PANEL + OFFICE HOURS
LIFE SCIENCES
WHAT INVESTORS ACTUALLY FUND
On May 5, 2026, go inside the room where investment decisions happen—what signals readiness, what raises concern, and what separates fundable companies from the rest. Expect a candid discussion on diligence, deal dynamics, and what “smart money” really looks like in practice—including how the right investor can shape your company’s trajectory long after the cheque is written.
On May 5, 2026, go inside the room where investment decisions happen—what signals readiness, what raises concern, and what separates fundable companies from the rest.
Expect a candid discussion on diligence, deal dynamics, and what “smart money” really looks like in practice—including how the right investor can shape your company’s trajectory long after the cheque is written.
Expect a candid discussion on diligence, deal dynamics, and what “smart money” really looks like in practice—including how the right investor can shape your company’s trajectory long after the cheque is written.
THE PANEL
Jason Ding, FCPA, FCA
Partner & Senior Managing Director, Deloitte
Jason Ding has over 20 years of financial and transactional expertise is a Partner and Senior Managing Director in Deloitte’s investment banking practice and the National Life Sciences & Healthcare M&A Leader. He has worked with start-ups, large public companies, and global consulting companies and has been an executive, investor and a Board member for numerous organizations in Canada and the USA. Jason is a Fellow of the Chartered Professional Accountants of Alberta (FCPA, FCA), a Chartered Business Valuator (CBV), and the Rotman ICD.D designation with the Institute of Corporate Directors. He received his BSc. and BCom. from the University of Alberta.
Lu Han, Ph.D.
Partner, Lumira Ventures
Dr. Lu Han is a Partner at Lumira Ventures, a leading North American venture capital firm dedicated to creating and investing in innovative healthcare companies. Based in Vancouver, Lu brings over 11 years of experience at Lumira, where he focuses on identifying and supporting early-stage companies developing transformational therapeutic modalities and medical technologies across different indications. Lu currently serves on the Boards of several Lumira portfolio companies. Previously, Lu co-founded an AI-powered digital therapeutics company, and worked as a strategic consultant in healthcare. He holds a Ph.D. in neuroscience from the University of Toronto followed by post-doctoral training at the Hospital for Sick Children.
Lumira Ventures is a North American healthcare venture capital firm with over two-decade track record investing in transformative biomedical companies. We are a multi-stage investor that partners with mission-driven entrepreneurs and like-minded investors to build innovative companies in the biotechnology and medical device sectors. These companies are harnessing rapidly evolving innovations in life sciences to develop high impact, often transformative products for patients while generating exceptional returns for our investors and meaningful economic value to society. To date, our companies have brought dozens of biomedical innovations to the market, impacting the lives of over 1 billion patients worldwide and generating over $70 billion of cumulative revenue.
Judyanna Yu, CPA
Managing Partner, One Six 8 Ventures
Judyanna brings nearly two decades of diverse and progressive experience across both public practice and industry, having served as COO and CFO for life sciences and health services companies. As a Chartered Professional Accountant, she led public company listings and audits for U.S. and Canadian companies for eight years.
Her track record as an executor speaks to her ability to scale operations effectively. She led her team's growth from 30 to 130 people and expanded clinic operations from 6 to 16 locations in under three years. As a CFO, she served as asset steward for over $2 billion in investor assets, bringing rigorous financial discipline to complex organizations.
This combination of operational leadership and financial stewardship allows Judyanna to guide portfolio companies through critical stages of growth while maintaining the capital efficiency necessary for long-term success.
One Six 8 Ventures partners with visionary entrepreneurs to scale next-gen MedTech globally, solving critical health inefficiencies. With decades of hands-on experience as founders and operators, the team not only funds companies but actively guides them toward market leadership and successful strategic exits.
One Six 8 Ventures backs entrepreneurs in the early-stage MedTech sector, focusing on high-growth areas including AI-MedTech, surgical tools and robotics, and remote patient monitoring. Its investment approach targets companies in underventured regions, identifying unique opportunities that others overlook. One Six 8 Ventures provides strategic guidance and connects portfolio companies to large strategic partners, helping them achieve global scale.
