Securing funding is one of the most critical, and often challenging, aspects of building a life science startup. While equity investment can play an important role in growth, non-dilutive funding opportunities and government resources can provide valuable support without requiring founders to give up ownership. This session explores the landscape of non-dilutive funding available to life science ventures, including federal grant programs, research funding opportunities, and other public-sector resources designed to accelerate innovation.
Speakers include Adam Sorkin, PE (NIH SEED); Stephanie Davis, PhD, Small Business Program Coordinator at the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI); Swamy Tripuranihe, PhD, SBIR Program Director at the National Cancer Institute (NCI); Rajesh Kumar, PhD, Program Officer of the National Institute on Aging (NIA); and Jim Stefansic, PhD, who is a commercialization and SBIR grant writing consultant.
Our speakers share insights into funding priorities, application strategies, and resources available to emerging companies. The discussion covers how programs such as SBIR can support product development, commercialization, and company growth, along with strategies for identifying and pursuing the opportunities best aligned with a company’s stage and goals. Viewers will also learn about additional government resources that can help startups navigate commercialization.