Portal Pours @ Ocean State Labs: Money & Momentum (RI Startup Week)
Portal Pours: Rhode Island Startup Week Edition
Join RI Bio, Ocean State Labs – Powered by Portal Innovations, and members of Rhode Island's growing life sciences community for a special Rhode Island Startup Week edition of Portal Pours (FKA RI Bio Life Sciences Tuesdays) on Tuesday, September 22nd — an evening dedicated to conversation, connection, and community.
This relaxed gathering brings together professionals from across the region's life sciences ecosystem, including biotech, medtech, pharmaceuticals, research institutions, startups, investors, and service providers. Whether you're reconnecting with colleagues, meeting potential collaborators, or expanding your professional network, Portal Pours offers an excellent opportunity to engage with the people shaping the future of life sciences in Rhode Island and beyond.
Featured Panel Discussion: Money & Momentum
Presented in partnership with Withum
John Flavin, MBA — Founder & CEO, Portal Innovations
John is a proven leader with a track record of bringing corporate, academic, and civic enterprises from concept to reality, including Advanced Life Sciences, Chicago Innovation Mentors, MATTER, and the Polsky Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation at the University of Chicago. He is Co-Founder and Chairman of Pyxis Oncology, Executive Chairman of ClostraBio, and a Board member at Grove Biopharma. Over the course of his career, John has raised more than $345 million in private and philanthropic capital to fund the development of transformative organizations.
Moderator: Taryn M. Bostjancic, CPA, CGMA — Partner and Practice Leader, Life Sciences, Withum
Taryn leads Withum's Life Sciences Service Group and brings over 25 years of public accounting experience serving pharmaceutical, medical device, diagnostic, therapeutics, nutraceutical, and research companies — from early-stage startups to mature public entities.
Additional panelists to be announced.
Optional Facility Tours @ 3:00 PM
Before Portal Pours, join us for a special Rhode Island Startup Week edition of Portal Tours, Tuesday, September 22nd from 3:00 – 4:00 PM.
Meeting Location: Lobby of 150 Richmond Street, Providence, RI 02903
Choose from three tours:
Ocean State Labs (Floor 4) — A brand-new 30,000 square feet of life sciences, engineering, and data science space, Ocean State Labs offers turn-key lab and office space, state-of-the-art equipment and amenities, and startup-driven programming designed to help early-stage companies move faster. From private suites and shared equipment to pitch days, hiring events, and investor connections, the space is built to help companies translate ideas into commercial opportunity. Learn more @ https://tinyurl.com/4v2v33ns
150 Richmond Street (Floors 5–7) — Purpose-built infrastructure with fully equipped lab, incubator, and office space to help biotech, medical research, Brown University, and affiliated technology companies evolve, expand, and uncover world-changing breakthroughs. Up to ±90,000 RSF available. Learn more @ https://tinyurl.com/y4e8zzrh
William A. and Ami Kuan Danoff Life Sciences Laboratories at Brown University — The future home of biologists, engineers, physicians, scientists, computer scientists, entrepreneurs, and students, this new laboratory building — coupled with a culture of innovation and key partnerships — will allow for translating discovery into real-world impact on human health outcomes. The program includes research space for up to 75 PIs across six major program areas, wet and dry computational labs, research cores, lab and office support space, a state-of-the-art rodent vivarium, a ground-floor clinical human trials suite, convening space, and retail. The project is moving toward public opening in early 2027. Learn more @ https://facilities.brown.edu/projects/Danoff-Life-Sciences-Laboratories
Please note: Tours will be held in waves, with the exception of the Brown University Danoff Life Labs tour, which begins promptly after 3:00 PM.
Space is limited — please register separately for the tour here: https://luma.com/rhcsmc16
Also happening: Join us Wednesday, September 23rd at 150 Richmond Street as we kick off the 2nd annual Health & Life Science Day at Rhode Island Startup Week, 9AM–4PM. Start the day with a look at Rhode Island's growing life sciences ecosystem and what's next for the region.
RSVP @ https://ristartupweek.com/agenda/
Enjoy complimentary beverages and great conversation while connecting with innovators, entrepreneurs, researchers, students, and industry leaders in an informal setting designed to spark new relationships and new ideas.
About Portal Pours (FKA RI Bio Life Sciences Tuesdays):
Portal Pours (FKA RI Bio Life Sciences Tuesdays or Tiny Bar Tuesdays) started in March 2025 by RI Bio and is a monthly recurring event held on the first Tuesday of every month at Ocean State Labs. The series brings together members of the life sciences community for networking, meaningful conversations, and opportunities to strengthen Rhode Island's innovation ecosystem.
We look forward to seeing you there!
Explore additional upcoming events: https://luma.com/calendar/cal-qyiUr1Zr4V7YkAC