Thursday, March 4, 2027
Creighton University Health Sciences Campus
Phoenix
Ask founders where to find funding, and they’ll list venture capital firms, angel investors, federal grants, pitch competitions, cold emails.
But ask founders who have successfully closed funding rounds, and you’re likely to hear stories about alternative funders. Their experiences offer practical insights that can challenge assumptions, surface opportunities, and sharpen your approach to raising or investing capital in Arizona’s bioscience sector.
Those are the stories we will showcase at the 2027 Flinn Foundation Bio Capital Conference, scheduled for Thursday, March 4, at Creighton University in midtown Phoenix. The conference is the signature event of the Arizona’s Bioscience Roadmap Steering Committee’s Risk Capital Project Team.
We are assembling a lineup of speakers and panels featuring founders and investors who have navigated the fundraising process. Investors will have the opportunity to meet some of Arizona’s most promising biotech companies. Those companies have the chance to build meaningful relationships with investors who understand their industry.
We are also developing sessions on health economics that offer founders and investors fresh perspectives on what it takes to build, fund, and grow a successful bioscience venture.
If you have any questions about the upcoming conference or are interested in becoming a sponsor, contact Mary O’Reilly, Flinn Foundation Vice President, Bioscience Research Programs, at moreilly@flinn.org.
A look back at 2026 …
The 2026 Flinn Foundation Bio Capital Conference took place at the Creighton University Health Sciences Campus at Park Central in Midtown Phoenix on March 5, 2026.
For bioscience founders, investors, ecosystem partners, and service providers, it was a full day of networking and learning.
The Flinn Foundation hosted the event in collaboration with the Risk Capital Project Team of Arizona’s Bioscience Roadmap Steering Committee.
Bioscience conference brings together founders, investors in Phoenix ➤
Conference Materials
Arizona’s Bioscience and Life Science Directory
This directory is a snapshot of the dynamic early-stage companies shaping the future of life sciences, health tech, digital health, and BioAg across our state.
It shows the breadth of innovation and ideas that are energizing our bioscience ecosystem like never before.
The emergence of these innovators is a testament to the talent and dedication of Arizona’s entrepreneurs, researchers, and scientists who are tackling some of the most pressing health challenges of our time.
Their success is fueled by the extraordinary collaboration among Arizona’s cities, universities, government agencies, industry leaders, and community organizations. For the Flinn Foundation, this momentum is inspiring, aligning with the new Arizona’s Bioscience Roadmap and our shared vision for the future.
Craig Cohen, J.P. Morgan
Flinn Foundation Presentation
Photos
2026 Conference Agenda
7:30 – 8:30 a.m.
Registration and breakfast
8:30 – 9:00 a.m.
Welcome and opening remarks
Helen Goldstein, Procopio LLP
Jerry Gibson, Med Device Leader and Investor
Co-chairs, Flinn Foundation Bio Capital Conference
Mayor Kate Gallego, City of Phoenix
9:00 – 10:00 a.m.
TURNING INSIGHTS INTO ADVANTAGE
Craig Cohen, Managing Director, Global Investment Opportunities Group, J.P. Morgan
BREAK
10:15 – 11:00 a.m.
STRATEGIC INVESTORS’ PERSPECTIVES ON THE FUTURE OF CARE
Moderated by Stan Nowak, Empathetics
Jill German, Roche Tissue Diagnostics (retired)
Corey Casper, Banner Health, Banner Ventures
Scott Whyte, Health Enterprise Partners
11:00 – 11:45 a.m.
INVESTING WITH IMPACT, SEED TO GROWTH CAPITAL
Moderated by Chris Yoo, Xcellerant Ventures
John Shufeldt, JJS Investments and Xcellerant Ventures
Snehal Patel, Saena Partners
Sidharth Mehta, Allele Capital
Bob DeLean, Arizona Tech Investors
11:45 a.m.–1:15 p.m.
LUNCH AND CURATED NETWORKING
1:15 – 2:15 p.m.
BUILDING BEYOND CAPITAL
Moderated by Nannon Roosa, Crescent Edge LLC
Matt Likens, Likens Healthcare Consulting
Paul Johnson, Procopio LLP
Rakesh Mehta, Centerview Partners
Mike Moore, The Mullings Group
2:15 – 3:00 p.m.
BEHIND THE CURTAIN WITH INVESTORS, PART 1
Moderated by Janelle Goulard, Pangaea Ventures, and Vikram Chaudhery, General Inception and Genoa Ventures
Jordan Burton, Lifespan Vision Ventures
Ben Tomaszewski, Averin Capital
BREAK
3:15 – 3:30 p.m.
BEHIND THE CURTAIN WITH INVESTORS, PART 2
Moderated by Janelle Goulard, Pangaea Ventures, and Vikram Chaudhery, General Inception and Genoa Ventures
Jordan Burton, Lifespan Vision Ventures
Ben Tomaszewski, Averin Capital
3:30 – 4:15 p.m.
BUILDING STRATEGIC SYNERGY AND GETTING TO YES
Helen Goldstein, Procopio LLP
Tari Suprapto, Senior Director, Head of Search, Novo Nordisk.
4:15 – 4:30 p.m.
Closing Remarks
Jerry Gibson, Med Device Leader and Investor
Co-chair, Flinn Foundation Bio Capital Conference
4:30 – 6:30 p.m.
RECEPTION
2026 Conference Sponsors
Questions
Questions about the upcoming 2027 conference or interested in sponsorship? Contact Mary O’Reilly, Flinn Foundation Vice President, Bioscience Research Programs, at moreilly@flinn.org.
Creighton University Health Sciences Campus–Phoenix
3100 N. Central Ave.
Phoenix
Past Conferences
Managing Growth and VC Capital As You Scale
Thriving in a Challenging Economy
Risk Capital: Getting to Yes!
Spring into Commercialization
