New Frontiers: Space, Health & Global Innovation

We are shooting for the moon this week (but that’s true every week!). In one night, your Thursday Gathering will cover topics like space exploration, drug discovery efficiencies + equity + messaging, and redesigning antibodies and synthetic DNA. Read on for the insider details.

Things kick off with the Connection Collider running from 4:30 PM to 8:30 PM, the heartbeat of Venture Café and the backbone of the event. It’s an invitation to meet new people, spark conversation, and build a professional network. If you’re new here or want a refresher on how best to make use of this event, stop by How to Venture Café at 4:40 PM for a quick, friendly orientation. From 5:00 PM – 6:00 PM, Chuck Goldstone will be hosting Office Hours. If you’re working to scale your company, refine your job search, or develop your brand, make sure you sign up. Walk-ins only; first-come, first-served.

At 5:00 PM, Beyond Earth: The New Space Economybrings together MIT researcher Paulo Lozano, Hanwha Aerospace executive Jinhee Tak, Helogen founder Shishir Bankapur, and investor Jonathan Bronson, moderated by Rhie Lim, for a conversation on where the real opportunities are opening up in commercial space and defense. No need to be a rocket scientist to enjoy it, just bring an open mind and let the conversation take you into orbit.

Concurrently, The Missing Infrastructure in Medical Innovation looks at Roxbury, MA as a case study for a simple point: the engaged, high-quality participant pool biotech spends years chasing already exists in our own backyard, and treating community trust as seriously as any other infrastructure is the fastest way to close the distance between a breakthrough and the people who need it. Join us for this panel discussion led by Tamika Jackson of The Beautiful Way Foundation.

Adjacent to the Connection Collider, at 5:30 PM, Sequencing the Biotech Value Story gathers biotech marketing leaders, led by Asha Strazzero-Wild and Kelly Wilder, for an honest roundtable on messaging from development through commercialization.

At 6:15 PM, seven Japanese biotech companies and university research teams, already vetted through Hiroshima University’s selection process, take the stage for Redesigning Antibodies, Treating with RNA, Synthesizing DNA from Scratch. After quick introductions from each team, the room opens into a poster session where you can meet the founders and researchers directly. Come cheer on these extraordinary projects!

The night closes with AI Agents for Drug Discovery at 7:00 PM, a hands-on workshop from Mirror Physics to showcase their new product Axion, which amplifies drug discovery process efficiencies. Bring your laptop and your toughest preclinical questions. No AI background needed, just curiosity.

Save the date: Korea Biohealth R&BD Night lands next Thursday, September 24th.
Bringing together researchers, innovators, startups, and industry professionals across the biohealth R&D ecosystem, the evening connects the journey from research and R&D funding to collaboration, commercialization, and business development. Learn about Korean government R&D investment priorities, sharpen your grant-writing strategy, or explore biopharma dealmaking from both the buy-side and sell-side perspectives.

Don’t miss it. Claim your spot here!