Day TwoWednesday, March 10, 2027 - Eastern Daylight Time (EDT)

Public markets are selective but not shut. This panel demystifies what it takes to list and trade well in today’s environment, the profile of viable IPO candidates, and how private companies should prepare for the next upcycle in 2026–2027.

• Benchmarks that separate IPO-ready stories from those better suited to remain private
• Crafting the pre-IPO journey: crossover rounds, research coverage, and liquidity planning
• Post-listing performance drivers: catalyst cadence, investor relations, and insider discipline

China represents one of the world's largest and fastest-growing life sciences markets, yet successfully entering and partnering in this complex landscape requires careful timing, the right local collaborators, and deal structures built for today's regulatory and geopolitical realities. This panel convenes seasoned practitioners who have closed cross-border deals to share practical insights on identifying the right opportunities, structuring partnerships that work, and navigating the regulatory and commercial challenges that define U.S.–China life sciences collaboration.

• Deal-making in the current environment: how U.S.–China licensing, investment, and partnership models are evolving
• Regulatory and clinical strategy: managing dual-market development between the U.S. and China
• Strategic market entry: Assessing whether China is the right market for your asset or technology and at what stage, building effective local partnerships and commercial infrastructure that can deliver sustainable results

The path from founding to exit is evolving fast. This candid conversation brings together a founder, VC, and strategic to reveal where the real value inflection points lie today, how far startups need to go to attract serious interest, and what smart founders are doing differently to bridge the gap and win in the current landscape.

• Defining the real gap: where founder vision meets market reality
• The shifting goalposts: how capital expectations and exit dynamics have evolved
• Finding the inflection point: passion, proof, and the path to liquidity

Licensing deals can make or break a biotech's trajectory—but knowing when to license in, license out, or hold tight requires strategic finesse. This panel brings together dealmakers from both sides of the table to share hard-won insights on structuring win-win agreements, navigating complex negotiations, and maximizing value at every stage of development.

• Timing is everything: knowing when to license out, when to partner, and when to go it alone
• Deal structure decoded: beyond the headline number to terms that truly matter
• Building relationships that last: turning one-time transactions into strategic partnerships

Artificial intelligence is no longer a future bet—it's a present-day investment imperative reshaping capital allocation, portfolio strategy, and market dynamics. This forward-looking panel examines how investors are navigating the AI landscape, from early-stage ventures to public market plays, and what separates winning investments from hype. As AI transforms industries and creates entirely new markets, how do investors identify sustainable value, price emerging risks, and build conviction in a rapidly evolving sector?

• Where is the real value creation happening in the AI stack, and should investors focus on foundational infrastructure or the application layer where risk-return profiles fundamentally differ?
• How are investors adapting traditional valuation frameworks to handle AI's exponential potential, and what metrics truly separate genuine AI-native businesses from AI-washed incumbents?
• How are sophisticated investors building diversified AI exposure while balancing conviction bets against unique risks like regulatory uncertainty, model obsolescence, and talent wars in a sector moving at unprecedented speed?

As we move through 2027, the life sciences landscape continues to evolve at breakneck speed. This forward-looking keynote panel brings together industry visionaries to share their predictions for the remainder of the year and beyond—exploring emerging opportunities, anticipated market shifts, and the strategic moves that will define success in the next chapter of innovation across biotech, medtech, diagnostics, and digital health.

• The year ahead: bold predictions for deals, funding, and scientific breakthroughs shaping the second half of 2027
• The shifting global landscape: where innovation and capital are converging
• Preparing for what's next: the skills, strategies, and mindset shifts leaders need to thrive