SALT LAKE CITY -– February 24, 2025 – BioUtah, Utah’s trade association dedicated to the life sciences community, in partnership with the University of Utah’s Technology Licensing Office, today unveiled a distinguished lineup of keynote speakers and leading industry presenters for the 2025 Entrepreneur and Investor Life Sciences (E&I Summit) sponsored by Wilson Sonsini. The E&I Summit will be held March 13 at the Sheraton Hotel in Salt Lake City, followed by a ski day at Snowbird Ski Resort on March 14.
"Mark your calendars to connect with some of the best in the business,” said Kelvyn Cullimore, president and CEO of BioUtah. “You’ll hear from experts in finance and intellectual property law, accomplished entrepreneurs, active investors, and more.”
View the agenda and register HERE.
Keynote Speakers
Monica DiCenso, a managing director and head of the global investment opportunities group at J.P. Morgan Private Bank, is returning for another insightful keynote about the life sciences investment landscape and outlook for the larger economy. As a senior leader of the firm, DiCenso sets the strategic direction for a team of 50-plus Investment Specialists who advise the firm’s largest and most sophisticated clients. Her insights have been featured on CNBC, Bloomberg, and other major platforms.
Earl “Eb” Bright, president of Exploramed and director of intellectual property policy at the Stanford Mussallem Center for Biodesign will share his insights into the perils and promises of being an entrepreneur. Bright has many years of technology development, company formation, and financing experience. He is a founder of several companies, a patent attorney, and has served on the executive management teams and/or boards of many startup companies in multiple capacities
Panels
Also taking center stage will be top-tier CEOs of innovative Utah life sciences companies to discuss “Building a Life Sciences Company”. Panelists include Tina Marriott, biotechnology executive and former president and COO at Recursion; Chris Lowe, CEO of Nusano; Dr. Lincoln Naudald, president and CEO of Culmination Bio and, Kurt Workman, the CEO and co-founder of Owlet Baby Care.
Principals from national venture capital firms as well as local Utah investors, will talk about how venture capital is “The Fuel for Life Sciences Growth”. Panelists include Jack Boren, managing partner with Epic Ventures; Matt Dormer, managing director in health and life sciences within investment banking at Stephens; Donna Parr, managing partner at Cross-Border Impact Ventures; and Ian Robinson, investor with J.P. Morgan Life Sciences Private Capital.
Pitch Track
The E&I Summit will once again hold its popular Pitch Competition where life sciences companies present their innovations to a slate of seasoned judges. This shark-tank like competition will be divided into four groups of three with two groups devoted to medical devices/diagnostics, and one group each for pharmaceuticals/therapeutics and biotechnology/digital health. The winner of each category will receive a cash prize, along with additional awards and recognition. Information on all applicant companies will soon be available on the E&I website.
Special Track Sessions
Thematic track sessions focused on funding sources, the entrepreneur experience, and legal considerations will provide attendees with several topic choices intended to enlighten and engage.
About the University of Utah Technology Licensing Office
The University of Utah Technology Licensing Office (TLO) is dedicated to fostering innovation and creating value through effective technology transfer. As a leader in managing intellectual property, the TLO empowers researchers and inventors by providing the resources and support needed to transform groundbreaking ideas into real-world solutions. By facilitating the journey from discovery to commercialization, the TLO plays a critical role in driving economic growth and societal impact.
