panels for Richi Entrepreneurs. Their famous two-week immersion event has enabled life sciences entrepreneurs from all over the world to encounter the very best resources that Boston has to offer. Don’t miss the series of Boston talks that will dive you into engaging conversations with real stakeholders from the Boston Innovation Ecosystem.”

Key Investment Terms for an Early Stage Healthcare VC Round

Shinichiro Fuse | Partner and Managing Director at TPG Life Sciences Innovation

Jeremy Sohn | Managing Partner at P74 Ventures


Life Sciences Startup Valuation: What to Use it For and How to Do It

Eric Langer | President & Managing Partner at BioPlan Associates, Inc.

Joseph McKneely | Partner at WilliamsMarston LLC


Planning your initial life sciences VC round: What do the VCs want to see?

Scott Rocklage | Founding Partner at 5AM Ventures

Dana Watt | Partner at Breakout Ventures


Corporate strategic investors in Life Sciences: When to Include Them and What Precautions to Take

Michael Baran | Executive Director at Pfizer Ventures

Ren Roome | Partner at Boston Millenia Partners

Meg Wood | Managing Director New York Blood Center Ventures


Pitch Decks for Life Sciences Startups: What Impresses VCs and What Turns Them Off

Jenny Rooke | Manager Director at Genoa Ventures

Neil Exter | Partner at Third Rock Ventures


The Angel Round: How to Attract and Close a Deal with Angels, Seed Capital Funds and Other Pre-VC Capital Sources

Henry Kay | Angel Investor at Boston Harbor Angels

Martha Farmer | Co-Founder & Board at Innoventure Labs

Ben Littauer | Angel Investor at TBD Angels


Alternate Funding Sources, Stretching Budgets, and Other Strategies to Extend Healthcare Startup Capital

David Michael | Managing Partner at Anzu Partners

Tiger Xie | Scientific Consultant at Eva Garland Consulting


Passing the Boards: How to Structure and Manage Boards of Directors and Advisors, and KOL Relationships

Ben Askew, Ph.D. | Partner at Xontogeny


Hits and Misses of Startup Slide Decks: What Impresses Investors, and What Turns Them Off

Hirak Parikh, Ph.D. | Principal Venture Investments at J&J Innovation

Russ Wilcox | Partner at Pillar VC


Raising Non-Dilutive Startup Capital from Government and Family Offices

Dr. Ethel Rubin | Entrepreneur in Residence at NIH SEED

Dr. Ruchi Dana | Partner and Executive Board Member at Dana Group


Passing the Boards: How to Structure and Manage Boards of Directors and Advisors, and KOL Relationships

Paul LaViolette | Managing Partner and COO at SV Health Investors


Hits and Misses of Startup Slide Decks: What Impresses Investors, and What Turns Them Off

Michael Greeley | Co-Founder and General Partner at Flare Capital Partners


Planning your First LS Institutional Capital Raise: How Much is Too Much?

Brian Goodman, Ph.D. | Principal at MPM Capital


Corporate Strategic Investors in LS: When to Include Them, and What Precautions to Take

Dr. Nandita Shangari | Managing Director at RA Capital


Creating a Winning Team to Attract Capital and Scale a Healthcare Startup

Lucio Ianone | Head of Venture Investments Health at Leaps by Bayer

Jessica A. Zeaske | Managing Partner at Echo Health Ventures


Planning your First LS Institutional Capital Raise: How Much is Too Much?

Shinichiro Fuse | Partner and Managing Director at TPG Life Sciences Innovation


Corporate Strategic Investors in LS: When to Include Them, and What Precautions to Take

Dr. Jeffrey Moore | President of MP Healthcare


Being There: How Much Does a Boston Location Matter in a post-COVID World?

Scott Rocklage | Founding Partner at 5AM Ventures


Creating a Winning Team to Attract Capital and Scale a LS Startup

Terry McGuire | Co-founder and Partner of Polaris Partners


Licensing LS Technology from Boston-area Universities – Tips, Traps and Tactics

Lesley Millar - Nicholson | Executive Director Technology Licensing Office, Office of Strategic Alliances & Technology Transfer at MIT