This panel discussion explores key financing pathways available to early-stage life science companies, including grants, angel investors, and venture capital. Founders will gain insight into funding trends and opportunities, focused on the current state of the biotechnology / biopharma / medical and health technology business sectors.
Save your spot to learn how life sciences startups are getting funded today and what it could mean for your next step.
MODERATOR:
Jon Weaver
President & CEO, Massachusetts Biomedical Initiatives (MBI)
Jon Weaver is the President and CEO of Massachusetts Biomedical Initiatives (MBI), where he leads efforts to grow Central Massachusetts as a leading hub for life sciences and biomanufacturing. Under his leadership, MBI supports early-stage companies with incubation, mentorship, and access to specialized facilities that help startups progress from concept to clinical milestones. Beyond MBI, Jon is actively engaged across the regional innovation ecosystem, serving on boards including The Venture Forum and the Center for Clinical & Translational Science at UMass Chan Medical School. With a background spanning economic development, real estate, and nonprofit leadership, Jon is passionate about building the infrastructure, partnerships, and pathways that help founders and life sciences companies scale.
PANELISTS:
Margaret “Missy” Fulton
Founder & CEO, Chameleon Strategies, LLC
Margaret “Missy” Fulton is a global employment lawyer and HR leader focused on supporting life sciences startups and their leadership teams. As Founder and CEO of Chameleon Strategies, she works with founders and venture partners to align people strategy with business and scientific goals. Missy’s background includes global employment counsel, assistant attorney general, senior HR and talent leadership roles where she built programs, guided organizational growth, and helped teams navigate complex workplace challenges.
Peter Rock
CFO & Co-Founder, LeviSense Medical | Fractional CFO/COO, Rock Consulting
Peter has 30+ years of financial management and operations experience with a variety of large industrial companies to early stage life science and tech companies. He has lead successful debt and equity financings including an IPO. His experience includes strategy / planning, financial management, risk management, HR and business development. Peter has successfully exited therapeutic, med device, CDMO and equipment opportunities and he is also an active angel investor and board advisor.
Stacy Swider
VP, Investments | MassVentures
Stacy Swider is a venture capital leader focused on early-stage, deep technology startups across Massachusetts. As VP of Investments at MassVentures, the Commonwealth’s strategic venture capital arm, she partners with founders building breakthrough technologies with strong intellectual property and scalable commercial potential, supporting them from concept to commercialization. A former co-founder and SBIR program leader, Stacy has secured and managed millions in federal funding and now works closely with founders to navigate capital strategy, commercialization, and long-term growth.
Location & Parking Info:
Grenon Community Room, 2nd Floor, Massachusetts Biomedical Initiatives (MBI), 17 Briden Street, Worcester, MA 01605
Parking Details:
Parking is available in the MBI lot next to the building. Overflow parking is available in the WPI surface parking lot next to the parking garage on Washburn Way.
IF THIS EVENT IS CLOSED YOU MAY SIGN UP IN PERSON ON THE DAY OF EVENT