For more than 25 years, EPPIC Global has been building the healthcare and healthtech community by connecting scientists, entrepreneurs, investors, and industry leaders through mentorship, networking, and collaboration.
At EPPICON 2026: Reimagining Healthy Aging, I had the privilege of moderating the Founders & Funders panel, exploring what it takes to build and fund startups advancing healthy aging. Joining me were Deborah Smith, Partner at Wilson Sonsini; Ronjon Nag, Founder and President of R42; Manish Chamoli, Managing Partner at LongGame VC; and Omri Amirav-Drory, General Partner at NFX, bringing perspectives from intellectual property, entrepreneurship, and venture capital.
My biggest takeaway: strong teams build strong science, and strong science attracts capital. Our conversation also reinforced the need for patient capital that matches scientific timelines, robust data to inform patent strategy, and the conviction and adaptability of scientist-founders. It was a valuable opportunity to connect scientific ambition with the practical realities of turning discoveries into meaningful advances in healthspan.
The panel was followed by three startup pitches, in which the panelists are invested.
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