History
Empowering Innovation: Biotechnology Entrepreneurship Boot Camp Overview
The Biotechnology Entrepreneurship Boot Camp was founded by Professors Arthur Boni, Steve Sammut, and Jeffrey Libson, marking a pioneering initiative to merge scientific innovation with entrepreneurial success. Originating at the BIO Annual Meeting in 2005, this program has expanded its reach, catering to a broad spectrum of entrepreneurs beyond its initial focus on Chief Scientific Officers (CSOs).
Purpose-Driven Education
Established to address a significant knowledge void in the biotech sector, the Boot Camp equips participants with essential skills to turn innovative ideas into thriving businesses. In its early stages, the program collaborated with the now-defunct Pepper Hamilton, LLP, reflecting a commitment to foundational legal and business insights in partnership with the Biotechnology Innovation Organization’s Academic-Industry Committee. This foundation has made the program a cornerstone for budding entrepreneurs.
Inclusive Growth and Strategic Thinking
Emphasizing that entrepreneurial success is attainable for anyone with strategic foresight and effective management, the Boot Camp covers critical areas like project selection, stakeholder engagement, and the intricacies of commercialization. It aims to cultivate the necessary insight and energy for navigating the entrepreneurial journey.
Collaborative Excellence
Featuring a core team of founding faculty alongside regional experts, the curriculum thrives on diversity and expertise, fostering a learning environment ripe for continuous enhancement. This approach ensures that each Boot Camp iteration offers fresh, strategic insights into biotech entrepreneurship.
Impact and Legacy
The Boot Camp has cemented its status as a pivotal platform for emerging leaders in the biotech industry, demonstrated by the achievements of its alumni. It remains dedicated to equipping participants with the comprehensive tools and knowledge needed to tackle the biotech sector’s challenges, thereby driving innovation and entrepreneurial success.
To facilitate and incorporate local participation, local Co-chairs are recruited each year. In previous years, the local Co-Chairs were:
Chicago, IL 2006
Panayiotis P. Constantinides, PhD, Principal, Biopharmaceutical & Drug Delivery Consulting Elsie Quaite-Randall, PhD, MBA, Executive Director of the Office of Research Contracts and IP, McMaster University, formerly of Office of Technology Transfer, Argonne National Laboratory
Boston, MA 2007
Robert Creeden, Partner, HealthCare Systems, Inc., Managing Director, Center for Innovative Ventures
San Diego, CA 2008
Kurt A. May, MBA, Assistant Dean, Executive Development Center, Rady School of Management, University of California, San Diego Duane J. Roth, Chief Executive Officer and Member of the Board of CONNECT. Steve Flaim, PhD, FACC, FAHA, Chairman Emeritus, Tech Coast Angels, Director, Angel Capital Association
Atlanta, GA 2009
Frank R. Hunt, MS, MBA, President, SE bioStrategies, Inc., CEO, PNP Therapeutics, Inc.
Dennis P. Schafer, CEO, Life Science Management
Chicago, IL 2010
Patrick G. Morand, Managing Director, SWMF Life Science Fund
Charles B. Hoslet, Managing Director, UW-Madison Office of Corporate Relations
Allen J. Dines, Assistant Director, Office of Corporate Relations, University of Wisconsin
Washington, DC 2011
Elana Fine, Director of Venture Investments, Dingman Center for Entrepreneurship, Robert H. Smith School of Business, University of Maryland Toby Gordon, ScD, Associate Professor, The Johns Hopkins Carey Business School Martha J. Connolly, PhD, Director, Maryland Industrial Partnerships, University of Maryland
Boston, MA 2012
Ashley J. Stevens, DPhil (Oxon), CLP, President, Focus IP Group, LLC and Lecturer, Strategy and Innovation Department, School of Management, Boston University
Rekha Paleyanda, PhD, Sr. Business Strategy and Licensing Manager, Partners Healthcare
Chicago, IL 2013
Patrick G. Morand, Managing Partner, Open Prairie Ventures
Allen J. Dines, Assistant Director, Office of Corporate Relations & Venture Designer, Hybrid Zone X, University of Wisconsin-Madison
San Diego, CA 2014
Kurt A. May, MBA, Co-founder and Chairman, Psynomics Incorporated
Larry Stambaugh, Founding Principal, Aperçu Partners
Justin Chakma, Associate Director, Auspex Pharmaceuticals and Thomas, McNerney & Partners, LLC
Philadelphia, PA 2015
Dennis Gross, MS, PhD, CEO, Pennsylvania Drug Discovery Institute at The Pennsylvania Biotechnology Center
James Jordan, MBA, CHT, Chief Investment Officer, Pittsburgh Life Sciences Greenhouse, Distinguished Service Professor in Healthcare & Biotechnology Management, Carnegie Mellon University
Alex B. Reitz, PhD, CEO, Fox Chase Chemical Diversity Center, Inc., The Pennsylvania Biotechnology Center
San Francisco, CA 2016
Benjamin Chen, PhD, Managing Director, Ignatius Transaction Partners
Moira Gunn, PhD, Host, NPR – BioTech Nation, Director, Business of Biotechnology Program,
Professor, School of Management, University of San Francisco
San Diego, CA 2017
Steve Flaim, PhD, FACC, FAHA, Chairman Emeritus, Tech Coast Angels, Director, Angel Capital Association
Larry Stambaugh, Founding Principal, Aperçu Partners, Founding Principal, Aperçu Partners, Chairman, Molecular Assemblies, Inc., Chairman, MindXSciences, Inc., LifeTime Director, BioCom, Chairman, ParaNetics
Boston, MA 2018
Edward Ross, Jr., MBA, President and CEO, ReadyDock, Inc., Member, MassMedical Angels and Launchpad Venture Group
Amy Siegel, MA, Co-founder and President, S2N Health
Philadelphia, PA 2019
Wendy DiCicco, Board Member, Carmell Therapeutics
Kathryn Doyle, PhD, JD, Partner, Saul Ewing Arnstein & Lehr, LLP
Hank Safferstein, PhD, JD, MBA, Senior Vice President, Cognition Therapeutics
San Diego, CA 2022
Jessica Gibson CEO & Co-founder,
Ariel Precision Medicine
Rupak Doshi, Ph.D CEO, OmniSync Incorporated
John York, PharmD, MBA\ Principal & CEO, AKITA BIOMEDICAL Lecturer,
RADY, IGE/JACOBS (UCSD), ORFALEA COLLEGE OF BUSINESS, CAL POLY, SLO
Adj. Professor
ERNEST MARIO (RUTGERS)
Boston, MA 2023
Regional Co-Chairs
Maria Shepherd, MBA
CEO & President, Medi- Vantage
Kristina Zakurdavea, MD, PhD
Founder & Chair of the Board at Foundation for Cancer Research Support
San Diego, CA 2024
John M. York, PharmD, MBA, PhDc
Principal & CEO, Akita Biomedical Lead
Instructor, Institute for the Global Entrepreneur (UCSD)
Adj. Prof, Ernest Mario School of Pharmacy (RUTGERS)
Mike Lemcke
Associate Director, Venture Catalyst, University of California, Davis
Register Now!
Saturday June 14 – Sunday June 15, 2025
Boston Convention and Exhibition Center
Add this course to your
BIO International Registration
Register Now!
Saturday June 14 – Sunday June 15, 2025
Boston Convention and Exhibition Center
(415 Summer St. Boston, MA 02210)
In the Seaport District of Boston, MA
Add this course to your
BIO International Registration