A disease foundation forum
- February 12, 2026
- 9:00 am - 4:00 pm PT
Invest in Cures San Francisco 2026
Impact Investing Through Disease Foundations
Program
Join us on February 12, 2026 at the University of California San Francisco (UCSF) to explore the transformative potential of impact investing in addressing rare disease challenges. This annual forum highlights the promise of venture philanthropy and innovative collaborations, offering hope for the commercialization of therapies that could revolutionize the treatment of rare diseases.
Learn from venture leaders, advocates, researchers, and entrepreneurs as they share insights on accelerating translational research and advancing cures for patients through strategic funding and collaboration. This signature event brings together investment professionals from leading venture philanthropy funds to discuss cutting-edge approaches to supporting and funding breakthrough therapies. It features main-stage sessions, panel discussions, intimate gatherings and high-level networking opportunities.
Don’t miss a special screening of Stitching Strength at the end of the day, followed by an audience Q&A with Richard Bedlack, MD, PhD and Catherine Lomen-Hoerth, MD, PhD. The screening is free to all and open to the public.
Co-hosted by UCSF with the support of Fondation Ipsen (under the aegis of Fondation de France), Wilson Sonsini, and Collaborative Drug Discovery.
Join us to connect and collaborate with leaders shaping the future of rare disease therapies.
If you would like to sponsor this exciting event, please contact LaunchBio’s CEO, Becky Beattie.
Agenda
8:00 – 9:00 am: Registration and Breakfast Networking
9:00 – 9:15 am: Welcome and Opening Remarks
9:15 – 10:00 am: Session 1 – Building a Rare Disease Investment Portfolio: Lessons from 5AM Ventures
10:00 – 10:45 am: Session 2 – Mission-Driven Investment in Rare Disease Innovation
10:45 – 11:00 am: Networking Break
11:00 – 11:05 am – Introducing the EveryLife Foundation Rare Disease Accelerator
11:05 am – 12:00 pm: Translational Research Showcase
12:00 – 1:00 pm: Networking Lunch
1:00 – 1:30 pm: Keynote Address – Richard Bedlack, MD, PhD: What I Learned About Hope
1:30 – 2:15 pm: Session 3 – Investing for Impact with the ALS Investment Fund
2:30 – 3:15 pm: Film Screening: Stitching Strength
3:15 – 4:00 pm: Networking Reception
By attending this event, you consent to being photographed, filmed, and/or otherwise recorded. These images and recordings may be used by LaunchBio for promotional purposes, including but not limited to social media, websites, print materials, and other marketing or informational platforms. If you do not wish to be photographed or recorded, please notify event staff upon arrival or take necessary precautions to avoid camera areas. For any concerns or further inquiries, please contact Meredith Martindale, Director of Marketing.
SESSIONS
9:00 am
Welcome & Opening Remarks
- Becky Beattie, CEO, LaunchBio
- David Morris, MD, Vice Chancellor of Business Development, Innovation and Partnerships, UCSF Innovation Ventures
9:15 – 10:00 am
Session 1 – Building a Rare Disease Investment Portfolio: Lessons from 5AM Ventures
5AM Ventures will lead an in-depth conversation on the evolving role of rare disease within venture portfolios. This fireside chat explores why generalist VCs are allocating more capital to rare disease assets, the scientific and market dynamics driving investability, and how venture philanthropy partnerships can help de-risk early-stage opportunities. Learn how leading investors balance niche indications with platform technologies, navigate liquidity challenges, and structure collaborations with foundations that align mission goals and financial outcomes.
- Josh Grass, MBA, Venture Partner, 5AM Ventures
- MODERATOR: Laurie McNamara, PhD, Partner, Wilson Sonsini
10:00 – 10:45 am
Session 2 – Mission-Driven Investment in Rare Disease Innovation
A growing number of investors are redefining how capital flows into rare disease innovation, blending financial discipline with a deep commitment to patient impact. In this panel, leaders from venture philanthropy funds and mission-driven corporate investors will share how they source, complete diligence, and support startups that are developing transformative therapies. Through real examples of successful collaborations, panelists will discuss how they align incentives among nonprofits, foundations, and industry, measure both social and financial returns, and accelerate drug development through creative financing models and strategic partnerships.
