JPM Biotech x AI Lunch Mixer: Future of Work
A curated investor & operator lunch during JPM Week on raising, building, and innovating in a higher-bar environment.
About the Event:
Join an expert panel of industry leaders for a forward-looking conversation on how AI is reshaping biotech workplaces, careers, and the pace of discovery. We’ll recap the wins of 2025 — from major AI-augmented collaborations and funding surges to regulators and labs adopting AI workflows — then map practical near-term changes to expect in 2026: new hybrid lab roles, AI-driven R&D teams, regulatory guardrails, and opportunities for startups and operators.
Why attend:
Hear how 2025 accelerated AI’s role across discovery, clinical development, and partnerships — and what that meant for hiring, skillsets, and team design.
Learn about regulatory and institutional moves that are making AI tools operationally central (FDA pilots and agency deployments).
See concrete examples of AI shortening lab cycles and improving productivity — including recent demonstrations of large models helping optimize wet-lab protocols.
Get the investor view: why capital flowed strongly into AI–bio startups in 2025 and what that means for hiring, commercialization, and exits in 2026.
This is a practical session for founders, hiring leads, scientists, product builders, and investors who want a clear playbook for the near future of work at the intersection of biotech and AI. Speakers are seasoned practitioners and operators who will share real examples, role changes to expect, and actions you can take now to prepare your team for 2026.
Meet Our Speakers:
Tonya J. Long, MPA, Chief Investor Officer, K2X Capital
Shem Lachhman, M.S., Manager Partner, Menlo Park Patents
David Kiewlich, Ph.D., founder, Tomorrow Biotech
Lavanya Anandan, Ph.D., Executive in Residence, UCSF Innovation Ventures
Navneet Kaur, MBA, Founder & Managing Partner, TechThrive Ventures, FemtechIndia
Moderated by: Vanloan Nguyen, MBEE, founder, Berkeley Pharma Tech Foundation
Who Should Join:
Investors: Seed–Series B funds in Biotech, TechBio, AI infra, digital health; corporate venture; family offices; angels.
Founders & Operators (limited): Biotech/techbio founders raising soon; leaders across R&D, QA/QC, regulatory, clinical, tech transfer, and AI deployment.
RSVPs are approved to keep the room aligned and high-value. Due to venue capacity, we may manage entry during peak times.
Event Agenda:
12:00 – 12:30 PM - Arrival, Welcome & Networking Lunch
12:30 – 1:10 PM - Panel 1 Discussion
1:10 – 1:50 PM - Panel 2 Discussion
1:50 – 3:00 PM - Open Networking & Closing
Why Attend:
Get candid investor + operator perspectives, practical tactics for fundraising and AI adoption, and high-quality connections that lead to real partnerships and deals.
Meet our Host:
Berkeley Pharma Tech Foundation is a nonprofit committed to expanding biotech understanding and improving access to the industry through education, mentorship, and networking. We host roundtables, speaker panels, and community events to connect aspiring scientists and entrepreneurs with industry leaders. Our goals: launch a funded research program within two years and build a state-of-the-art lab in the Bay Area within five. Follow us on LinkedIn or reach out to Vanloan Nguyen to get involved!
Meet our Sponsors:
Sanai is a AI-mediated SaaS platform specifically targeting life-science operations and development. Accelerate time to market and make scaling easier by automating the most arduous tasks of data retrieval, review and verification.
Kranz Consulting is a leading accounting and financial solutions firm dedicated to helping start-ups and venture-backed companies scale with confidence. The firm believes every business, at every stage of growth, has a unique story to tell and works to ensure companies reach their full potential through expert financial guidance and strategic support. Kranz Consulting partners with founders and leadership teams to provide the tools, insights, and structure needed to grow efficiently and succeed in today’s competitive market.