Nucleate Bay Area Presents: Demo Day
From Discovery to Company: The Science of Building Biotech
Join us for the culminating event of our activator program—Demo Day—where breakthrough science meets bold company-building!
This dynamic event will bring together founders, investors, and leaders from across the biotech ecosystem to celebrate and spotlight the program’s most promising ventures.
What to expect:
Fireside chat with Joe Derisi, PhD and Brian Hie, PhD on the frontier of science being translated today
Flash pitches from Nucleate Bay Area alumni teams
Pitches from the three top-ranked ventures from the activator cohort
Dynamic networking session
Whether you are an investor, operator, scientist, or supporter of innovation, Demo Day offers a unique opportunity to connect with groundbreaking ideas and the people driving them forward.
Run of show:
4:00pm: Arrival and Networking
4:30pm: Opening Remarks
4:40pm: Fireside chat with Joe Derisi and Brian Hie
Joe DeRisi, PhD (Professor, University of California, San Francisco; Co-founder, Delve Bio)
Joe DeRisi is a Professor of Biochemistry and Biophysics at UCSF and a pioneer at the intersection of genomics, infectious disease, and biotech innovation. His lab developed groundbreaking tools like the ViroChip and played a key role in identifying the SARS coronavirus in 2003. Beyond academia, he has helped shape a new model for collaborative science as co-President of the Chan Zuckerberg Biohub and continues to drive real-world impact as co-founder of Delve Bio.
Brian Hie, PhD (Assistant Professor, Stanford University; Investigator, Arc Institute)
Brian Hie is an Assistant Professor of Chemical Engineering at Stanford and an Investigator at the Arc Institute, working at the forefront of AI-driven biology and therapeutic discovery. His research develops machine learning methods to model and design proteins, antibodies, and other biomolecules with improved function. He has built widely used protein language models and generative systems—including Evo and Evo 2—that enable prediction and de novo design of biological sequences, advancing new approaches to drug discovery and protein engineering.
5:20pm: Alumni Spotlight
6:30pm: Pitches from the three top-ranked ventures from the activator cohort
7:10pm: Networking Reception
About the Host:
Nucleate is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to empowering the next generation of biotech leaders. With chapters spanning 41 geographic regions and participation from over 280 academic institutions, Nucleate sparks new intellectual communities and embeds emerging talent within a global biotech community. Through open-access educational programming, Nucleate helps democratize biotech innovation — removing barriers and helping founders concentrate on building transformational technologies. Visit www.nucleate.org for more information, and visit https://nucleate.org/privacy-policy/ to read our privacy policy.