“Ask the Expert Series” – Hosted by RIBio

This practical, hands-on series of workshops, starting on April 3rd, are designed for individuals serious about founding, growing or joining startups in the life sciences. Participants will build essential operational skills and create key deliverables to advance their ventures, such as fundraising plans, intellectual property strategies, clinical budgets, market analyses, and team structures.
The course features workshop-style sessions led by experienced practitioners, domain experts and seasoned entrepreneurs, offering guidance and insights into navigating critical tasks required to successfully launch a life sciences venture. Individuals or teams can participate in one or all of these sessions.

The structure and content of these workshops are designed to benefit ventures across all sectors, product types, and target markets within the life sciences, including therapeutics, medical devices, diagnostics, tools, software, platform technologies, consumer products, and more…

Workshop Lead: Satish Tadikonda, Entrepreneur, Investor, and Senior Lecturer, Harvard Business School – Profile

Dates:

• Thursday, April 3 – Market Validation and Meeting Unmet Needs / How to assess the market opportunity, define customer needs, and refine your value proposition to ensure product-market fit.
• Wednesday, May 7 – Intellectual Property Strategy: Protecting Your Innovation / Understanding patents, trade secrets, and licensing strategies critical for life sciences startups.
• Wednesday, June 4 – Regulatory Pathways and Clinical Strategy / Navigating FDA, EMA, and other regulatory requirements, designing clinical trials, and planning for approval.
• Wednesday, July 2 – Building a Strong Business Model and Financial Plan / Key considerations in revenue models, pricing, reimbursement strategies, and financial projections.
• Wednesday, August 6 – Fundraising and Capital Strategy: Grants, Angels, and Venture Capital / How to secure funding, craft a compelling pitch, and engage with different types of investors.
• Wednesday, September 3 – Team Building and Leadership in a Life Sciences Startup / Hiring key talent, structuring equity incentives, and fostering a strong company culture.
• Wednesday, October 1 – Product Development, Manufacturing, and Supply Chain Considerations / Scaling from prototype to production, working with contract manufacturers, and ensuring quality control.
• Wednesday, November 5 – Strategic Partnerships, Licensing, and Corporate Collaborations / When to partner, how to structure deals, and best practices for business development.
• Wednesday, December 3 – Legal and Ethical Considerations in Life Sciences Ventures / Avoiding regulatory pitfalls, understanding compliance, and addressing ethical challenges in biotech innovation.
• Wednesday, January 7, 2026 – Exit Strategies: IPO, Acquisition, and Beyond / Understanding potential exit paths, positioning for M&A or IPO, and maximizing value for stakeholders.