Navigating uncertainty, unlocking capital, and funding growth in life sciences

The life sciences sector is operating in one of the most complex capital environments in decades. While scientific innovation continues to advance at pace, access to funding has become more selective, investment timelines have lengthened, and scrutiny across pipelines, platforms, and leadership teams has intensified. Companies are now expected to demonstrate capital efficiency, differentiated science, and a credible path to value creation far earlier in their lifecycle than in previous cycles.

At the same time, capital has not disappeared. Instead, it has become more strategic, more global, and more targeted. Investors are deploying capital with greater discipline, focusing on risk-adjusted returns, partnership-driven growth, and clearly articulated routes to liquidity. Navigating this environment requires a nuanced understanding of how funding decisions are being made today and how companies can position themselves to attract the right capital at the right time.

The Capital Markets & Investment Strategies pillar at LSX World Congress is designed to give founders, executives, and investors that clarity. Bringing together venture capital firms, growth investors, public market specialists, corporate venture teams, and financial advisors, this pillar explores how capital is being deployed across private and public markets and how life science companies can adapt their funding strategies to succeed in a more disciplined investment climate.

What the agenda covers?

Across the agenda, the focus is firmly on practical, real-world decision-making. Sessions explore how early- and growth-stage companies are building resilient funding roadmaps, how investor expectations have shifted, and how leadership teams can align scientific, clinical, and commercial milestones with capital availability. The programme also addresses the evolving relationship between private and public markets, examining IPO readiness, crossover financing, and alternative routes to liquidity at a time when traditional exits have become more challenging.

A strong global lens runs throughout the agenda, reflecting the increasingly international nature of capital deployment. Discussions examine cross-border deal flow, regional investment dynamics, and how companies can access capital and strategic partnerships beyond their domestic markets. Corporate venture and strategic capital also feature prominently, with insights into how large life science and healthcare companies are deploying capital, forming partnerships, and using investment as a tool for long-term innovation.

For founders and leadership teams, the agenda provides a deeper understanding of how investors assess risk, value, and long-term potential. For investors, it offers visibility into how management teams are adapting to capital constraints, where compelling opportunities are emerging, and how capital structures and partnerships are evolving across the sector.

Key sessions you can't miss:

• Private vs Public Financing: Where is the Capital Flowing? delves into the realities of today’s markets, unpacking why private capital has become increasingly dominant, what this means for company strategy, and how leadership teams should think about timing, valuation, and optionality.
• Inside the Investor Mind: How Biotech VCs Are Making Decisions Today, leading investors share candid perspectives on how diligence processes have changed, which metrics truly matter in the current climate, and what differentiates companies that successfully raise from those that struggle. This session provides invaluable insight for founders looking to refine their equity story and align with investor expectations.

Together, these sessions equip attendees with the insight needed to make smarter, more strategic capital decisions. Whether raising, deploying, or managing investment in life sciences, the Capital Markets & Investment Strategies pillar provides a clear, practical understanding of how to operate in today’s evolving funding landscape.