Adam Falconi
Associate, Mintz LLP
Adam Falconi is a Chambers-ranked life sciences and healthcare lawyer at Mintz LLP and one of the few lawyers in Canada whose practice is dedicated entirely to advising life sciences and health technology companies. He represents companies and investors across the lifecycle—from formation and venture financings to strategic partnerships, licensing, and M&A—with a particular focus on helping innovative science-driven businesses navigate complex commercialization and growth challenges.
Adam’s practice is inherently cross-border. He regularly advises Canadian, U.S., and international companies on structuring and executing transactions that bridge the Canadian and U.S. life sciences ecosystems, including cross-border financings, IP-driven licensing and collaboration agreements, and strategic transactions involving U.S. and global pharmaceutical partners. He works seamlessly with Mintz’s leading U.S. life sciences platform to provide integrated legal advice on transactions where corporate, IP, and regulatory considerations intersect.
Before becoming a lawyer, Adam trained as a pharmacist at the University of Toronto’s Leslie Dan Faculty of Pharmacy. This scientific and clinical background allows him to engage deeply with management teams, investors, and business development leaders on the commercial realities of developing, financing, and scaling life sciences technologies. Adam is also Head of the Life Sciences Sector for the Licensing Executives Society (LES) USA & Canada.
EVENT INFORMATION
Securing capital in life sciences isn’t just about a strong innovation—it’s about navigating long timelines, regulatory complexity, and investor expectations that go far beyond the pitch deck.
Join investors and advisors who are actively deploying capital and structuring deals across North America: Lu Han (Lumira Ventures), Judyanna Yu (One Six 8 Ventures), and Adam Falconi (Mintz LLP), moderated by Jason Ding (Deloitte).
This panel will unpack how investment decisions actually get made—what signals readiness, what raises concern, and what separates fundable companies from the rest.
Expect a candid discussion on diligence, deal dynamics, and what “smart money” really looks like in practice—including how the right investor can shape your company’s trajectory long after the cheque is written.
Designed for founders and operators building in life sciences who are preparing to raise, currently fundraising, or thinking about their next stage of growth.
Agenda
7:30 AM | Doors Open, Registration, & Networking
8:00 AM – 9:00AM | Panel Discussion & Q&A
Lu Han, Ph.D., Partner — Lumira Ventures
Judyanna Yu, Managing Partner — One Six 8 Ventures
Adam Falconi, Associate — Mintz
Moderator: Jason Ding, FCPA, FCA — Deloitte
9:00 AM – 10:00AM | Networking & Breakfast
Ready to Raise Capital?
Skip the cold outreach. Get in the room with active investors and top legal advisors through curated, one-on-one sessions designed to accelerate your raise.
Receive direct feedback from decision-makers, and build the relationships that actually unlock capital.
Built for Edmonton founders who are actively fundraising—or ready to start. High-potential, early-stage companies are strongly encouraged to apply.
Here’s how it works: Apply → Get matched → Meet 1:1 for a focused 45-minute session.
Spots are limited and competitive.
Deadline to apply: April 18, 2026
A multi-stage investor with an over two-decade track record investing in transformative biomedical companies, partnering with mission-driven entrepreneurs to build innovative companies in the biotechnology and medical device sectors.
Focus Areas: Biotechnology, medical devices, and transformational therapeutic modalities and medical technologies.
One Six 8 Ventures is a Calgary-based seed fund focused on Canada’s top early-stage MedTech innovations. With decades of hands-on experience as founders and operators, the team not only funds companies but actively guides them toward market leadership and successful strategic exits.
Focus Areas: Early-stage MedTech, AI-MedTech, surgical tools and robotics, and remote patient monitoring.
A leading law firm with a premier U.S. life sciences platform, offering integrated legal advice where corporate, IP, and regulatory considerations intersect.
Focus Areas: Financing readiness, Canada–U.S. structuring, licensing and partnering strategies, and early legal decisions that support long-term value creation.
KEY DATES
- Event and Office Hours Date: May 5, 2025
- Application deadline for Office Hours: April 18, 2026
- Selection Review for Office Hours: April 18-24, 2026
All applicants will receive a notification regarding application status on or before April 27, 2026.