- Dirk Landgraf, PhD, Dementia Discovery Fund (DDF), managed by SV Health Investors
- Tim Brent, MBA, Venture Principal, Pathway to Cures
- Josh Zail, Impact Program Manager, BrightEdge
10:45 – 11:00am
Networking Break
11:00 – 11:05 am
Introducing the EveryLife Foundation Rare Disease Accelerator
The EveryLife Foundation will share a brief introduction to its new Rare Disease Accelerator, a selective, high-touch program designed to support early-stage rare disease startups. The accelerator will begin community engagement in 2026, followed by the launch of its first cohort in the second half of 2027. Each cohort will include 4-8 startups and provide hands-on support, access to patient communities, and strategic connections to mission-driven investors and partners. We’re pleased for the EveryLife Foundation to share how this new initiative aligns with the broader rare disease ecosystem and will create new pathways for collaboration.
James and his team will also be stationed at the coffee bar during breaks and lunch to answer questions and share more about the accelerator.
- James Uyeda, Vice President of Individual Giving, EveryLife Foundation for Rare Diseases
11:05 am – 12:00 pm
Translational Research Showcase
Four rare disease startups will present their science, progress, and funding needs, spotlighting early-stage innovations ready for collaboration and investment.
- DM Therapeutics – Building the future of gene therapy with Dark Matter DNA
- GRIK Therapeutics – The intersection of novel biology & sophisticated computational approaches
- Kopra Bio – Cancer immunotherapy that turns cancer cells into biofactories minting their own destruction
- Reventus – Developing small molecules for rare mitochondrial diseases through strategic repositioning
1:00 – 1:30 pm
Keynote – What I Learned About Hope
Renowned neurologist and researcher Dr. Richard Bedlack will bring his signature style, optimism, and compassion to the stage in a keynote address about hope. Dr. Bedlack currently serves as the Director of the Duke University ALS Program. He has redefined what’s possible in the fight against ALS as he challenges convention, champions patients, and inspires innovation across the field. His keynote will explore how creativity, collaboration, and scientific rigor can coexist to accelerate progress for rare disease communities, offering a glimpse into the spirit behind Stitching Strength, a new documentary that captures his unconventional mix of science, empathy, and bold individuality in the pursuit of healing.
- Richard Bedlack, MD, PhD, Stewart, Hughes, and Wendt Distinguished Professor of ALS at Duke University School of Medicine
1:30 – 2:15 pm
Session 3 – Investing for Impact with the ALS Investment Fund
The ALS Investment Fund is a for-profit venture capital firm focused on accelerating treatments for ALS and related neurodegenerative diseases. While mission-driven and disease-focused, the fund invests private investor capital with return expectations, bringing venture discipline to an area traditionally led by philanthropy.
This session will explore how the ALS Investment Fund identifies and backs companies with strong scientific potential, structures investments to balance financial and therapeutic outcomes, and fosters partnerships that advance innovation in neurodegeneration.
Managing Partner Craig Boyce and a portfolio company founder will share how the fund’s investment model drives both impact and performance, highlighting lessons learned in aligning scientific milestones with investor expectations, building trust with founders, and contributing to a more sustainable, outcomes-oriented biotech ecosystem.
- Craig Boyce, MBA, Managing Partner, ALS Investment Fund
- Alice Zhang, CEO & Co-founder, Verge Genomics
2:30 – 3:15 pm
Film Screening: Stitching Strength
Stitching Strength captures the fight against ALS, a terminal disease that strips away the body’s control through a lens of creativity, courage, and connection. At its heart is Dr. Rick Bedlack, a neurologist whose bold fashion and bolder optimism set the tone for a radically different kind of care. But this isn’t just his story. It’s about the patients who refuse to be defined by their diagnosis and the families who turn grief into art, music, and action. This is not a story of surrender, it’s a story of style, strength, and the power of believing in what’s still possible.
This event is a free public screening and open to everyone, not just event attendees. To sign up for the screening only, Read More Here.
